NSTA 2006 Proposal: Spectroscope
NSTA 2007 Scale Models in Astronomy
Workshop Proposal proposal ID number is: 1134769
Presenters
Field / Presenter 1First Name / Marc
Middle Name
Last Name / Wetzel
Dept / McDonald Observatory
School/Inst / The University of Texas at Austin
Work Address / HC 75 Box 1337 MCD
Work City / Fort Davis
Work State / TX
Work Zip / 79734
Work Country / USA
Home Address / 16120 State Highway Spur 78
Home City / Fort Davis
Home State / TX
Home Zip / 79734
Home Country / USA
Work Phone / 432-426-3672
Home Phone / 432-426-3680
Fax / 432-426-3641
Email /
Session Data
NSTA 2007 strand alignment? / NoStrands
Biomedical/Biotechnology, Technology Showcase, Assessment, Safety / N/A
Session Title / Scale Models in Astronomy
Session Description
limit to 25 words / Perform hands-on activities involving scale models from the solar system to galaxies. Receive a printed copy of the StarDate "The Solar System"
Type of Session
Hands on Workshop, Presentation (30, 60 minutes) Short Course (half, full day) / Hands-on workshop– 60 minutes
Session Demographics
Earth/Space, Biology/Life, Chem/Physical, Environmental, Integrated/General, Physics/Physical / Earth/Space
Intended Audience
Preschool, Elementary, Middle, High, College, Informal / Elementary, Middle
National Standard Focus
Science Teaching, Professional Dev, Assessment, Science Content, Sci Ed Program, Sci Ed System / Science Content
A/V Equipment
VHS with 25” Monitor, LCD projector, Overhead projector / LCD Projector
Session Participants
50-99, 100+ / 50-99
Safety
My session will address the chosen NSES by… / Providing activities aligned with NSES content standards.
Session Abstract
150 to 200 words / The process of modeling will be addressed in several ways. Scale models of everyday objects will introduce the concept of modeling. Participants will begin by making a play-dough model of some "mystery objects in the solar system" – that are revealed to be the Earth-moon system (scaled in both volume and distance). They will then extend their model to other objects in the solar system, the local solar neighborhood, our galaxy – The Milky Way, and the local group of galaxies. Throughout the presentation, participants will be informed of common student misconceptions concerning scale models and the distances involved in astronomical research.
Standards include National Science Education Content standards for Earth/Space (objects in the sky and Earth in the Solar System) and Unifying Concepts and Processes Standards. Mathematics will include simple arithmetic, measuring, and estimation.
Support from NASA for the production and printing of the publication "StarDate: The Solar System" is gratefully acknowledged.
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