For our next activity about the Space, we explored the galaxies. Very fun and artistic moment!

Part II. Galaxies

First, Galaxies are the basic unit of cosmology. They contain stars, gas, dust and dark matter. They are the only `signposts' from here to the edge of the Universe. Galaxies appeared and as they collided, stars of great energy were born.

Our own galaxy is the Milky Way and has a hundred billion stars. The sun is only one of them.

Our galaxy is not a typical galaxy - only spiral galaxies are rich in the metals our kind of life needs.

When we look up in the sky we see millions of stars, but every star we can see is in our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Even the stars of our own galaxy are so far apart that it takes the light of some stars millions of years to reach us. The stars stretch out to fill the whole space of our universe.

Language:

• Galaxy: A group of stars, gas and dust held together by gravity.
  • Galaxy classification according to their apparent shape: (see chart and Venn-diagram from the links below)
• Types of galaxies cards from here. Read more about galaxies here. And for more great information about galaxies, their formation and stars go here. 
• Elliptical
• Spiral
• Irregular

Books: We read different books from the library and others we had at home

Art activities:

• Galaxies mobile: Idea from here.

• Galactic swirls
  • Materials: paints and brushes, glue, glitter glue, black construction paper, sequins, wire, gold paint, silver poster board, white pencil crayon.
  • Procedures: on the black construction paper draw several spheres with a white pencil. On another piece of paper draw spirals. Paint and decorate with glitter glue, sequins and wire. Mount on silver poster board.

    Our final product!

• Paper plates types of galaxies: we got this idea from here and then, after the paint dried, I cut them into the types of galaxies shape: elliptical, spiral (2 types) and irregular. I think we could these as freebies to play.

Science:

• Spirals
  • Purpose: to demonstrate the movement of a spiral galaxy
  • Materials: white paper, paper hole punch, a jar with water, pencil
  • Procedure: Fill the jar ¾ of water, cut around 20 circles from the paper with the hole punch, sprinkle the paper in the water, stir with a circular motion with the pencil, view the water from the top and sides.
  • Results: the paper circles swirl around forming a spiral shape in the center.
  • Explanation: the spinning paper only simulates the spiral movement and concentration of material of a star-studded spiral galaxy like the Milky Way.

• Big bang theory- expanding

• Purpose: To demonstrate how galaxies may be moving
• Materials: Pink balloon, black sharpie, mirror.
• Procedure: Inflate the balloon so that it is about as large as an apple. Make about 20 dots with the sharpie. Inflate the balloon in front of a mirror (or stand in front of your mommy if she is the one inflating the balloon) to see the dots.
• Results: the dots move away from each other.
• Explanation: Astronomers believe the galaxies are moving away from each other. Since no two galaxies seem to be getting closer as they move, scientists believe the universe is expanding. Big Bang Theory, currently accepted explanation of the beginning of the universe. The big bang theory proposes that the universe was once extremely compact, dense, and hot. Some original event, a cosmic explosion called the big bang, occurred about 13.7 billion years ago, and the universe has since been expanding and cooling.

 

Drawing the dots! A sharpie would be better than a regular market! But I couldn’t find mine!

She tried really HARD!!!

Checking out the dots (galaxies)!

 

We will be trying to continue our Space study and will post our third part of the unit as soon as I get the chance to put it together! After moving out-of-state, trying to adapt to the new place and getting to meet new friends, my time is kind of tight. However, I will try to post before the end of the year……lol

Have a great summer…..keep reading, learning and having fun in the process!!!

• Other links of interest:
  • Check our first post about The Universe Unit study  for a more complete list of resources.
  • Mama of many blessings Montessori inspired Galaxies unit here.
  • Check our Pinterest board: planets, Space for plenty of more activities.

 

Linking to:

At last, we are “formally” doing our space unit! It took us sometime and some more units in between but the waiting time is paying off. As in our other units, I will try to share as much as I can and with much order as possible. It is going to be such a long unit since we are doing our work after school or on weekends plus I am trying to add more science activities with it.

