1. Star Light, Star Bright, Let’s Explore Light
Using CELEST Brightness Lab
In Middle School Astronomy
Grade 7 Science

2. From the earliest civilizations, humans have gazed at the heavens and wondered….

3. Humans have created technologies to explore what their eyes could see…

4. and pursued scientific inquiry to understand the mysteries of the lights in the sky.

5. Module Standards NJ Core Curriculum Standards
5.1 Scientific Processes
5.3 Mathematical Applications
5.4 Nature and Process of Technology
5.5 Characteristics of Life
5.7 Physics
5.9 Astronomy and Space Science

6. Essential Questions What are the properties of light?
How does the human nervous system process light?
How has technology aided our understanding of light?
Can we apply our understanding of light to explore the cosmos?
What new discoveries and applications can we imagine?

7. Key Concepts Light …. …stimulates the human optical system
…shapes human perceptions of the universe
…is electromagnetic energy
…can be converted to other forms of energy
…can be measured
…can be reflected, refracted, diffracted, and scattered
…is emitted by stars
…travels through the vacuum of space
…is the C in E=MC2
…has technological applications

8. Components Focus Reflect Explore Apply
Does the human optical system function like a digital camera?
Can you use your eyes to adjust brightness like a computer imaging program?
Reflect
How does the human brain see?
What are the energy transformations in the human optical system that allow sight?
Explore
CELEST Brightness Lab
Activity centers for reflection, refraction, diffraction, and scattering
Apply
Use the brightness illusion to design …
A new product package
A poster for a charitable cause
Signage to aid the vision impaired

9. How This Fits Into an Astronomy Unit
Time Frame: 9-Week Module, 60-minute daily class period
Weeks 4-6
Properties of Light
The Stars
Light and Earth’s Atmosphere
Weeks 7-9
Mission to Mars
Post-Module Project
Constellation Journal
Pre-Module Project
Seasonal Change Journal
Weeks 1-3
Latitude, Longitude, Time
Earth-Sun Relationships
Plant Responses to Light

10. Tools Assessments Strategies Prisms Mirrors Lenses Light meters
Spectroscopes
Digital cameras
Laptop computers
Assessments
Observation
Interactive notebooks
Lab report
Projects
Quizzes
Unit Test
Strategies
Independent work
Collaborative work
Simulations
Modeling
Investigation
Experimentation
Reflection
Primary research
Secondary research

11. Humanities Connections
Matsuoka Shiki- Various Haiku
Ray Bradbury- Dark They Were and Golden Eyed
Henry David Thoreau- Walden
Legends of Native American Tribes
Gutav Holst- The Planets
Van Gogh- Starry Night
Social Studies
Physical Geography Themes

12. Coming to Eisenhower Middle School
Wyckoff, New Jersey
September 2007