
The Secret Lives of Stars
Topics Covered
- Stellar Life Cycle
Lesson Description
Students will investigate how astronomers observe stars, determine the various life cycle stages stars go through, and relate those stages to the current stage of the Sun.
Central Question: How do scientists know that stars go through a life cycle? What determines whether a star will end up as a black hole or a black dwarf? What are the phases of the life cycle of a star? What part of its life cycle is the Sun currently in?
Instructional Objective: NGSS HS-ESS1-1: Earth's Place in the Universe- Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the sun’s core to release energy that eventually reaches Earth in the form of radiation. DCI ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars- The star called the sun is changing and will burn out over a lifespan of approximately 10 billion years. DCI PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life-Nuclear Fusion processes in the center of the sun release the energy that ultimately reaches Earth as radiation.
Learning Outcomes
-
Learning Outcome #1: How scientists know that stars go through a life cycle.
-
Learning Outcome #2: What determines the fate of a star.
-
Learning Outcome #3: Life cycle phases of a star.
-
Learning Outcome #4: The part of its life cycle the Sun is currently in.
Prerequisites
-
Stellar Vocabulary
-
Nebula
-
Protostar
-
Nuclear Fusion
-
Neutron Star
-
Black Hole
-
Main Sequence
-
Red Giant
Previous Versions
Topics Covered
- Stellar Life Cycle
Lesson Description
Students will investigate how astronomers observe stars, determine the various life cycle stages stars go through, and relate those stages to the current stage of the Sun.
Central Question: How do scientists know that stars go through a life cycle? What determines whether a star will end up as a black hole or a black dwarf? What are the phases of the life cycle of a star? What part of its life cycle is the Sun currently in?
Instructional Objective: NGSS HS-ESS1-1: Earth's Place in the Universe- Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the sun’s core to release energy that eventually reaches Earth in the form of radiation. DCI ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars- The star called the sun is changing and will burn out over a lifespan of approximately 10 billion years. DCI PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life-Nuclear Fusion processes in the center of the sun release the energy that ultimately reaches Earth as radiation.
Learning Outcomes
-
Learning Outcome #1: How scientists know that stars go through a life cycle.
-
Learning Outcome #2: What determines the fate of a star.
-
Learning Outcome #3: Life cycle phases of a star.
-
Learning Outcome #4: The part of its life cycle the Sun is currently in.
Prerequisites
-
Stellar Vocabulary
-
Nebula
-
Protostar
-
Nuclear Fusion
-
Neutron Star
-
Black Hole
-
Main Sequence
-
Red Giant