Galaxy-related Web sites: Student Resources:

Hubble Deep Field Academy-Four activities for older children related to galaxies. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/hdf-top-level.html

• Stellar Statistician: uses the Hubble Deep Field Image in an exercise to teach about sampling.
• Cosmic Classifiers: a very visually appealing activity with more complicated galaxy identification involving color, size, and shape.
• Universal Graduate: a review quiz on concepts presented in the lessons above.

StarChild-A learning center for Young Astronomers
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

Galaxies
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/universe_level1/galaxies.html
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/universe_level2/universe.html

The Milky Way
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/universe_level1/milky_way.html http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/universe_level2/milky_way.html

Cosmic Couples Matching Game
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/universe_level1/match.html

Hands on Universe- an educational program that enables students to investigate the Universe while applying tools and concepts from science, math, and technology.
http://hou.lbl.gov:80/index.html

Gorgeous Galaxies
http://hou.lbl.gov:80/ISE/new/galaxy/index.html

Hubble Space Telescope
http://www.stsci.edu/~mutchler/HSTmodel.html

Astro Fun Zone
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/fun/

 

Hubble Telescope Related Information on Galaxies: Teacher Resources:

Findings From Hubble Deep Field: Home In on Distant Galaxies
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/1996/24/

The Hubble Deep Field
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/1996/01/

Animation
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/1996/01/video/a

Introduction to Galaxies
http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/background-text/galintro.txt

Galaxy Formation
Animation: http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/mpeg/galaxies.mpg
http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/background-text/galaxfrm.txt

Galaxy Shapes
http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/background-text/galaxshp.txt

Nearby Galaxies & Distant Galaxies Images
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/

Active Galaxy Images
http://www.astr.ua.edu/active2.html

Hubble Reveals Stellar Fireworks Accompanying
Galaxy Collisions- Images
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/1997/34/

Faint Irregular Galaxies
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/1995/08/

 

Other Web Sites Related to Galaxies:

Messier Objects- Galaxies
http://www.seds.org/messier/objects.html#galaxy

Normal Galaxies- Images & Background Information
http://www.astr.ua.edu/normal2.html

Galaxy Pair/Interacting Galaxies Picture Gallery
http://www.astr.ua.edu/pairs2.html

The Universe-Galaxies
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/cgi-bin/tour_def/the_universe/Galaxy.html

Cataloging Galaxies:

Irregular
http://library.thinkquest.org/3461/irreg_i.htm

Spiral
http://library.thinkquest.org/3461/spiral_i.htm

Elliptical
http://library.thinkquest.org/3461/ellip_i.htm

M31 Movie- http://zebu.uoregon.edu/textbook/images1/m31.mov

How Did Galaxies Form
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/1996/ph123/galaxies.html

The Galaxies
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/guidry/violence/galaxies-info.html

Galaxies
http://www.phy.syr.edu/courses/CCD_NEW/seti/topics/cosmology/galaxy/galaxy.html

 

Other Web Sites of Interest to Teachers:

Spacelink
http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov/index.html

NASA Home Page
http://www.nasa.gov/

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory- Learning Link
http://learn.jpl.nasa.gov

Public Access to NASA's Planetary Data
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html

Astronomy Society of the Pacific
http://www.astrosociety.org/

The Planetary Society
http://planetary.org/

Galaxy Mapping: Why make maps of the galaxies?
http://www.ktca.org/newtons/10/galaxy.html

Literature on Galaxies:

Books

Simon, Seymour. Galaxies. William Morrow & Company, 1988.

Barnham, Robert, A. Dyer, R. Garfinkle, M. George, J. Kanipe and D. Levy. The Nature Company Guides-Advanced Sky Watching. Nature Company and Time Life Books, 1997.

Levy, David. The Nature Company Guides-Sky Watching. The Nature Company & Time Life Books, 1998.

Chaisson, Eric and S. McMillan. Astronomy Today. Prentice Hall, 1998.

Sipiera, Paul. Galaxies. Children's Press, 1997.

Estalella, Robert and M. Feergon. Galaxies. Barron's Educational Series, 1994.

Weisbacher, Anne. Galaxies. Abdo and Daughters, 1997.

Combes, Francoise. Galaxies and Cosmology. Springer Verlag, 1995.

Eicher, David and R. Bunge. Galaxies and the Universe. Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1992.

Elmegreen, Debra. Galaxies and Galactic Structures. Prentice Hall, 1997.

Hippelein, Hans, K. Meisenheimer and H. Foser, editors. Galaxies in the Young Universe. Springer Verlag, 1995.

Sandage, Allan. Hubble Atlas of Galaxies. Carnegie Institute of Washington, 1984.

Wray, James. The Color Atlas of Galaxies. Cambridge University Press, 1988.

 

Teaching Books Containing Lesson Plans

Astro Adventures, Pacific Science Center Explore More Store, Seattle, WA.

