Title: A Night of Stars
Academic Areas: Astronomy
Duration of service: 4 weekends
Character Virtues: Caring, Giving
Service Areas: Education and Awareness
Service Learning Project Description:
A local amateur astronomer came to a local school board meeting
complaining about the amount of light given off by the schools night
time lighting in the parking lots and sports fields making it impossible
to view certain portions of the sky. Students decided to advocate
for the astronomer to get the lights turned off for several weekend
evenings, while at the same time the local astronomer offered to
work with local elementary and middle school students on a star
gazing activity.
Goals and Objectives
Academic
Learning Goal: Students can describe the effects of light pollution
on telescopes.
Standard: MST Standard 4 Physical Setting Earth Science
Learning Goal: Students can identify constellations and local
planets in the night sky.
Standard: MST Standard 4 Physical Setting Earth Science.
Service
Community need: Turning Off the School Lights
Night Time Stellar Observations
Possible Community Partners: Local Astronomers
Objective: Getting the school lights turned off
on occasion to allow stellar observations.
Character
Virtue: Caring
Objective: Students will demonstrate caring by
getting involved with the problems of a local astronomer, and
seeking a solution that is beneficial to both the school and astronomer.
Key Activities
Key Planning Activities
1) Working with a local astronomer to understand the problems
of light pollution
2) Working with school and law enforcement to understand the need
for night lighting
3) Developing a plan to meet the needs of both parties
Key Service Activities
1) Producing an informational package for the school board to
request the dimming of the lights on specific evenings
2) Assisting in the development of program materials for the
astronomers work with students.
Key Reflection Activities
1. (oral) Discuss the process of problem solving being used.
2. (written) Write a letter of thanks to the school board and
the astronomer for their help in addressing the needs of the students
as well as the astronomers.
3. (performance) Students will create a scale model of the constellations
that can be used during star gazing activities to locate major
star clusters.
Demonstration Activity
Students and the local astronomer will organize a night of star
gazing. Students will work with the astronomer to identify and
pull in local amateur astronomers and help design astronomy activities
for families to complete on these nights.
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