Studying MORE About The Sun 9-11

Sorry, I didn't take any pictures this week. However, the reason is because we were so busy learning in class! (I'm challenging your children! Ha-ha!)

Today, we reviewed all of Chapter two from the text. Students orally answered the questions posed and we enjoyed a Socratic dialogue about the topics from the book. The scripture used in class today was Psalm 19:1, and it supplies an answer to the purpose of our astounding skies!

During this discussion, I gave them a general definition of thermonuclear fusion by drawing a simple picture on the white board of Hydrogen atoms exploding to form Helium atoms. The chemical element abbreviations were used.

I also taught them the terms umbra and penumbra. These refer to the shadow, and these terms are used often to describe an eclipse. (Umbra is the Latin term for shadow and the word "umbrella" uses the same root word.) Your children should remember which term refers to a complete shadow. :-)

The students learned another mnemonic to memorize the order of the color spectrum. ROY G. BIV (pronounced just like a name) R-red O-orange Y-yellow G-green B-blue I-indigo V-violet. This order is never altered. The spectrum is another thing that God designed with SEVEN components!

After our discussion, I divided the students into three "centers." All students rotated through all three during the remainder of class.

Center One -
1 - Students drew a color spectrum with the mnemonic above it. (They will receive a prize next week if they know it!)
2 - Center One worked on creating a poster containing pictures and fact we have learned about the Sun.

Center Two -
1- Students colored and labeled the layers and outer portion of the Sun. New vocabulary was introduced, but I felt the kids should have some exposure to the words.
2 - Students answered 10 True/False questions about the Sun.

Center Three -
1- A "top" was spun so the "axis" of the Earth could be visualized.
2- We directed a flashlight onto a white surface and then a black surface. You children should remember which color absorbed the light.
3- Using a flashlight (Sun), a ball (Moon), and a globe (Earth) we were able to model a Solar and Lunar Eclipse. What was the umbra?
4- A crystal refracted the light from the flashlight to project many color spectrums onto the wall! Guess what? They were all in the same order - ROY G BIV!

We ended class today reviewing the True/False questions! Your kids did FANTASTIC! Be sure you ask to see their Sun model. I was impressed with their artistic ability!

By the way, I LOVE what your children are learning at home and the creative ways they are sharing it! We have had some incredible drawings, short reports, magazine articles, etc... Encourage them to learn on their own! They are rewarded in class for bringing some "new knowledge" to share! Remember, it doesn't need to be fancy, but it does need to be written down on paper.

Your children are a joy! I hope they are enjoying this class, because I have certainly been blessed to teach it!

DON'T FORGET THE FIRST PRESENTATIONS ARE DUE IN TWO WEEKS!!