Don Boonstra - sySTEMec LLCJessica Swann - ASU Mars Education Program September 2014

How to Use Natural Events as NGSS Aligned Teachable

Moments

Types of Natural Events

Hurricanes Tsunamis Forest Fires Sea Level Rise Climate ChangeEarthquakes Comets

Volcanoes Droughts Floods

Viral OutbreaksNear-Earth Object

impacts Mass Extinctions ...

Natural Events Are:

• Relevant to Students’ Lives

• Highly Engaging

• Often the answer to “Why do we have to learn this?”

• Just in Time – Students may be hearing about this in the media

• Often scary for students.

Natural EventsEducational Opportunities

• Thematic organization for teaching Earth and Space Science

• Structure for taking advantage of current Natural Events to enhance any class

• Knowledge to reduce fear and to empower

Key Questions

• What is the event? Why does it occur?

• Where can it happen?

• What are possible threats and benefits? (Yes, benefits!)

• What are the probabilities of a range of events (e.g. small hurricanes more common than big)?

• What can be done to reduce the danger and damage and/or maximize the benefits of an event?

These general questions can be focused for each type of event.

Key Questions

• What is the event? Why does it occur?

• Where can it happen?

• What are possible threats and benefits? (Yes, benefits!)

• What are the probabilities of a range of events (e.g. small hurricanes more common than big)?

• What can be done to reduce the danger and damage and/or maximize the benefits of an event?

These general questions can be focused for each type of event.

Flexible Formats

• Deep and Broad

• Quick and Just in Time

• And everything in-between!

Deep and Broad

Natural Events provide engaging inquiry themes for learning course content

• Multiple class period investigations

• Investigate Natural Event in depth

• Use knowledge to propose strategies to mitigate damage

Quick and Just in Time

Use current natural events to energize and enhance learning of core content

• Use just one class period

• Single groups as science reporters– “news board” report, “news cast”, blog

• Whole class engagement– “news board” reports, “news casts”, blogs

NGSS Alignment

NGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONS

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

How do Earth’s surface processes and human activities affect each other?NGSS Core Idea ESS3: Earth and Human Activity

Students will be able to

How do natural hazards affect individuals and societies?NGSS Core Idea ESS3.B: Natural Hazards

IO1: Use a model to explain a natural event or hazard and their impacts on the stability of the environment and populations

IO2: Investigate and describe viable methods to minimize impacts and maximize benefits of natural events

Instructional Objective Students will be able

Learning OutcomesStudents will demonstrate the

measurable abilities

StandardsStudents will address

IO1: Use a model to explain a natural event or hazard and their impacts on the stability of the environment and populations

LO1a. to use a model to describe the natural event or hazard and the frequency of the occurrence

LO1b. to use credible sources for research and describe impacts on the environment and populations

DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEA:ESS3.B: Natural Hazards

PRACTICES:1. Developing and Using

Models2. Constructing

Explanations and Designing Solutions

3. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

CROSSCUTTING CONCEPTS:4. Patterns5. Scale, Proportion, and

Quantity6. Cause and Effect7. Stability and Change

Objectives, Outcomes and DCIs

Instructional Objective Students will be able

Learning OutcomesStudents will demonstrate the

measurable abilities

StandardsStudents will address

IO2: Investigate and describe viable methods to minimize impacts and maximize benefits of natural events

LO2a: to describe mitigation efforts on the environment and populations

LO2b: to use credible sources to research mitigation efforts on the environment and populations

DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEA:ESS3.B: Natural Hazards

PRACTICES:1. Constructing

Explanations and Designing Solutions

2. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

CROSSCUTTING CONCEPTS:3. Cause and Effect4. Structure and Function

Objectives, Outcomes and DCIs

WHAT?Your Natural Event doesn’t fit ESS3?

NGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONS

How do Earth’s surface processes and human activities affect each other?NGSS Core Idea ESS3: Earth and Human Activity

How do natural hazards affect individuals and societies?NGSS Core Idea ESS3.B: Natural Hazards

No Worries!

Comet Siding Spring and MarsNGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONS

What is the universe, and what is Earth’s place in it? NGSS Core Question ESS1: Earth’s Place in the Universe

ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: What are predictable patterns caused by Earth’s movement in the solar system?

How can one explain and predict interactions between objects and within systems of objects? NGSS Core Question PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions.

PS2.B: Types of Interactions: What underlying forces explain the variety of interactions observed

Lesson Alignments to Common Core and 21st Century Skills

Clarifying Science through Natural Events

Example: The Close Encounter between Comet Siding Spring (C/3013 A1) and Mars

Lesson Engagement Step 1: Engage (~20 minutes)

– Hand out Comet Siding Spring and Mars and Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring.

– Ask students to read Comet Siding Spring and Mars carefully and work as a group to record what they know about comets and what they would need to learn to answer the Important questions on Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring.

– Have groups share what they know about comets and record on white board.

– Have groups share what they would need to learn and record on white board.

Comet Siding Spring and Mars

Student Sheet 1: Comet Siding Spring and Mars

On Sunday, October 19, 2014 Comet 'Siding Spring' will make a close fly-by of Mars.

The comet’s closest approach will be at 11:28 am (PT), 12:28 pm (MT), 1:28 pm (CT), 2:28 pm (ET).

Comet Siding Spring and Mars

Current estimates are that Siding Spring will be only ~82,000 miles (132,000 km) from the surface of Mars.

To give some perspective, our Moon is about 240,000 miles (385,000 km) from Earth – 3 X the distance Comet Siding Spring will be from Mars!

At the scale of our Solar System, Comet Siding Spring will be very, very close to Mars!

Comet Siding Spring and MarsThe comet will not hit Mars, but the cloud of dust particles surrounding the comet's nucleus (called the coma) may be big enough to envelop Mars and therefore the spacecraft orbiting it.

Five orbiters are currently active at Mars: 3 NASA orbiters, 1 from European (ESA), and 1 from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

In addition, NASA has two rovers on the surface of Mars, Opportunity and Curiosity.Information primarily from NASA Mars Education (http://mars.nasa.gov/comets/sidingspring/) September 20, 2014.

Student Sheet 2: Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring

What do you know about comets?

(This is the interactive part...)

Comet Siding Spring and Mars

Student Sheet 2: Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring

Important Questions

1. How could Comet Siding Spring affect Mars, Martian satellites, or Earth?

2. What are the potential threats or benefits?

What would I need to learn to answer the Important Questions?

(This is the interactive part...)

Comet Siding Spring and Mars

Explore Step 2: Explore (~25 minutes) Students do research using credible, trusted sources

Teacher Tip: If you have sufficient time, it would be ideal for students to spend more time researching the event. In this case students would find out about:• the origin of this comet• the structure of the solar system• the structure of comets, orbits and much more.

Explore

Today, you will be getting your information from our

credible, trusted NASA source...

Dr. Richard Zurek!