Name:

GRADE 7 ASTRONOMY

At the conclusion of this unit you will understand that…

• Our galaxy has a variety of components that may affect each other.
• The motion of the objects in the sky is predictable.
• Technological advances have improved space exploration.

Inquiring scientific minds will be able to answer these essential questions...

• Why are there seasons?
• How does our Sun compare to other stars?
• How do the inner and outer planets compare?
• How are asteroids, meteors, meteorites, and comets similar and different from each other?
• How is the moon’s orbit related to its phases and how does this orbit affect the Earth/moon/Sun system?
• What types of technology have been used in the past and are used currently to explore space?
• How does each phase of the Moon compare to the others?
• What is the difference between rotation and revolution?
• What is the Star cycle?

Key Scientific Concepts/Vocabulary…

asteroid	axis	big bang	black hole	comet
constellation	corona	moon	ellipse	galaxy
phases	full moon	crescent moon	gibbous moon	waning moon
waxing moon	new moon	planet	Mercury	Venus
earth	Mars	Jupiter	Saturn	Uranus
Neptune	Pluto	light year	meteor	meteorite
nebula	supernova	nova	orbit	telescope
satellite	rotation	solar system	solstice	Copernicus
Galileo	Kepler	Geocentric Theory	Heliocentric Theory	tides
lunar eclipse	solar eclipse	star	universe

Young astronomers will be able to….

• Differentiate the effects of the Earth’s rotation and revolution.
• Demonstrate what causes the seasons to change.
• Identify phases of the moon and the cause.
• Demonstrate by illustration the solar and lunar eclipse.
• Select appropriate lab equipment.
• Demonstrate safe and appropriate use of lab equipment.
• Effectively communicate results.