THE UNIVERSE

We will start studying about the universe on Monday, March 7th.  The state of Utah expects your child to learn the following standard and meet these two objectives:

Standard:Students will understand the scale of size, distance between objects, movement, and apparent motion (due to Earth’s rotation) of objects in the universe and how cultures have understood, related to and used these objects in the night sky.

Objective 1: Compare the size and distance of objects within systems in the universe.

Objective 2: Describe the appearance and apparent motion of groups of stars in the night sky relative to Earth and how various cultures have understood and used them.

In the next three weeks we will be reading and learning about the universe we live in so that students can reach this state science benchmark:

The solar system consists of planets, moons, and other smaller objects including asteroids and comets that orbit the sun. Planets in the solar system differ in terms of their distance from the sun, number of moons, size, composition, and ability to sustain life. Every object exerts gravitational force on every other object depending on the mass of the objects and the distance between them. The sun’s gravitational pull holds Earth and other planets in orbit. Earth’s gravitational force holds the moon in orbit. The sun is one of billions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, that is one of billions of galaxies in the universe. Scientists use a variety of tools to investigate the nature of stars, galaxies and the universe. Historically, cultures have observed objects in the sky and understood and used them in various ways.

Here is the link for the shared reading and activities related to teaching about our universe.
http://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/science/core/6th/TRB6/default.htm

The following vocabulary will be taught and reviewed in class:
Science Language Students Need to Understand and Use
1. constellation:  a pattern in the stars that has been identified and named
2. galaxy:  a group of millions of stars held together by gravity
3. light-years:  the distance light can travel in one year
4. Milky Way Galaxy:  a group of about 200 billion stars formed in a disk-shaped spiral that 
    contains our solar system
5. speed of light:  186,000 miles per second or 300,000 kilometers per second
6. universe:  the space that consists of all matter and all light and other forms of radiation and 
    energy