OUT OF THIS WORLD AND INTO OUR CLASSROOM
SUBJECT/CONTENT AREA
- Math/Science - Astronomy unit
- The students will be able to apply problem-solving concepts in math
and science to an Astronomy unit through the use of Internet resources.
The students will create projects on Astronomy developing their
The students will be using the following mathematic
concepts:
with their projects. The students will be also using Local
Learner Outcomes for seventh grade mathematics. Letter writing skills
and reading will be reinforced . The historical significance will be researched.
CONTEXT/SETTING/ENVIRONMENT
- Curriculum: Science Astronomy unit that covers an introduction, basic
facts, terms, activities, and enrichment
- Math units on ratio, proportion, measurement, problem-solving, computation,
estimation, and number theory
Setting: The students will be working on an integrated unit as part of the
Museum in
the Classroom and ISBE
Project. The unit involves using the sky as a natural laboratory (quoting
Adler's home page) and connecting students and teachers from many disciplines
to the wonder of the universe and to each other. The unit will start within
the first few weeks of school. We will be working with 25 schools throughout
the state of Illinois; Adler
Planetarium and Museum, plus Staerkel Planetarium in Champaign, and
Lakeview Planetarium in Peoria; and University of Chicago graduate students.
The students will be actively
engaged in learning mathematics as they are completing their projects
on Astronomy.
Environment: one computer connected to the Internet in the classroom, with
hardware and software enabling the students to e-mail, videoconference,
do on-line chats, create panoramas and video clips
TIME FRAME FOR COMPLETING THE PROJECT
The Astronomy unit will be the framework. The unit lasts for seven weeks,
although the students will be encouraged to continue expanding and investigating
for the rest of the school year on their own. The Internet will be used
at least once a week for a class period. Discussions will be daily during
the seven week period and thereafter as needed. The students will also have
access to the Internet during their resource period (22 minutes, the other
half of their lunch period).
LEARNER DESCRIPTION
The seven grade team of 150 students is separated into five classes, includes
ADD, learning disabilities, lots of parental support, and businesses.
LEARNER OUTCOMES
Students will be able to use ratio, proportion, measurement, problem-solving,
computation, estimation, and number theory in a project on Astronomy. Students
will establish criteria to develop a WWW engaged/Astronomy-based learning
project. Students will create multiple HTML pages in the same folder that
contain links to each other on Astronomy, their school, and Adler. Students
will also create panoramas using QTVR.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment of students involved in the project will be performance-based.
Students will be evaluated in both Science and Math using a Rubric. Assessments will be used throughout the project.
TEACHER TIPS
These sites are helpful for both students and teachers. The sites link to
Science, Mathematics,
and Education, especially middle school
level. If you are interested in learning more about QuickTime VR and viewing
samples, try QuickTime VR.
Check this site later when the students
projects have been completed and they have created web pages and panoramas
about their projects and their school. The pages from the school year: 96-97 are found on the Adler Connecting to the Universe web pages, use Grissom
Background courtesy of Dr. Bob
Author: Sharon White, swhite@kiwi.dep.anl.gov, Grissom Junior High School, Timley PARk, IL.
Created for The Fermilab LInC program sponsored by the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Education Office and
Friends of Fermilab and supported by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Selection of the Top Ten LInC Projects was funded by North
Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium.
Last updated: Septmeber 19, 1997
http://www-ed.fnal.gov/linc/projects/white/presentation.html
