Living with a Star
From Sunscreen to Space Weather
GEMS Teachers Guide® for Grades
68
Written by David Glaser, Kevin Beals,
Stephen Pompea, Carolyn Willard
Our star, the Sun. All life on Earth depends on its "steady"
supply of heat and light. But the Suns output is actually
tremendously variable, and includes much more than just these
two energies. In Living with a Star, students become solar
scientists, studying fascinating aspects of the Sun and Earth
and the critical connections between the two.
Challenged to resolve a confounding mystery on Earth, in which
strange things happen in the sky and to technology on the ground,
students use research techniques, data collection, and time analysis
to determine the likely culprit (the Sun!). To confirm their suspicions,
students investigate the full array of solar output, and discover
that a whole spectrum of electromagnetic energies, as well as
a continuous wind of solar energetic particles, sweep past our
planet every day. They learn that Earth is bombarded much more
intensely by these energies and particles during periods of high
solar activity.
In an activity about risks from ultraviolet radiation, students
discover that Earth is naturally protected from most of the Suns
harmful effects by two shields, our atmosphere and our permanent
magnetic field, the magnetosphere. They realize that our skin
acts as a third "shield" from the potentially damaging
effects of ultraviolet light, and conduct controlled experiments
on how best to protect themselves from UV (including risks from
the thinning of the ozone layer). In a risk-assessment activity,
students do research, gather data, make and interpret graphs,
gauge risk factors, and engage in a simulation activity. In the
process they generate ideas about predicting solar storms and
minimizing potential damage, and gain valuable experience in risk
assessment, making considered choices, and assessing priorities
now and in the futurefor themselves, their communities,
and the planet as a whole.
Over the course of this unit students engage in activities that
lead them to discover for themselves the potential risks of living
with a star, and about many important and standards-based concepts
in earth science, space science and technology, physics, and health
science.
This GEMS guide comes with a Living with a Star CD-ROM
and links to a parallel website. These resources supplement the
unit with exciting, highly visual connections, including articles,
movies, scientist interviews, Web links, and extension activities
that expand on themes in the guide.
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