Don Boonstra - sySTEMec LLC Jessica Swann - ASU Mars Education Program September 2014 How to Use Natural Events as NGSS Aligned Teachable Moments
Dec 31, 2015
Don Boonstra - sySTEMec LLCJessica Swann - ASU Mars Education Program September 2014
How to Use Natural Events as NGSS Aligned Teachable
Moments
Types of Natural Events
Hurricanes Tsunamis Forest Fires Sea Level Rise Climate ChangeEarthquakes Comets
Volcanoes Droughts Floods
Viral OutbreaksNear-Earth Object
impacts Mass Extinctions ...
Natural Events Are:
• Relevant to Students’ Lives
• Highly Engaging
• Often the answer to “Why do we have to learn this?”
• Just in Time – Students may be hearing about this in the media
• Often scary for students.
Natural EventsEducational Opportunities
• Thematic organization for teaching Earth and Space Science
• Structure for taking advantage of current Natural Events to enhance any class
• Knowledge to reduce fear and to empower
Key Questions
• What is the event? Why does it occur?
• Where can it happen?
• What are possible threats and benefits? (Yes, benefits!)
• What are the probabilities of a range of events (e.g. small hurricanes more common than big)?
• What can be done to reduce the danger and damage and/or maximize the benefits of an event?
These general questions can be focused for each type of event.
Key Questions
• What is the event? Why does it occur?
• Where can it happen?
• What are possible threats and benefits? (Yes, benefits!)
• What are the probabilities of a range of events (e.g. small hurricanes more common than big)?
• What can be done to reduce the danger and damage and/or maximize the benefits of an event?
These general questions can be focused for each type of event.
Flexible Formats
• Deep and Broad
• Quick and Just in Time
• And everything in-between!
Deep and Broad
Natural Events provide engaging inquiry themes for learning course content
• Multiple class period investigations
• Investigate Natural Event in depth
• Use knowledge to propose strategies to mitigate damage
Quick and Just in Time
Use current natural events to energize and enhance learning of core content
• Use just one class period
• Single groups as science reporters– “news board” report, “news cast”, blog
• Whole class engagement– “news board” reports, “news casts”, blogs
NGSS Alignment
NGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONS
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES
How do Earth’s surface processes and human activities affect each other?NGSS Core Idea ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
Students will be able to
How do natural hazards affect individuals and societies?NGSS Core Idea ESS3.B: Natural Hazards
IO1: Use a model to explain a natural event or hazard and their impacts on the stability of the environment and populations
IO2: Investigate and describe viable methods to minimize impacts and maximize benefits of natural events
Instructional Objective Students will be able
Learning OutcomesStudents will demonstrate the
measurable abilities
StandardsStudents will address
IO1: Use a model to explain a natural event or hazard and their impacts on the stability of the environment and populations
LO1a. to use a model to describe the natural event or hazard and the frequency of the occurrence
LO1b. to use credible sources for research and describe impacts on the environment and populations
DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEA:ESS3.B: Natural Hazards
PRACTICES:1. Developing and Using
Models2. Constructing
Explanations and Designing Solutions
3. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
CROSSCUTTING CONCEPTS:4. Patterns5. Scale, Proportion, and
Quantity6. Cause and Effect7. Stability and Change
Objectives, Outcomes and DCIs
Instructional Objective Students will be able
Learning OutcomesStudents will demonstrate the
measurable abilities
StandardsStudents will address
IO2: Investigate and describe viable methods to minimize impacts and maximize benefits of natural events
LO2a: to describe mitigation efforts on the environment and populations
LO2b: to use credible sources to research mitigation efforts on the environment and populations
DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEA:ESS3.B: Natural Hazards
PRACTICES:1. Constructing
Explanations and Designing Solutions
2. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
CROSSCUTTING CONCEPTS:3. Cause and Effect4. Structure and Function
Objectives, Outcomes and DCIs
WHAT?Your Natural Event doesn’t fit ESS3?
NGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONS
How do Earth’s surface processes and human activities affect each other?NGSS Core Idea ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
How do natural hazards affect individuals and societies?NGSS Core Idea ESS3.B: Natural Hazards
No Worries!
Comet Siding Spring and MarsNGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONS
What is the universe, and what is Earth’s place in it? NGSS Core Question ESS1: Earth’s Place in the Universe
ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: What are predictable patterns caused by Earth’s movement in the solar system?
How can one explain and predict interactions between objects and within systems of objects? NGSS Core Question PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions.
PS2.B: Types of Interactions: What underlying forces explain the variety of interactions observed
Lesson Alignments to Common Core and 21st Century Skills
Clarifying Science through Natural Events
Example: The Close Encounter between Comet Siding Spring (C/3013 A1) and Mars
Lesson Engagement Step 1: Engage (~20 minutes)
– Hand out Comet Siding Spring and Mars and Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring.
– Ask students to read Comet Siding Spring and Mars carefully and work as a group to record what they know about comets and what they would need to learn to answer the Important questions on Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring.
– Have groups share what they know about comets and record on white board.
– Have groups share what they would need to learn and record on white board.
Comet Siding Spring and Mars
Student Sheet 1: Comet Siding Spring and Mars
On Sunday, October 19, 2014 Comet 'Siding Spring' will make a close fly-by of Mars.
The comet’s closest approach will be at 11:28 am (PT), 12:28 pm (MT), 1:28 pm (CT), 2:28 pm (ET).
Comet Siding Spring and Mars
Current estimates are that Siding Spring will be only ~82,000 miles (132,000 km) from the surface of Mars.
To give some perspective, our Moon is about 240,000 miles (385,000 km) from Earth – 3 X the distance Comet Siding Spring will be from Mars!
At the scale of our Solar System, Comet Siding Spring will be very, very close to Mars!
Comet Siding Spring and MarsThe comet will not hit Mars, but the cloud of dust particles surrounding the comet's nucleus (called the coma) may be big enough to envelop Mars and therefore the spacecraft orbiting it.
Five orbiters are currently active at Mars: 3 NASA orbiters, 1 from European (ESA), and 1 from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
In addition, NASA has two rovers on the surface of Mars, Opportunity and Curiosity.Information primarily from NASA Mars Education (http://mars.nasa.gov/comets/sidingspring/) September 20, 2014.
Student Sheet 2: Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring
What do you know about comets?
(This is the interactive part...)
Comet Siding Spring and Mars
Student Sheet 2: Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring
Important Questions
1. How could Comet Siding Spring affect Mars, Martian satellites, or Earth?
2. What are the potential threats or benefits?
What would I need to learn to answer the Important Questions?
(This is the interactive part...)
Comet Siding Spring and Mars
Explore Step 2: Explore (~25 minutes) Students do research using credible, trusted sources
Teacher Tip: If you have sufficient time, it would be ideal for students to spend more time researching the event. In this case students would find out about:• the origin of this comet• the structure of the solar system• the structure of comets, orbits and much more.
Explore
Today, you will be getting your information from our
credible, trusted NASA source...
Dr. Richard Zurek!