Mission Sunny Star

Introduction

5,4,3,2,1 Lift off!!! Today we are traveling into space to study the distance of the Sun from the Earth. Grab your co-pilot and download your instructions, as you will need to have these completed to get permission to fly!

- The lab is in need of brave space scientist who are not scared to look at the sun. In order to complete your mission and head into space, we have to preform some training task to ensure you are ready to take to the sky. 

Here are your training tasks- complete them as you go through your training tasks. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hk7kr0uacuBA0wx9PAjdy1lwzsTWSPq1FVpVrvxugmA/edit

Task

Along with your co-pilot (partner), you will be completing the training exercises to prepare you for space. Fill out your task sheet as you run through your training task using all the resources provided. 

Training task checklist- 

_ Video Viewing

_Website exploration

_Image analyzing 

It is also important to read all the text throughout your training to ensure you do not miss a single thing! 

Process

Here at headquarters, we want to make sure you are as prepared as possible before you begin your mission. Through your research, you will be collecting information on the Sun and how it impacts the Earth. Our job here at headquarters working with Mission Sunny Star is to provide you with the most information possible. Your job is to make sure it is recorded and learned so you can apply what you learn in space. Let’s get started with some basic terms to ensure you understand the vocabulary being used throughout your training task.

Sun- star in which the Earth orbits 

Earth- the planet in which we live

 

Training Task 1: 

Why is the Sun so much brighter than other stars? Watch the video and complete “Training Task 1” on your Mission Guide and find out what to add to your research before your mission.

 

Training Task 2: 

Now that you have completed task one with your co-pilot, move to the website we provided for you here at headquarters. We want we you to know the importance of the Sun and if it is different or not so different than other stars. Keep researching to find out!

https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/sun_for_kids_main.html

Along with this website explore https://starlust.org/how-big-is-the-sun/ to learn more facts about the Sun and how it compares to other stars. Start at 4 on the table of contents and learn more about the Sun in comparison with planets and other stars. 

Here is your next piece of information from headquarters. Move to training task two on your mission guide to follow along and record your information. 

 

Training Task 3:

We have established through our research that though the Sun looks like the brightest from Earth, but it is not! It’s not even the biggest. Let’s take a look at the image to see just how much smaller the sun is compared to other stars. Complete Task three in your mission guide to proceed to the final part of our mission training.

How Big is The Sun? Size, Comparison & Facts

 

Evaluation

You are almost done with you training tasks. Keep going! Using the knowledge you have gained through your training tasks to complete the google form with your co-pilot to prove to us that you are ready to take flight. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfr7WczTKOE7hHOqsTN55NQgG7urpLiB1uZtf43k7LRWbKsHw/viewform?usp=sf_link

After the link is submitted, turn in your mission guide to Miss Guin. Then you and and your co-pilot will use the materials at the front of the classroom to create a model to compare the distance of the Sun to the Earth compared to other stars. Use the cut out shapes and measure using your ruler to make a poster to present to the class the importance of the Sun being so close to Earth. Your ruler is important to show the scale, as we can not really model the distance from the Sun to Earth here in the classroom. Follow the direction sheet that is placed next to the cut out shapes at the front of the classroom. 

Conclusion

Congratulations! You are ready to take flight. Mission Sunny Star will be commanded by you and your team. Those of us at head quarters are so proud. Get ready and pack your bags, because you are going to be traveling to space soon!

Great work-

Headquarters

Credits

References: 

24, F. M. D., & 1, J. J. (2023, January 30). How big is the sun? size, comparison & facts. StarLust. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://starlust.org/how-big-is-the-sun/ 

Dunbar, B. (n.d.). Why do we want to know more about our sun? NASA. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/sun_for_kids_main.html 

A Star's distance from Earth affects its brightness: Mightyowl science: 5th grade. YouTube. (2022, March 3). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://youtu.be/nwAS0HhRk5M 

Teacher Page

5-ESS1-1

Performance Expectation: Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from the Earth.

Clarification Statement: Examples include the relative distances of the stars, but not the sizes. It does not include other factors that affect apparent brightness (such as stellar masses, age, stage).

DCI: THE UNIVERSE AND ITS STARS
The sun is a star that appears larger and brighter than other stars because it is closer. Stars range greatly in their distance from Earth. (UE.ESS1A.a)
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