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Big Explosions and Strong Gravity Activities

Guides for the Four Activities

Below are the resource materials for the four activities. This program has been designed specifically for use with Girl Scouts, but the activities can be used in other settings. The lesson plan write-ups are freely available for use, and most of the materials are inexpensive, but we do recommend that a leader with expertise in astronomy lead the activities.

We are currently expanding our program to include Girl Scout councils outside the Baltimore/D.C. area. If you are a Girl Scout council, a physics or astronomy department, an observatory, or other group interested in such a collaboration, please contact us (information on the Contact Us page).

1. Elements and You
   • Activity Writeup (pdf)
   • Suggested Talking Points (pdf)
2. Rainbow Analysis
   • Activity Writeup (pdf)
   • Suggested Talking Points (pdf)
3. Supernova Demos
   • Activity Writeup (pdf)
   • Suggested Talking Points (pdf)
4. Black Hole Orbits
   • Activity Writeup (pdf)
   • Suggested Talking Points (pdf)

The Rainbow Analysis, Elements and You, and Supernova Demo activities were either taken from or inspired by the Imagine the Universe lesson plan on supernova spectroscopy: Imagine the Universe, Spectroscopy of Supernova Remmnants

The black hole orbits activity was adapted from an Adler Planetarium activity. There are other Adler activities concerning gravity. Please see this website: Adler Planetarium Gravity & Black Holes Activity (click on "Grades 5-8," and then under Guiding Questions, see "How do we identify black holes?")

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Web Curator: Sarah Eyermann
NASA Official: Dr. Ann Hornschemeier
Last Updated: May 29, 2008