Description
This unit was taught in an eighth grade middle school physical science class with students with varying academic abilities. The unit focused on the Earth-Sun-Moon system through model-based instruction to help students build explanatory models of astronomical phenomenon including (1) Lunar phases, (2) Lunar eclipses, (3) Seasons on Earth, (4) Northern hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere Moon Appearance, and (5) Size and Scale. For the final assessment students created an Earth-Sun-Moon project that represented their understanding of one of the five astronomical phenomenon.