Solar Flip Book
(Grades 6 - 8)
This is an interdisciplinary assessment activity. The solar events listed below should be taught prior to this activity. Students will make a flip book that shows the progression of two solar events on reversible sides of the flip book. Event choices include the sunspot cycle, differential rotation of the sun using sunspots, a total solar eclipse, progression of a coronal mass ejection, and a sungrazing comet.
Activity: Solar Flip Book
- Computers for student use with web browser and internet access OR color print-outs of the satellite images OR color transparencies of the images for a teacher directed lesson. (To get to the image links, click on the event from the list under "Procedure" or under "Objective" on the STUDENT ACTIVITY PAGE.)
- 22 unlined 3 in. x 5 in. index cards with a center hole punched at one end of each card per student
- One paper fastener per student
- One envelope per student
- colored pencils
Type of Activity:
- Student centered using images from SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) and other satellites.
- Familiarize students with all of the events (or those of your choice):
- Print and duplicate copies of the STUDENT ACTIVITY PAGE.
- Print student copies of the images OR print transparencies of the images OR have computers set with the images ahead of time.
- Gather materials for assembling the flip book.
- Sunspot Cycle Graph
- Solar Rotation Movies
- Five slide progression of a CME
- Motion of a Coronal Mass Ejection
STUDENT ACTIVITY PAGE:
SOLAR FLIP BOOK
Objective: To make a flip book that shows the progression of two solar events on reversible sides of the flip book. Event choices include:
Materials: (per student)
- 22 unlined 3 in. x 5 in. index cards with a center hole punched at one end
- one paper fastener
- one envelope
- colored pencils
- Draw the slow progression of one of the solar events listed above on one side of 20 of the index cards. Draw your pictures centered near the edges of the cards that do not have the holes punched in them. Number the cards as you go to prevent assembling them in the incorrect order.
- Label what the event is on the final picture.
- Write a four - eight line poem about the solar event on one of the remaining cards.
- Using the remaining card, make a cover page for your flip book. Give it a a creative title, put a related picture on it, and put your name on it.
- Select another event from the list and repeat Steps 1 -4 on the other side of the cards.
Assemble your flip book in this order: (top to bottom)
- Cover Page
- 20 cards with the slow progression of the solar event in numerical order
- Line up the holes and secure the fastener through the holes.
- Put your name on the envelope.
- Submit the flip book in the envelope.
Connections to National Standards
- National Science Education Content Standards A,B,E - all students should:
- Know that the motion of an object can be described and measured by its position, direction of motion, and speed.
- Develop descriptions, explanations, and models using evidence.
- Think critically and logically to make relationships between evidence and explanations.
- Benchmarks for Science Literacy - all students should know that:
- Cycles can be described by their cycle length or frequency and when they occur.
- Things can change in detail but remain the same in general.
Created by: Betty Harris
Direct comments to: email@example.com
Last Modified Sept 29, 1998