Astronomy

SCAS: Astronomy

SCAS.A: Content

SCAS.A.1: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the methods of observing the universe

SCAS.A.2: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about Earth and the moon system

SCAS.A.3: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the terrestrial planets

SCAS.A.4: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the gas giants

SCAS.A.5: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about non-planetary solar system objects

SCAS.A.6: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about physical characteristics of the sun

SCAS.A.7: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about physical characteristics of stars

SCAS.A.8: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about stellar evolution

SCAS.A.9: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the Milky Way and other galaxies

SCAS.A.10: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about cosmology and our place in the universe

SCAS.A.1.a: carry out investigations of the properties of electromagnetic radiation

SCAS.A.1.b: carry out investigations about the various types of telescopes

SCAS.A.2.a: carry out investigations of the properties of Earth and the Moon

SCAS.A.2.b: use models to demonstrate the relative positions of Earth, moon, and sun on observable phenomena, e.g. phases of the moon, eclipses, seasons, and diurnal cycles

SCAS.A.2.c: ask questions about the exploration of the moon

SCAS.A.3.a: carry out investigations of the properties of the terrestrial planets

SCAS.A.3.b: use mathematics and computational thinking to construct an explanation of planetary motion

SCAS.A.3.c: ask questions about terrestrial planet exploration

SCAS.A.4.a: ask questions about the properties of the Jovian planets

SCAS.A.4.b: engage in argument from evidence about possible methods to discover planets beyond Saturn that are not visible to the unaided eye

SCAS.A.4.c: carry out investigations of natural satellites of the outer solar system

SCAS.A.4.d: use a model to communicate the possible origin of rings around the gas giants

SCAS.A.5.a: ask questions about non-planetary objects in the solar system

SCAS.A.5.b: engage in argument from evidence about the classification of dwarf planets

SCAS.A.6.a: carry out investigations of the properties of the sun

SCAS.A.6.b: engage in argument from evidence about the sun's energy production

SCAS.A.7.a: carry out investigations of the properties of stars

SCAS.A.7.b: construct explanations of the various methods of stellar observation

SCAS.A.8.a: carry out an investigation into the life cycle of stars

SCAS.A.8.b: analyze and interpret data to predict the life cycle of various types of stars

SCAS.A.8.c: analyze and interpret data to classify the types of stellar explosions

SCAS.A.9.a: carry out investigations of the various classifications of galaxies

SCAS.A.9.b: construct explanations of various methods to measure the distance to far away galaxies

SCAS.A.9.c: ask questions about the mechanisms involved in the formation and evolution of galaxies

SCAS.A.10.a: investigate and define problems with early civilizations' concepts of the universe

SCAS.A.10.b: use the big bang model to construct explanations for the past, present and future state of the universe

SCAS.A.10.c: ask questions about the detection and characterization of exoplanets

SCAS.A.10.d: engage in argument from evidence about the possibility of life outside of Earth

SCAS.A.1.a1: plan and conduct investigations about the wave nature of electromagnetic radiation

SCAS.A.1.a2: use mathematical thinking to relate atomic and spectral properties

SCAS.A.1.a3: construct explanations about the effects of Earth's atmosphere on electromagnetic radiation

SCAS.A.1.b1: investigate the evolution of telescope design

SCAS.A.1.b2: engage in argument from evidence relating the advantages and disadvantages of various telescopes

SCAS.A.1.b3: construct explanations for making observations in a variety of wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum

SCAS.A.1.b4: define problems with ground-based telescopes and design solutions to overcome these problems

SCAS.A.2.b1: use models to explain the eclipses and phases of the moon

SCAS.A.2.b2: use models to predict the impact of the moon's position on tidal effects

SCAS.A.2.b3: use models to engage in an argument about the origin of the moon

SCAS.A.2.c1: analyze and interpret data from unmanned lunar missions

SCAS.A.2.c2: engage in argument from evidence related to lunar landings

SCAS.A.2.c3: ask questions or define problems to construct explanations regarding future lunar exploration

SCAS.A.3.a1: analyze the similarities between Earth and the terrestrial planets

SCAS.A.3.a2: construct explanations for the differences between Earth and the terrestrial planets

SCAS.A.3.b1: use the heliocentric model to communicate the orbital paths of terrestrial planets

SCAS.A.3.b2: use computational thinking to define problems with prior models of orbital motion

SCAS.A.3.c1: define problems and design solutions for future exploration of terrestrial planets

SCAS.A.4.a1: analyze the similarities between the terrestrial planets and the gas giants

SCAS.A.4.a2: construct explanations for the differences between the terrestrial planets and the gas giants

SCAS.A.4.c1: define problems and design solutions for future exploration of outer solar system bodies

SCAS.A.5.a1: analyze and interpret data to construct explanations about the classification of non-planetary solar system objects

SCAS.A.5.a2: use models to identify the common areas in the solar system where non-planetary objects are typically found

SCAS.A.5.b1: analyze and interpret data to construct explanations about the discovery of dwarf planets

SCAS.A.6.a1: use models to communicate the internal structure of the sun

SCAS.A.6.a2: analyze and interpret data to identify and classify solar events

SCAS.A.6.b1: define problems with prior explanations of the sun's energy production

SCAS.A.6.b2: engage in argument from evidence about the relationship between the Sun and life on Earth

SCAS.A.7.a1: analyze and interpret data to classify stars based on their properties and develop the H-R diagram

SCAS.A.7.a2: use models to communicate similarities and differences among stars

SCAS.A.7.b1: carry out an investigation of the methods used to determine the distance to stars

SCAS.A.7.b2: carry out an investigation of the methods used to determine physical & spectral properties of stars

SCAS.A.8.a1: develop and use models to construct an explanation the formation of stars from interstellar medium

SCAS.A.8.b1: use models to communicate the evolutionary pathway of high mass, sun-like and low mass stars

SCAS.A.8.c1: construct explanations for the formation and relative abundance of the elements in the universe

SCAS.A.8.c2: use models to explain the presence of various stellar remnants

SCAS.A.9.a1: use models to classify galaxies based on their properties

SCAS.A.9.a2: engage in argument from evidence about the relative abundance of types of galaxies

SCAS.A.9.a3: define problems in measuring the mass of distant galaxies

SCAS.A.9.b1: use mathematical thinking and Hubble's Law in calculating the distance to a variety of galaxies