| Activity |
Overview of Activity |
Learning Goals |
Materials |
Standards |
Grade Level |
| Charting the Progress of New Horizons |
Students will learn that the New Horizons poster depicts a scale drawing
of the Solar System. They will use the poster to track the true progress
of the spacecraft. |
S—Understanding the long distances and timescales involved in space travel.
M —Using fractions and multiplication to change scales/units. |
• Poster
• Student activity sheet
• Pencil
• Ruler (cm)
|
S—D: Objects in the Sky; E: Abilities of Technological Design
M —Measurement; Number and Operations; Problem Solving |
Grades 2-5 |
| Where Are We Going? |
Students take imaginary trips through the Solar System on a spacebus
and use math skills to find out the next spacebus stop. |
S—Understanding the order and distances of the planets from the Sun.
M —Problem solving using multiplication, rounding and fractions. |
• Student activity sheet
• Pencil
|
S—D: Objects in the Sky
M —Number and Operations; Problem Solving |
Grades 2-5 |
| Modeling the Orbits of the Planets |
Students will make a scale model of the orbits of the outer planets and explore the peculiarities of Pluto's orbit. |
S —Understanding the scale of the Solar System. Learning about Pluto's elliptical and inclined orbit. |
• Student activity sheet (copied onto card stock if possible)
• Pencil, markers
• Scissors
• Paper clips
• Glue/Glue stick/Tape
|
S —A: Abilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry; D: Objects in the Sky |
Grades K-5 |
| Growing Up With A Mission |
Students will measure their height, analyze the heights of classmates,
and predict their height at the time New Horizons is scheduled to fly by
Pluto using a growth chart. |
S—Using a model and measurements to make predictions.
M—Collecting data and finding the mean, mode, and median.
Graphing points on a Cartesian coordinate system. |
• Student activity sheet
• Pencil
|
M —Measurement; Data Analysis and Probability |
Grades 2-5 |
| Looking to the Future |
Students will examine aspects of their life now and predict what it will be like in the future when New Horizons is scheduled to fly by Pluto. |
S —Understanding the long timescales of space travel. Predicting and proposing technological solutions that could be used in the future. |
• Student activity sheet
• Pencil and Markers
•Scissors
•Paper towel tube
•Wrapping paper
•String or Ribbon
|
S—Abilities of Technological Design
E —5: Use the writing process to communicate; 8: Use technological resources to gather and synthesize information |
Grades 2-5 |
| Last Year on Pluto |
Students will determine the length of one year on the nine planets and match historical events that occurred on Earth one year ago on these planets. |
S—Learning the astronomical meaning of a year and the timescales
associated with planets with large orbits. |
• Student activity sheet
• Pencil
|
S—A: Abilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry |
Grades 2-5 |
