8-28 Solar System Model Built to Scale!

Today in class, we built a "to-scale" model of the Solar System. (I wish I could take credit for this great idea, but I found it in the upper level Apologia Exploring Creation with Physical Science Book by Jay Wile.)

We found balls to represent the planet sizes, and we used toilet paper to measure the distance of the planets from the Sun. These are two different sizing scales, but the children are able to get "the idea" of the magnitude in God's universe!

This is what we did...(hopefully, this will help another homeschooler out there!) First, we measured out a 20' x 20' circle to represent the Sun. We used a rope to mark the outline.

Each square of toilet paper represents approx. 31,000,000 miles! Yes, one square = 31 million miles!

Planet - - Representation - -Distance on Toilet Paper

Sun - -20' x 20' circle of rope - - begin toilet paper roll
Mercury - - small marble - - 1st square
Venus - - golf ball - - 2nd square
Earth - - golf ball - - 3rd square
Mars - - large marble - - 5th square
- - Asteroid Belt - -
Jupiter - - large beach ball - - 15th square
Saturn - - basketball - - 30th square
Uranus - - softball - - 60th square
Neptune - - baseball - - 89th square
Pluto - - bb pellet - - 90th square

It was amazing to see the distance of the planets from the sun. Additionally, the relative enormity of the Sun in relation to the planets. God is amazing! We serve an incredible God! In the picture below, all of the students are standing inside the "Sun," and the black ball in front of them represents Jupiter. Whoa!


Finally, we also learned a mnemonic to remember the correct order of the planets.

My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets. Every word begins with the same letter as the planet's name. (Although Pluto has been "declassified" as a planet, I would encourage your students to know that is was a planet at one time. My children will memorize all nine, but feel free to have your child stop at Neptune if you desire. The mnemonic can be "My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Neptune.")

We discussed some of the topics from Chapter One. This week, I have encouraged the students to memorize the above mnemonic to recite the order of the planets from memory. Your child should be able to tell you the "inner planets" and the "outer planets."

We are off the a great start! I am enjoying your children tremendously! Based on the photo below, at least one boy enjoyed class today! Ha-ha!

Next week we will be doing some experiments to explore the heat of the Sun, and exploring the difference between rotation, revolution, and orbit.

8-21 Update

We had a wonderful first day of class! We enjoyed getting to know one another, playing a game to introduce some of the astronomy terms and concepts we will cover this year, and assigning the report topics for the class presentations. Each week, children have a short reading assignment from the text, but their presentations are where I would like them to place their effort. Please refer to the parent letter for more information. It is posted below.

QUIZ QUESTIONS - (just a few of the things mentioned in class)
Who was Nicolous Copernicus and what did he discover? Early scientist - the sun is in the center of the Solar System
What did Galileo create? Telescope
How fast does light travel? 186,000 mi. / second
What is in the center of our Solar System? Sun
Who knows the names of all the stars? God
What color is Mars? Red
How can we tell the temperature of a star? By its' color

Next week, we will build a "to-scale" model of the Solar System and create a mnemonic to memorize the order of the planets! See you then!

Web Links for Astronomy

I was going to compile a list of weblinks for astronomy games and activities. In my search, I found another homeschooler had done the work for me. Yippee!

Please be aware, some of the sites may not present the material from a Creationist's view. Be mindful of this as your child explores them. Overall, I believe they will enrich the study of astronomy this year.

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/astronomy.htm

Field Trip Opportunity

(I am not organizing this, just passing along the information. However, I have signed up for it. If you come, you will see us there!)

Wednesday October 15 at 11am
Heritage Planetarium in Maryville, TN
Catch a Planetarium Show and a Lazer Show!
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket $1 per person!
Lazer Spirit Lazer Show $2 per person!
Do one, or do both! Allow 2+ hours for both activities
E-mail an RSVP to HSPassport@aol.com and you will be provided payment mailing info!

Fall Semester Syllabus

Astronomy with Apologetics Fall Semester 2008
Required Text: Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Jeannie Fulbright

You will be expected to read the assigned reading and answer the questions out of the book orally in class. I will not require written answers unless students are unable to provide the answers. All reading and assignments are due the week after they are assigned.