Astronomy Adventures, National Wildlife Federation, Washington, DC.

Universe at Your Fingertips, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA.

Universe in the Classroom, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA.

 

Fiction and Nonfiction for Children

Rosen, Sidney. Which Way to the Milky Way. Lerner Publishing, 1992. ISBN 0876147090.

Collins, Beverly and Bruce Degen. The Magic School Bus, Lost in the Solar System. Scholastic, 1990. ISBN 0590414291.

Simon, Seymour. The Universe. William Morrow and Company, 1998. ISBN 0688153011.

Hello Out There! A Sticker Book about the Solar System (Magic School Bus Series), Scholastic, 1995. ISBN 0590881299.

Phillips, David. Space Age Mazes. Dover Publishing, 1989. ISBN 0486256596.

McPhail, David. Tinker and Tom and the Star Baby. Little, Brown and Company, 1998. ISBN 0316563498.

Pinkwater, Daniel. Fat Men From Space. Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1980. ISBN 0440445426.

Walker, Jane and I. Thompson. The Solar System. Mill Brook Press, 1995. ISBN 1562948997.

Simon, Seymour. Solar System. William Morrow and Company, 1992. ISBN 0688099920.

Levy, David. Stars and Planets. Weldon-Owen, Time Life, 1996. ISBN 0809492466.

Hirst, Robin and S. Hirst. My Place in Space. Demco Media, 1992. ISBN 0606027742.

Ford, Harry. The Young Astronomer. D.K. Publishing, Inc. 1998. ISBN 0789420619.

Berger, Melvin and G. Berger. Where Are the Stars During the Day-A Book about Stars. Hambleton-Hill Publishing, 1993. ISBN 0824986075.

Scott, Elaine. Adventure in Space: The Flight to Fix the Hubble. Disney Press., 1998. ISBN 0786810394.

Silver, Donald. One Small Square-The Night Sky. McGraw-Hill, 1998. ISBN 0070580456.

Moore, Patrick. The Starry Sky. Copper Beech Books, 1995. ISBN 156294181X.

Stott, Carole and C. Twist. Space Facts (Pockets). D.K. Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1564588920.

Magazine for Children

"Odyssey," Cobblestone Publishing, Peterborough, NH

Magazine Articles for Adults

"Sky and Telescope Magazine"

April 1998- Ghost Galaxies
March 1998- Galaxies in Collision
January 1997- Galaxy Clusters
May 1996- Hubble Space Telescope Spies Galaxies Near the Edge of the Universe
July 1990- Are Spiral Galaxies Heavy Smokers?

 

Slides

Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA
415-337-2624

Finley-Holiday Film Corp., Whitter, CA
1-800-345-6707

NASA Core, Oberlin, OH
216-774-1051 (ext. 293/294)

Newel Colour Lab, Los Angeles, CA
213-380-2980

Space Images
1-800-877-8915

 

Video

Bill Nye, the Science Guy-Outer Space: Way Out There
Item 100322, Disney

Audio Tapes, Publications, Teacher Guides/Activities

NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 253-2
Moffett Field, CA 94035
415-604-0357

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
NASA Teacher Resource Center
Public Affairs Office, [Tr1. 42]
Edwards AFB, CA 93523
805-258-3456

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Teacher Resource Laboratory
Mail Code 130.3
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
301-286-8570

Wallops Flight Facility
Education Complex- Visitor Center
Teacher Resource Center, Bldg J-17
Wallops Island, VA 23337
804-824-2297 /2298

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
JPL Educational Outreach, CS-530
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
818-354-6916

NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
Educator's Resources Laboratory
Mail Code ERC
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
407-867-4090

NASA Johnson Space Center
Teacher Resource Center
Mail COde AP-2-TRC
2101 NASA Road 1
Houston, TX 77058
713-483-8696

NASA Teacher Resource Center for LaRC
Virginia Air and Space Center
600 Settler's Landing Road
Hampton, VA 23669
804-727-0900, ext. 757

NASA Lewis Research Center
Teacher's Resource Center, Mail Stop 8-1
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
216-433-2017

NASA Stennis Space Center
Teacher Resource Center
Building 1200
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
601-688-3338

U.S. Space and Rocket Center
15181 Route 58 South
Oberlin, OH 44074
216-774-1051, ext. 293

 

Extended Activities

Introduction to Galaxies

Use an assortment of different sized boxes to help explain the universe to students. Start with the smallest box or a rubber ball replica of the Earth. Put the Earth in a larger box explaining that the Earth is part of the solar system. Place the solar system box in a larger box representing our Milky Way galaxy. Explain that our Milky Way galaxy is just one of many galaxies. Use many boxes of different sizes to represent different galaxies. Put all the galaxy boxes into the largest box representing the universe.

