Chapter 5 Lesson 3 "The Life of a Star"

Materials:

• Worksheet, "The Life of a Star"
• Optional Worksheet, "Modeling a Supergiant"

Objective:

• Students will describe how a star forms.
• Students will describe the life cycle of a star.

Anticipatory Set:* Stduents will look at several pictures of humans as they go through life. Students will then go back and explain one difference that happens from one stage to the next. Just as humans go through a life process, so does a star.

Baby, Toddler, child, gradeshooler, adolescent, teen, young Adult, parents, grandparents, greatgrandparent.

Teacher Input:* In order for a star to go through a life cycle it must be born. Although this baby has 5 points, this is not how it starts. It begins as a cloud of dust. Does anyone know what the name for the cloud of dust is? (nebula) The the dust is drawn together by its own gravity int a spinning ball. Then, As the dust packs tighter and tighter together the temperature increases. When the temperature and pressure get high enough fussion begins and a star is born.

Development of a star.A star then develps and goes through life stages this depends on the amount of matterial and the balance between gravity and fusion that takes place. Here are three likely paths of development. Stars like our sun: Huge Sun Life Cycle, Giant Sun Life Cycle. Here is a summary of all three. Sumarize them mentioning these terms. Have the students write them down in a Microsoft Word Document. Red giant, supergiant, nova, white dwarf, supernova, Neutron star, black hole. As you notice, a black hole is formed. An object so dense that it can suck in photon particles. Here is a couple movies showing black holes. revolving around a black hole, This is going into a black hole,

We know the sun gives off energy as its Hydrogen turns into Helium. Will this go on forever? When this fusion stops the sun will colapse inward. A fussion of heavier elements proceds the sun will grow in size to a red giant. The outer layers continue to drift off into space leaving only a collaped white dwarf.

Guided Practice:* Use this website to have students guess what stage a certain star is in: http://btc.montana.edu/ceres/html/LifeCycle/starsunbigstar.html

Have the students answer the questions on Page 120.

Independent Practice:* Students should complete the worksheet, Life of a Star. A second worksheet investigation, Modeling a Supergiant is optional.

Check for Understanding:* Students will complete the quiz for Lesson 3,"The Life of a Star"

Duration:

30 minutes + 10-15 for Independent Practice (Could be longer if taken for homework).

Alaska Content Standards Addressed in this lesson:

• SCI A-1 Students will understand models describing the nature of molecules, atoms, and sub-atomic particles and the relation of the models to the structure and behavior of matter (Structure of Matter);
• SCI A-2 Students will understand the physical, chemical, and nuclear changes and interactions that result in observable changes in the properties of matter (Changes and Interactions of Matter);
• SCI A-3 Students will understand models describing the composition, age, and size of our universe, galaxy, and solar system and understand that the universe is constantly moving and changing (Universe);
• SCI A-5 Students will understand the strength and effects of forces of nature, including gravity and electromagnetic radiation (Forces of Nature);
• SCI A-8 Students will understand the scientific principles and models that
  describe the nature of physical, chemical, and nuclear reactions;
  state that whenever energy is reduced in one place, it is increased somewhere else by the same amount; and
  state that whenever there is a transformation of energy, some energy is spent in ways that make it unavailable for use (Energy Transformations);