As our title suggest, the first part is:

PART 1. The beginning of the universe

• Materials

o Rug or would be better to use a black or dark color bed sheet- believe me it will add to the “magic”). Too bad I didn’t think about it before!

o black balloon filled with glitter or confetti with a pin to pop it (we used the graduate’s confetti from Dollar tree that comes with tiny colorful stars)

o candle

o bits of paper in a container (we used the same confetti)

o a bowl with water 

o Picture of the universe (for illustration)

• Procedure: Fill the balloon with the confetti (don’t need to use too much) and blow it, set it on the rug with the pin next to it.

Lesson:

Ask your kid about the things they see while outside during the day (Trees, sunlight, grass, birds). What do we see at night? (stars, the moon, darkness).

Well, in the beginning, there was nothing. There were no people, or animals, or plants, even the Earth itself did not exist. There was nothing!!! There was no day or night. No stars, no mountains, no rivers, no oceans, nothing. There was only great space which had no beginning and no end. All was dark; so dark that our darkest night would seem like brilliant sunshine. It was so cold that ice would seem warm. (move the balloon slowly back and forth). Because my daughter couldn’t imagine how was that space possible, I tried to show her how the universe was just an empty space with these activities:

 

#1: Empty paper bag. Blow it and see the “space” thru the hole.

#2 Empty jar. It is not black but it has an empty “space”.

Suddenly - in an instant of great energy - a force brought the whole universe into being. (Pop Balloon)

After you popped the balloon, you will have many amazing little stars all over the place. FANTASTIC! Next time I will try to set up everything over a black sheet just to make everything much visual.

Time began and particles appeared. So tiny were these particles that even the smallest specks of dust would seem large next to them.

(Light the candle) There was now light - light greater than we can imagine. So intense was the heat that all matter - iron, gold, rocks, water - existed as a gas. The particles raced around in chaos and when they rammed into each other, they ceased to exist. Our universe may have disappeared in that instant, as quickly as it had appeared, but the universe cooled just enough and the force, something that cannot be seen, but which has great power, began to draw these particles together. Protons, neutrons and electrons, as these particles came to be called, began to join together and the elements of Hydrogen and Helium were formed. These elements would soon transform this chaotic universe. Five billion years had passed.

Over the next 5 billion years the particles continued to join together unable to resist the force. (Paper experiment: pour the water into the rectangular bowl. Add the cut bits of paper slowly and encourage students to pick one bit or a group of bits to watch. No blowing or touching - The Force will do it.) Watch how some of bits come together - this is the force at work. Look also for bits that seem to repel each other - this is also the force at work.

Do not blow or move, just watch carefully!

This was just AWESOME to watch!

As you can see, there will be particle that attract to each other and other repels.

Art activities:

o DIY Jelly bean universe

Materials: dry black beans or black jelly beans, color beads or color jelly beans, baking sprinkles, silver glitter, vase

Add black beans (or jelly beans), color beads, sprinkles and glitter.

Printables: A recompilation for all our space unit to come!

1. ETC Montessori: Here
   1. Moon phases 3-part cards
   2. Phases of the moon control chart
   3. The solar system picture (has planets booklet, etc.)
2. Montessori for everyone: Here
   1. Constellations 3-part cards
3. Montessori for Learning: Here
   1. Moon phase 3-part cards
   2. Solar system sequencing patterning cards
4. Noor Janan Homeschool: Here
   1. Moon Phase- Control Book
   2. Moon Phase- Mini Book
   3. Moon Phase- 3 Part Cards
   4. Solar System Labels & Sun
5. Living Montessori Now:
   1. Montessori-Inspired Star and Constellation Unit
   2. Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit
   3. Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Activities
   4. ABC Letter Box and Astronaut Unit
6. Counting coconuts: Here
   1. Life Cycle of a Star PDF
   2. Mini Unit – Space (love how everything is beautifully organized and presented)
7. The sun:
   1. Here is a beautiful photo about the parts of the sun
   2. Free parts of the sun 3 part cards (clipart)
8. Wikisori: Here
1. Life Cycle of a Star
2. Space Shuttle Fact Sheet
3. Planet Cryptogram
4. NASA Space Science: Adventure is Waiting Activities
5. Libra Constellation Map
6. Virgo Constellation Map
7. Scorpios Constellation Map
8. Sagittarius Constellation Map
9. Solar System: Planets and Facts
9. Pinterest:

 

Thanks for visiting…and see you on our next adventure: Galaxies!

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