Copernicus Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
February 19, 2007

History
On this day in 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus, the Polish astronomer who proved the sun is the center of our solar system, was born. Read more about him here: http://www.helium.com/tm/169079/nicolaus-copernicus-polish-astronomer

Discussion Questions:
1. What year was Nicolaus Copernicus born?
2. Where was he from?
3. Before his time what kind of model of the solar system did people believe in?

Vocabulary

Heliocentric – the theory that all planets revolve around the sun.

Milky Way Galaxy – the name of our solar system.

Astronomer – a scientist who studies the matter of outer space.

Art

Model of a Solar System
Make your very own model of a solar system. http://www.umary.edu/portfolio/edu/Practicum%20Student%20Web%20Pages%20F05/Sister%20Johanna/Danielle,%20Pam,%20&%20Sister%20Joanna/Lesson%20Plan.htm


Science/Journal
THE SUN AND THE EARTH

The relationship between the Earth and the sun affects observable phenomena on Earth, such as the seasons.

1. Describe the differences between winter, spring, summer, and fall.
2. Do you know why these seasons occur? What happens to the Earth to make the seasons change? Write your ideas in your journal.

Go to http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/07/season.html
to find out why the seasons occur.

Draw two diagrams showing the relationship between the Earth and the sun—one during the winter and one during the summer in your hometown.
Play this game to see how much you have learned about the four seasons.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/07/popup/cosmic.html


Geography
Use the map here http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/pdf/world_cont.pdf and place a small x in the location of your hometown.
Draw additional x's next to the following places on the Earth in your diagrams: Santiago, Chile; Belem, Brazil (at the mouth of the Amazon); and Fairbanks, Alaska. You can use http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/ to help locate these places.
What do you think the weather is like in these places right now?

Use http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/ to find out what the weather is really like in these places right now. Record the current temperatures in each of these places and in your own hometown.
Math
1. What is the difference in temperature between your hometown and Fairbanks, Alaska?
2. What is the difference in temperature between Belem Brazil and Fairbanks, Alaska?

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