LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

It's gravity

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=390

A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science


Learn more

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

This catalog record is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This license applies to the content of this page only and does not apply to the referenced website.

In this lesson, students develop students’ understanding of gravity and its critical role as the main mover of the universe. This activity will help students develop ideas about the enormous impact that gravity has on the universe—the shape and movement of the planets, the solar system, stars, and galaxies. After an initial discussion to assess prior knowledge about gravity, students complete further research using web resources from the Adler Planetarium. Then, students evaluate popular myths and misconceptions about gravity and consider possible correct answers. Finally, students use the web resources to complete more research and participate in a discussion about modern concepts associated with gravity. Students write a brief essay to conclude the lesson. Science NetLinks provides student handouts, teacher resources, links to helpful websites, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson. This lesson also includes links to similar lessons and other sections from the Adler Planetarium.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 9–12 — AP Earth and Environmental Science

  • Goal 8: The learner will build an understanding of Earth in the Solar System and its position in the universe.

Grade 9–12 — AP Physics B

  • Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of Newtonian mechanics.
    • Objective 2.06: Investigate and analyze oscillations and gravitation.
      • Simple harmonic motion (dynamics and energy relationships).
      • Mass on a spring.
      • Pendulum and other oscillations.
      • Newton's law of gravity.
      • Circular orbits of planets and satellites.