Access the full demonstrator in the Inspiring Science Education website. You can also download the PDF.
Students learn about Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and their effects on human civilization. In their attempt to predict if they will observe a Coronal Mass Ejection, they use scientific data to construct a diagram of the number of Coronal Mass Ejections over time and they try to spot a pattern. They also compare this diagram with various diagrams of sunspots over time linking CMEs with the solar cycle. They discuss about the scientific practices that they implemented and the importance of expressing a prediction by using possibilities.
15-16
2.5-3 school hours.
Cognitive
– To know that the activity of the Sun is changing according to the 11 year
cycle.
– To know that the Coronal Mass Ejections and the sunspots are
phenomena occurring at the Sun.
– To know that phenomena occurring at the Sun can affect our lives on
Earth.
– To know that the Corona Borealis is related to the Sun.
– To understand that there is always some uncertainty to a scientific
prediction.
– To identify a Coronal Mass Ejection when looking at the solar disk (at an
appropriate filter).
– To realize the complexity of making a prediction.
– To realize that there are many factors in organizing and implementing
an observation.
Affective
– To wonder about the credibility of a prediction.
– To improve their attitude towards science.
Psychomotor
– To be able to construct and read a table.
– To be able to construct and read a diagram.
– To improve their cooperation skills.
Soon.
Soon.