Introduction
This week’s lesson is an exciting exploration of comets and their place in the universe. Our focus extends beyond acquiring knowledge as we aim to stimulate critical thinking, foster debates, and encourage informed decision-making among our students.
Throughout the week, we will delve into the specifics of comets, exploring their composition, behavior, and significance in the cosmos. The students will not only learn about comets but will also engage in discussions and debates about their role in our understanding of the universe.
As a hands-on activity, students will create their own comet models and will be tasked with presenting various perspectives on comet-related topics to their peers. This exercise aims to develop their critical thinking skills and encourages them to make informed decisions based on evidence and analysis.
We’re excited to embark on this cosmic journey, where learning goes beyond facts and embraces the spirit of exploration, inquiry, and discussion.
Learner Notes
This week, we’re diving into the intriguing world of comets, where learning isn’t just about facts—it’s about sparking debate, critical thinking, and making informed decisions.
Our mission: unravel the mysteries of comets, from their origins to their cosmic journeys. But we’re not stopping at the surface. We’ll delve into the specifics, explore comet compositions and behaviors, and discuss their significance in the universe.
During this week, you’ll not only become a comet expert by researching everything comet related, but you’ll also engage in critical thinking. You’ll present different perspectives on comet-related topics to foster debates and decision-making among your peers. Three people are going to have an encounter with a comet and your job is to decide who gets to name it.Â
Join us for an astronomical adventure that expands your knowledge while honing your critical thinking, debate, and decision-making skills. Get ready for a cosmic journey of discovery and discussion!
Attention to Detail Challenge
Ask the children to grab a pen and a book and write down the numbers 1-10. explain the importance of observation skills. After the video has been played a second time press play on the video opposite and allow the children to talk and discuss as the questions are raised and answers are revealed.
Discuss their answers, highlighting key observations. Use this as an opportunity to focus on the power of observation in the real world. Body language, reading emotions etc and provide feedback. Over time, repeat this activity with different videos to strengthen their observation techniques.
Learner Notes
This week, we’re diving into the intriguing world of comets, where learning isn’t just about facts—it’s about sparking debate, critical thinking, and making informed decisions.
Our mission: unravel the mysteries of comets, from their origins to their cosmic journeys. But we’re not stopping at the surface. We’ll delve into the specifics, explore comet compositions and behaviors, and discuss their significance in the universe.
During this week, you’ll not only become a comet expert by researching everything comet related, but you’ll also engage in critical thinking. You’ll present different perspectives on comet-related topics to foster debates and decision-making among your peers. Three people are going to have an encounter with a comet and your job is to decide who gets to name it.Â
Join us for an astronomical adventure that expands your knowledge while honing your critical thinking, debate, and decision-making skills. Get ready for a cosmic journey of discovery and discussion!
Make up your Mind - Rubric and Discussion
In this activity, students work in pairs to select a camp from three options. They discuss and determine who should name a comet and justify their choice with two reasons. They also explore why the other two options are excluded and analyze parallels to real-world decision-making. Finally, they share and discuss their conclusions with the class.
Learner Notes
This week, we’re diving into the intriguing world of comets, where learning isn’t just about facts—it’s about sparking debate, critical thinking, and making informed decisions.
Our mission: unravel the mysteries of comets, from their origins to their cosmic journeys. But we’re not stopping at the surface. We’ll delve into the specifics, explore comet compositions and behaviors, and discuss their significance in the universe.
During this week, you’ll not only become a comet expert by researching everything comet related, but you’ll also engage in critical thinking. You’ll present different perspectives on comet-related topics to foster debates and decision-making among your peers. Three people are going to have an encounter with a comet and your job is to decide who gets to name it.Â
Join us for an astronomical adventure that expands your knowledge while honing your critical thinking, debate, and decision-making skills. Get ready for a cosmic journey of discovery and discussion!
Weekly Keywords
Introduce the spelling word list and choose from this list of tasks that can be repeated and expanded upon if necessary. Copy the words into a spelling list/Vocabulary book for later reference. Put each of the new words into a sentence and underline the new vocabulary in red pencil. Place the words in alphabetical order in a list. Use a dictionary to define each of the words and place them into a vocabulary book. Try to represent each of the words using a picture or a symbol and play the guessing game. (which image is matched to which word). Write a paragraph containing all of the new vocabulary. Make a vocabulary wall containing all of the new words. Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for the words and create a synonym list.
Learner Notes
These words will help you during this week’s lesson. You may already know some of these words however practice makes perfect! First, read the words and then try to define them as simply as possible. An example has been completed for you. You can write these into your books, and draw a picture to match or simply complete the task card.
Weekly Comprehension Activity - Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
Each week, we will provide you and your class with a reading comprehension activity. This can be done independently or tackled as a guided reading activity with your students. Once the children have read the relevant information, they can then work through the comprehension questions until they become too hard, the four levels of questions allow for your students to push themselves until they become too difficult. They may wish to use classroom resources to solve the questions they find too hard or they can be used as extension activities to be completed in free time or at home.Â
Learner Notes
Read watch the video the information opposite on comets and use the information gained from the video above and attempt to answer as many of the comprehension questions as possible.