Each student will be assigned one “In Class Presentation.” These:
* have an assigned topic and assigned date for presenting
* need at least one visual aid – BE CREATIVE!
* need to be between 7-10 minutes in length
* have a Biblical focus when possible – tie in scripture, religious beliefs of the time period (i.e. Mercury is named for a Roman God), etc…

Because I am not requiring very much written homework, your main effort needs to be placed on your “In Class Presentation.” Your class peers and I will give you evaluations on your efforts so, do your best! You will be assigned your topic and your date for presentation.
Our class time will be used to supplement your reading at home. We will be performing hands-on experiments, have lively discussions, and, occasionally, use media productions to enhance the material we are studying.

There are additional assignments throughout your Exploring Creation with Astronomy book. (We will be doing most of the hands-on “Activities” in class.) These additional assignments are recommended, but optional. Parents, you will decide if your child would benefit from these additional assignments. I will not ask for them in class, but would love to see them if your child would like to share them with me. These additional assignments will provide a nice notebook reference for material learned.

REWARD BOX – My philosophy is to reward students for pursuing knowledge “on their own.” Therefore, each week your child may earn a reward by bringing in something they have learned about the science of Astronomy. This can be information about a planet or star, a model they have built, a picture they have drawn, a fact sheet they have made, a synopsis of an article they have read, a short paragraph about an astronaut, or even any of the optional assignments out of the book, etc… Your child will share what they have learned with the class and then receive a “reward” out of the reward box.

ITEMS NEEDED – shoe boxes, paper towel tubes

Astronomy with Apologetics Syllabus Fall Semester 2008
Required Text: Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Jeannie Fulbright

Class Supplies needed each week – a folder or notebook for this class, a pencil, a “willing to learn” attitude!

8/21 Orientation, Semester Overview, Assign Reports
Assignment: Read p. 2-9, be able to explain orally what you have learned
8/28 Solar System Mnemonic, To-Scale Model of Solar System
Assignment: Read p. 12-18, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
9/4 Rotation and Revolution, Exploring the Sun’s Power
Assignment: Read p. 20-25, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
9/11 Prism, Eclipse, Play-dough Model of Sun
Assignment: Read p. 30-36, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
9/18 Craters, Draw and label our solar system
Assignment: No reading assignment this week. Use your extra time to work on your “In Class Presentation.”
9/25 PRESENTATIONS AND POPCORN
Assignment: Search your Bible and find at least 5 verses about God’s creation of the universe. Write them neatly on a piece of notebook paper. Bonus Assignment: Bring in the words to a Christian song about God’s creation and/or write a poem or draw a picture about God’s creation of the universe! Feel free to get creative!
10/2 Lava, Apologetics Focus (Continue Presentations if needed)
Assignment: Read p. 40-47, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
10/9 Radar, Venus
Assignment: Read p. 52-63, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter. Be sure you understand why the Earth is different than all the other planets. We will be doing the assignment on p. 63 making “Earth For Sale” signs during the next class.
10/16 Earth – Why is it perfect? “Earth For Sale” Signs
Assignment: No reading assignment this week. Use your extra time to work on your “In Class Presentation” and enjoy your break!
10/23 Fall Break – possible field trip to Creation Museum
10/30 Review of what we have learned, The Moon, Gravity
Assignment: Read p. 66-74, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
11/6 PRESENTATIONS AND POPCORN
Assignment: Write a paragraph (at least!) comparing the Big Bang Theory to what the Bible says about how the Earth was created. Which one makes more sense to you? How would you persuade someone who believed in the Big Bang theory?
11/13 Telescopes, Mars
Assignment: Read p. 78-85, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
11/20 Exploring Polar Ice Caps with Dry Ice, Sublimation
Assignment: No reading assignment this week. Use your extra time to work on your “In Class Presentation” and enjoy your break!
11/27 Thanksgiving
12/4 PRESENTATIONS AND POPCORN
Assignment: Draw a picture, build a model, write a poem or something else creative to show your favorite object from Space discussed so far in class. Choose a scripture verse to go with it.
12/11 “Spaced Out” Party – share your creations with the class, taste some REAL astronaut food, review our year and see what you have to look forward to next semester!