Science Challenge

For the Science Challenge I decided I would address from the State Core for Science for 3rd grade:

Standard 1

Students will understand that the shape of Earth and the moon are spherical and that Earth rotates on its axis to produce the appearance of the sun and moon moving through the sky.

Objective 2
Describe the movement of Earth and the moon and the apparent movement of other bodies through the sky.

b. Use a chart to show that the moon orbits Earth approximately every 28 days.

As far as pedagogy, I would make sure that the students understood and met the objective through assessing them in the form of a chart. I would have the students draw the various phases of the moon to depict how when the moon orbits the Earth it appears differently to us here. The students would record what the moon looked like on each day by drawing a picture of the way it looked and recording what the phase was for that day. If the students could successfully do that as well as write how this shows the moon orbits the Earth then they will have showed me that they understand the material.

For my technology, I will have the students use the program Stellarium. This program makes it possible to view the night sky from the earth on any given day, in the future or the past. Using this tool the students can observe the night sky even when the sky is too cloudy to really see from their homes. This technology will allow the students to observe the moon phases regardless of their circumstances or the circumstances of the night. Each student will be able to complete the assignment with the help of this tool. Students will also be able to use World Wind, a program that allows one to be able to explore the surface of the earth, moon, and other planets. The students will be able to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the moon and how it orbits the earth as they learn more about each of these planets. They will also be able to meet 3rd grade Standard 1, objective 1c; List the differences in the physical appearance of Earth and the moon as viewed from space. They will be able to learn make a chart of the attributes of the Earth and the attributes of the moon. Both these technologies will help the students successfully achieve the objectives and enhance their understanding through this experience of virtually looking at the earth and moon and really being able to SEE what is occurring.