You may talk to the people in the classroom and use any resources available in the classroom to get the answers. You may even wish to continue your research at home on the questions that you could not solve.
We have made the questions range in difficulty, see how far you can get! Remember to answer the questions in full sentences and make notes of any diagrams or amazing facts that may help you remember the information later.
Guided Writing - Imaginative Writing
For this creative writing lesson, students immerse themselves into a character’s perspective from a video. Choosing between a Scientist, Student, or Astronaut, they’ll craft a vivid first-person narrative about discovering a comet, including naming it. They’ll then translate their story using ChatGPT and validate accuracy with a fluent speaker.
Learner Notes
This week, imagine yourself as one of the characters in the video, the one you think should name the comet. Your task is to craft a short narrative describing the moment when they spot the new comet approaching Earth.
Your challenge is to read our sample narrative and then write a first-person narrative from the viewpoint of the Scientist, Student, or Astronaut. Describe the comet they’ve observed and convey how it felt to be the first to make this discovery. Make it vivid and engaging and remember that during your narrative you should include the name of the comet.Â
Once we want you to read your story to another person and see if they can find the life lesson inside.Â
Bringing Mathematics to Life!
For each conundrum, we will provide related mathematics questions
The levels of questions allow for your students to push themselves until they become too difficult. They may wish to use classroom resources to solve the questions they find too hard or they can be used as extension activities to be completed in free time or at home.
Learner Notes
It is not time to use your newfound inspiration in space and the universe to become an astronomer yourself. Use your mathematical skills and try to work your way through the questions on the task card opposite.
If they get two hard you can either ask a friend, use the tip provided in the middle column to help you, or take your work home and work on solving the problems at home with your family!
Real World Learning - Stand Up for the Underdog
In this lesson, students are empowered through agency and child-led learning. They’re prompted to identify instances of neglect or injustice. Emphasizing the importance of choice, students then decide on an advocacy project related to their identified issue. They may work independently or in groups. The lesson encourages proactive actions such as organizing peaceful marches or creating awareness materials.
This approach not only fosters critical thinking and empathy but also reinforces the significance of giving voice to the marginalized. It’s a hands-on experience in social justice, prioritizing student choice and leadership in their learning journey.
Learner Notes
Let’s imagine a scenario where a child is the first to spot a comet, but due to the scientist’s seniority and stature within the community, they are given the honor of naming it. This leaves the child feeling overlooked and undervalued.
This week, we urge you to recognise someone who is facing neglect or unjust treatment. This individual might be a student in your school, a community member, a local endangered animal, or even a polluted river. It could also be a group of people facing marginalisation. Your responsibility is to act, raising awareness about the importance of treating everyone equally.
For instance, in our example, we’ve planned a peaceful march where the community will wear green attire and walk through the city to the government house. This march is to protest a new city development that threatens our forests, potentially destroying the habitats of countless animals.
Once you’ve identified your cause, your goal is to generate as much awareness as possible until someone acknowledges the issue and drives change. You can write letters, make phone calls, design posters, organise rallies, give speeches, or even try to highlight the issue on local media outlets.
Always remember: standing up for justice and equality is the right course of action!
Real World Learning - Plan an Event
This lesson connects students to the real world through experience. Students will think through planning a trip and the various inputs that make for an enjoyable trip for others. Even better if the plan is executed and students are able to take ownership of creating an experience for themselves and others.Â
Learner Notes
Comet C/2023 A3 is expected to be viewable from earth after September 2024 and will be its closest it can be to earth on October 12, 2024. Scientists don’t know if the comet will survive its close pass by the sun, but if it does, it may be viewable from Earth!
Your project is to plan a space related event for you and your family and/or friends. My example will be planning an event to view Comet C/2023 A3.
Your event could be anything related to comets and space. A few ideas to get your minds moving are you could…plan an event to go look at the night sky with others, start a space or astrology club and plan the first meeting, create a book club about a space related book, invite a guest speaker like an astronomer to your school, visit an observatory or museum, or even watch a space related movie or documentary.
For this project we will think through all of the requirements and organization of the event such as the location of the event, how people will be traveling to the location, who will be joining you, a packing list, and a schedule of the evening.
Once you’ve planned your event, speak with your parents or your teacher to get their support and advice to bring your event to life!
My Digital Resume
In this activity, students reflect on their week’s accomplishments, feelings, and skills developed. They use a provided template to create a digital resume, incorporating text and a personal photo, some photos and videos of the activities they have undertaken and a brief description of what they achieved and how it made them feel.
This exercise encourages self-assessment, digital literacy, and emphasises the retention of skills through reflective documentation.
Learner Notes
During the first week of your journey with our conundrums, we want you to tell us a little bit about yourself. Start by filling in all of the information on the front page of your new digital resume and as you take on the real world learning activities we want you to complete a new page of your digital resume until you have listed all of your new skills and experiences.Â
Over the course of this week, you have accomplished a great deal, and now it’s time to document your achievements in your digital resume. Utilise the provided template to record your week’s activities and reflect on how they impacted you.
Don’t forget that to include photos or videos to enhance the visual aspect of your resume. Keep in mind that this document will serve as your assessment piece at the end and will help you complete the final task with ease!.
The skills we practice are the ones we retain!
