Navigator 2--The Sun's Path

I just got back from my yearly trip up to Ellenville for the STANYS (Science Teachers Association of New York State) Convention. I had a great time talking shop with other science teachers from all over New York State. I also got a lot of cool ideas that I plan to use in the classroom.


As of the beginning of this marking period, I will be writing my lesson plans in a different format. It seems that MAYOR BLOOMBERG wants the lesson plans in more detail and dated. He also wants a rubric for every single assignment. I have a feeling that I am going to be writing a lot on this blog. So that all this work won't go for nothing, I am sharing these plans with as many other science teachers as I can. Besides being a member of STANYS, I am also a member of SCONYC (Science Council of New York City), NSTA (National Science Teachers of America), New York Biology Teacher's Association, National Earth Science Teachers Association, and many more. I hope other teachers will comment on my plans.

LESSON PLANS FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007

Tomorrow we will be starting the "Navigator's Badge". Students must complete a series of tasks in order to get a badge.

Originally I had simply given a list of tasks to be completed. However, MAYOR BLOOMBERG says that this is not enough. I had to give in detail the exact meaning of a 4, 3, 2, or a 1. Just saying ALL, MOST, SOME, OR TOO LITTLE is not enough. Students need to know what they have to do to qualify for each grade.

I have therefore, decided to revise badges into four components. Originally, Badges meant PASS OR FAIL. Now, completing each component will bring the student closer to a "Four". Only those who complete a badge will receive a grade of four.

Navigator 1

Students will use a protractor to construct an azimuth chart.
Students will use a compass and their azimuth chart to locate neighborhood landmarks.
Students will find use the sun's shadow to find the azimuth of the sun.
Students will use a protractor, string, and weight to construct an astrolabe.
Students will use the astrolab to locate the altitude of an object.

Navigator 2

Students will use a plastic hemisphere to plot the path of the sun across the sky using data from the US Naval Observatory.
Students will use a plastic hemisphere to plot the path of the moon across the sky using data from the US Naval Observatory.
Students will use a circle graph to plot the position of Polaris and other prominant objects of the November sky as they change throughout the night.

Navigator 3

Students will use a protactor to construct a two-dimensional representation of a globe.
Students will use a protractor to construct lines of latitude on the globe.
Students will develop a method of establishing lines of longitude.
Students will compare and contrast their method of longitud with the standard method.
Students will be able to use lines of latitude and longitude to locate specific points on Earth.

Navigator 4

Students will be able to use their prior knowledge of maps and sky charts to ask and answer a question using the scientific method.

The GOOD NEWS is that my classes have completed the tasks for Navigator 1 already! Been there done that in September.

So TOMORROW...

LESSON PLAN: THE SUN'S PATH

OBJECTIVE: SWBAT use a plastic hemisphere to plot the path of the sun.

MATERIALS: Plastic Hemisphere, Exterior protractors, Data for altitude and azimuth of sun and moon for Wednesday, Nov. 7. Stickers

CHALLENGE: Distribute hemispheres. Ask a student to place a sticker somewhere on one plastic hemisphere. Ask the other students to devise a method of placing a sticker on the exact location on their hemispheres. After 5 minutes students share their experiences. Have a short discussion.

MODEL: Show students how to use the azimuth chart and the exterior protractor to locate a position.

BUILD THE SKILL: Give students a set of coordinates for the Sun at 7:00 AM. Ask them to place a sticker at those coordinates. Walk around the room and monitor their progress. Correct errors.

SCAFFOLD AND DIFFERENTIATE: As each group finishes, give them another set of coordinates. Allow students to progress at their own pace. Give additional help to those who need it.

ANALYZE: As the materials are being collected, students write a short paragraph about the sun's apparent path across the sky.

HOMEWORK: 1. Ask three questions that you CAN answer about the path of the sun today. 2. Ask three questions that you cannot answer about the sun's path. 3. Read pages ---- in your textbook. Ask and Answer two or three quesions per paragraph.




Data used:

Astronomical Applications Dept.
U.S. Naval Observatory
Washington, DC 20392-5420

NEW YORK, NEW YORK
o , o ,
W 73 55, N40 44

Altitude and Azimuth of the Sun
Nov 7, 2007
Eastern Standard Time

Altitude Azimuth
(E of N)

h m o o
06:00 -6.7 105.7
07:00 4.1 115.4
08:00 13.7 126.1
09:00 22.1 138.4
10:00 28.5 152.7
11:00 32.3 168.8
12:00 32.8 185.9
13:00 30.0 202.4
14:00 24.3 217.3
15:00 16.4 230.2
16:00 7.1 241.3
17:00 -3.4 251.3

Standards: 1.1h The apparent motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars acrtoss the sky can be explained by Earth's rotation and revolution.

Skills: Measure the angular elevation of an object using appropriate instruments