“Build Our Milky Way” activity:

By using an interactive galaxy model, students will locate parts of and build the Milky Way and identify the location of Earth within it.

Unifying Concepts and Processes.
As a result of activities in grades K-12, all students should develop understanding and abilities aligned with evidence, models, and explanation.

• Models are tentative schemes or structures that correspond to real objects, event, or classes of events, and that have explanatory power.

Content Standard B:Physical Science.
As a result of the activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of the position and motion of objects

• The position of an object can be described by locating it relative to another object or the background.

11. Common Themes:
B. Models.
By the end of the 2nd grade, students should know that:

• A model of something is different from the real thing but can be used to learn something about the real thing.

By the end of the 5th grade, students should know that:

• Geometric figures, number sequences, graphs, diagrams, sketches, number lines, maps, and stories can be used to represent objects, events, and processes in the real world, although such representations can never be exact in every detail.

“Galaxies Galore” activity:

Students learn that galaxies come in different shapes and how astronomers classify them.

Content Standard A:Science as Inquiry.
As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop understandings about scientific inquiry.

• Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer. Types of investigations include describing objects, events, and organisms; classifying them; and doing a fair test (experimenting).

Mathematics Standard 5.
Level I (Grades K-2) Benchmark 3:
Understands that geometric shapes are useful for representing and describing real world situations.

“Galaxy Games: Galaxy Concentration” activity:

Students practice observation skills by matching galaxy images using a computer as a tool.

Content Standard A:
Science as Inquiry.
As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.

Employ simple equipment and tools to gather data and extend the senses. In early years, students develop simple skills, such as how to observe, measure, cut, connect, switch, turn on and off, pour, hold, tie, and hook. Beginning with simple instruments, students can use rulers to measure the length, height, and depth of objects and materials; thermometers to measure temperature; watches to measure time; beam balances and spring scales to measure weight and force; magnifiers to observe objects and organisms; and microscopes to observe the finer details of plants, animals, rocks, and other materials. Children also develop skills in the use of computers and calculators for conducting investigations.

“Build Our Milky Way” activity:

Students will read information and learn about the parts of the Milky Way.

4. Physical Setting:
A. The Universe.
By the end of the 8th grade, students should know that:

• The sun is a medium-sized star located near the edge of a disk-shaped galaxy of stars, part of which can be seen as a glowing band of light that spans the sky on a very clear night. The universe contains many billions of galaxies, and each galaxy contains many billions of stars. To the naked eye, even the closest of these galaxies is no more than a dim, fuzzy spot.

Language Arts Standard 7.
Level II (Grades 3-5)
Benchmark 1:
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand a variety of informational texts (e.g., textbooks, biographical sketches, letters, diaries, directions, procedures, magazines).

Level III (Grades 6-8)
Benchmark 1:
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand a variety of informational texts (e.g., electronic texts; textbooks; biographical sketches; directions; essays; primary source historical documents, including letters and diaries; print media, including editorials, news stories, periodicals, and magazines; consumer, workplace, and public documents, including catalogs, technical directions, procedures, and bus routes).

“Galaxies Galore” activity:

Students will make generalizations from a pattern of observations to learn about different types of galaxies and their characteristics.

4. Physical Setting:
A. The Universe.
By the end of the 8th grade, students should know that:

• The sun is a medium-sized star located near the edge of a disk-shaped galaxy of stars, part of which can be seen as a glowing band of light that spans the sky on a very clear night. The universe contains many billions of galaxies, and each galaxy contains many billions of stars. To the naked eye, even the closest of these galaxies is no more than a dim, fuzzy spot.

Mathematics Standard 1,
Level III (Grades 6-8)
Benchmark 6:
Generalizes from a pattern of observations made in particular cases, makes conjectures, and provides supporting arguments for these conjectures (i.e., uses inductive reasoning).

“Galaxy Trading Cards ” activity:

After completing Galaxies Galore, or teacher provided-materials, students will apply their knowledge to identify types of galaxies using visual clues.

Mathematics Standard 1.
Level II (Grade 3-5)
Benchmark 1:
Uses a variety of strategies to understand problem situations (e.g., discussing with peers, stating problems in own words, modeling problem with diagrams or physical objects, identifying a pattern).

Benchmark 4:
Uses trial and error and the process of elimination to solve problems.

Level III (Grades 6-8)
Benchmark 6:
Generalizes from a pattern of observations made in particular cases, makes conjectures, and provides supporting arguments for these conjectures (i.e., uses inductive reasoning).

“Galaxy Hunt” activity:

After completing Galaxies Galore, or teacher-provided materials, students will apply their knowledge to categorize galaxies by type.

Mathematics Standard 1.
Level II (Grade 3-5)
Benchmark 1:
Uses a variety of strategies to understand problem situations (e.g., discussing with peers, stating problems in own words, modeling problem with diagrams or physical objects, identifying a pattern).

Benchmark 4:
Uses trial and error and the process of elimination to solve problems.

Level III (Grades 6-8)
Benchmark 6:
Generalizes from a pattern of observations made in particular cases, makes conjectures, and provides supporting arguments for these conjectures (i.e., uses inductive reasoning).

Prerequisites
Students should:

• Understand that some things in the universe are beyond visual sight and can only be seen using a telescope.
• Understand that the universe is made up of planets, stars, planetary systems, and galaxies.
• Demonstrate an ability to recognize patterns and match or group similar objects.

Common misconceptions
Students may:

• Not be aware that Earth and our solar system are part of a galaxy.
• Think that the Milky Way is the only galaxy in the universe.
• Not know that galaxies come in a variety of types, shapes, sizes, and colors.