Meeting the National Standards for Math and Science Education

The HOA curriculum supports the National Standards for Science and Math Education by directly involving students in the scientific process. The Teacher Pages for each unit contains a paragraph which describes the specific National Science Standards and Benchmarks themes, concepts, and content addressed in its chapters.

Below is an example of the standards and bookmarks addressed in Chapters 1 ("The Solar System and Beyond") and 2 ("The Nature Of Stars") from Unit 1 of the curriculum.

Relationship to National Science Standards and Benchmarks

In Unit 1 we develop the unifying theme of "systems" by treating the Solar System as an organization of planetary bodies around a central star. Here we use a model as a method of understanding a system too large for visual observation. We show how several models can be used to represent the same thing, and that the models will determine their usefulness. The Earth and Space Science Content Standard states that by the end of the eighth grade, students should develop an understanding of the Earth and Sun as an organized system, and be able to construct models that explain the physical relationships among the objects within the system. By the end of the twelfth grade, students should have acquired the ability to use observational data to continue inquiry into space science, even when things such as large distances are not directly observable.

Students should also begin exposure to mathematics as a precise language used to describe objects, compare numbers of different sizes by expressing them as powers of 10, estimate sizes and distances, label numbers with appropriate units, and have the ability to convert units. This unit combines simple observations, basic knowledge, ideas, and open-ended questions to establish the basics of scientific inquiry. Especially in astronomy, students need to understand "how we know what we know." They should gain the confidence to use mathematical models to determine information. Eighth graders should know that light from the Sun (or any star) is made up of a mixture of different colors. All students should know that stars differ from each other in size and temperature, and that they behave according to well-defined physical principles.

Conceptual Framework

The HOA Manual addresses a wide range of grade levels (middle school through introductory college) and student abilities. It is flexible enough to meet the needs of the teachers and instructors of any of these grades.

The emphasis in this curriculum is on variable star observation, and so this manual is not intended to be a comprehensive astronomy textbook. There is, however, sufficient coverage here of most topics in elementary astronomy. You do not need any prior knowledge of astronomy or variable stars or physics to use this curriculum.

This curriculum supports the National Standards for Science and Math Education by directly involving students in the scientific process. Students are taught the necessary skills to make observations, analyze their data with graphing and statistical techniques, make predictions, and compare predicted and observational values, as well as learn how to develop sophisticated mathematical models. Except for a few exercises in skill development, there are no “right” answers in this curriculum. The data obtained and the results of the analysis of those data by students is the “right” answer. In variable star astronomy, what you see is what you get. The amount of data and the mathematical refinement techniques will give reasonably accurate results. Students will understand that their observations can be reliable, and that their data can be useful enough to be used by professional astronomers.

Each unit contains a paragraph which describes the specific National Science Standards and Benchmarks themes, concepts, and content addressed in its chapters.

This is a curriculum on variable star observation; it is neither an astronomy course nor a statistics course. The information within the chapters has this purpose: to inform students about variable stars and their importance to the professional astronomical community, and to give them the necessary information and skills to study variable star behavior or to become amateur variable star observers. Therefore only the astronomy, math, and skills directly associated with variable stars are contained within these pages. However, interdisciplinary connections exist within the chapter introductions, Space Talks, and Poster Pages (explained below), and historical aspects of variable star astronomy have also been included. Thus parts of this manual can be used in any science, computer, or math class, as well as in history and English classes. Besides being used as classroom material, the Hands-On Astrophysics (HOA) curriculum can be used for science fair projects, research projects in many disciplines, independent study, and enrichment activities.

Students will be able to access the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) International Database, and share their investigations and observations with other students via the internet. Working together is an important aspect of the scientific enterprise which is not usually understood within a traditional classroom setting. Sharing variable star observational activities with students in other geographical locations will enable data collection even when skies are cloudy.

One of the most powerful aspects of this curriculum is that it is intended to be interactive, both for students and instructors. Both will be able to access the AAVSO website and the Hands-On Astrophysics homepage. If you need answers to technical questions or assistance in locating data resources, you will be able to use the HOA website. Instructors can ask questions about any of the activities, or share their own activities with each other. You will be able to communicate with the authors of this curriculum and with professional astronomers and technicians.

If it is impossible for you to introduce your students to the night sky, the HOA curriculum is still of great value. Your students will be able to learn about variable stars by using the activities, software, and slide sets that come with the manual. So even if you are dealing with younger students or with city lights, the students can still study entire sequences of magnitude estimation, light curves, periodicity, phase diagrams, and prediction.

Possible Sequences for Presenting the Curriculum

The material within this curriculum is laid out in sequence, from easiest to most difficult. However, using the complete sequence is only one of many options available. If you have a full or half-year astronomy course at the middle or high school level you may use this option. If you have students with some science and math background at the college or high school level, you may want to leave out the first two units and start with Unit 3. Even though the sequence presented has a specific direction and relationship, the units or chapters can also be used independently. The chapters are related to each other, but do not depend upon one another. Even though you may not have an astronomy, physical science, or math class in which to use this curriculum, you may decide to select certain parts of it to include within an English, history, or biology class. A few of the many options are as follows:

If your interest is solely in variable star observations and data analysis, or you have college or high school students:

1. Core Activity 6.5: Collecting Your Own Data
2. Chapter 7: Observing Variable Stars in the Sky
3. Unit 5: Analysis of Variable Stars
   • Chapter 10: Statistical Concepts
   • Chapter 11: Variable Stars, Light Curves, and Periodicity
   • Chapter 12: Variable Stars and Phase Diagrams
   • Chapter 13: Variable Stars and O-C Diagrams

1. Unit 1: Planets and Stars
   • Chapter 1: The Solar System and Beyond
   • Chapter 2: The Nature of Stars
2. Unit 2: Introducing the Sky
   • Chapter 3: Familiarizing Yourself with the Night Sky
3. Unit 3: Observing Variable Stars
   • Chapter 5: Introducing the Hands-On Astrophysics Constellations
   • Chapter 6: Measuring Variable Stars Visually
   • Chapter 7: Observing Variable Stars in the Real Sky
     (OMIT if your students are unable to observe at night)
4. Unit 5: Analysis of Variable Stars
   • Chapter 10: Statistical Concepts
   • Chapter 11: Variable Stars, Light Curves, and Periodicity

1. Core Activity 6.5: Collecting Your Own Data
2. Unit 5: Analysis of Variable Stars
   • Chapter 10: Statistical Concepts
   • Chapter 11: Variable Stars, Light Curves, and Periodicity
   • Chapter 12: Variable Stars and Phase Diagrams
   • Chapter 13: Variable Stars and O-C Diagrams

1. Unit 4: The Message of Light
   • Chapter 8: The Nature of Light
   • Chapter 9: The Life of a Star

Summary

The content is useful in astronomy, physical science, mathematics, and computer classes, and has interdisciplinary connections that make it appropriate for history or English classes, or public education programs.

The material is appropriate for middle school through introductory college level, depending upon the chapters selected.

The curriculum is self-contained: no prior knowledge of astronomy, variable star astronomy, or physics is necessary.

HOA actively involves students in the scientific process through observation, data collection, graphical and computer analysis, mathematical models, prediction, and assessment of prediction and further observation.

HOA participants can access the AAVSO International Database and talk directly with others engaged in variable star observing. They can also communicate with the AAVSO headquarters staff via the AAVSO website.