Galaxy Activities

Spinning Spiral Galaxies

1. Using a ragmop, roll the handle back and forth using the palms of your hands. Mopstrings will swirl like the spiral arms of the galaxy.
2. Put a large number of paper "holes" from a hole puncher into a glass of water. Create a spiral galaxy by stirring.
3. Give a set of dominoes to small groups of students. Ask them to construct their own spiral galaxy.
4. Blow up and cut out spiral arms.

   

Stretch large cotton balls (two per galaxy). Glue cotton to the center of the top AND the bottom of spiral arms. The cotton represents the bulge of a spiral galaxy.

 

Squish Elliptical Galaxies

Use a "Nerf" football to create elliptical galaxies. Squeeze the ends of the ball toward the center to create each of the galaxies from E0 to E7. You can also rotate the "Nerf" football at various angles to represent a galaxy from different angles. This variety of views is another reason galaxies look different from Earth.

 

Create Colliding Galaxies

Give two magnetic marbles to a pair of students. Instruct them to stand at opposite ends of a table. Have each student is to roll his/her marble toward the center and trying to hit the partner's marble.

The results will be similar to what actually happens to galaxies in the universe:

• Marbles will totally miss each other
• Marbles will collide and move away from each other
• Marbles will meet, connect and spin

 

Charts to Help Establish Size

Ways to Use the Trading Cards

• Have the students draw or write down what they have learned from the Web pages Build the Milky Way, Spiral Shapes, Elliptical Slide, and Imagine Irregulars before doing the Galaxy Trading Cards page.
• Have students classify the galaxies according to shape without looking at the back of the cards.
• Have students write their own questions about the cards.
• Have the students do further research on galaxies by using some of the Web sites found in the Teacher Grab Bag section.
• Use the cards for a scavenger hunt. Give students questions and ask them to find the answers from the backs of the cards.
• Use a chart of the night sky to have students locate the constellations in the correct hemisphere.
• Use a "Hubble Deep Field" poster to locate galaxies that share similar appearances to each of the types represented on the cards. Classify the galaxies.
• Have the students draw or write about the galaxies after they have completed the Galaxy Trading Cards page.

  To obtain a set of the Galaxy Trading Cards, contact the NASA Educator Resource Center nearest you (see the Grab Bag section of the teacher pages for addresses) .

 

Meter Milky Way

Once students have worked with the scale model activities they should have a better understanding of the vast distances involved and the tremendous variation in size found in celestial objects. Here is another activity that can be used to demonstrate the vastness of space. Pacing off these distances will become an immediate challenge. Begin with the school playground and a meter stick. Remember 1000 kilometers = 0.6 mile.

Meter Milky Way
Object	Scale Distance
The Magellanic Clouds	1.6 meters
Andromeda Galaxy	20 meters
Magellanic Galaxy NGC 2366	100 meters
M100	510 meters
Barred Spiral NGC 1365	600 meters
Antennae Galaxies	630 meters
Cartwheel Galaxy	5,000 meters
Hubble Deep Field	120,000 meters

 

Galaxy Visors

Your students can make a visor that is fun to wear. You will need 5 blue strips and 1 black strip of construction paper that are 1 inch by 18 inches. The visor is made as follows: put all the blue strips together and staple them. Let one of the blue strips go. Holding the other strips together, cut 2 inches off. Let one more strip go. As you are holding the remaining strips, cut another 2 inches off. Drop one more strip and cut 2 inches. There should be one strip left. Cut 2 inches off this last strip. Gather the ends together and staple them. Add the black strip to one side and staple. Measure the black strip to fit the child's head and staple to the other side. You should now have a visor. The last step is to add the pictures of the galaxies found at the URLs below. The pictures may be colored or added as they download. Place them on the outside so that someone looking at the visor will see the galaxies.

URLs:

• http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/galaxies-galore/spiral/
• http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/galaxies-galore/elliptical/

More Sand, More Stars?

Count grains of sand (any sand will do). Put a level 1/8 teaspoon of sand on each desk and have students count the grains. Add that amount to obtain a total number of grains for the class. Determine the total number of teaspoons represented by the class. Try to estimate how many grains of sand are in a cubic inch, a cubic foot, and a cubic mile. Then take a guess at how many grains of sand are on all the beaches of the planet Earth. Tell the students that there are more stars in the universe than all the grains of sand by a factor of two more zeros. Hint: See how many teaspoons are required to fill a cubic inch container. You can make a container out of paper (see the diagram).

 

Galaxy Shoe Boxes

Paint a shoebox black inside and out. Cut a slit at one end of the lid that is 3 1/2 inches wide. Make sure that you cut it close to one end of the top. You are going to slide pieces of tag board into it, and you will want to block the light from entering the box. On the opposite side from the slit, cut an eye hole in the center of the end. On the other end cut a rectangle that will be slightly smaller than 3 X 3 inches. You will need strips of tag board cut 3 1/2 inches by 6 inches. In a 3 X 3 inch area at one end of the tag board, poke pin holes to represent the major stars in the constellations described below. These constellations have a galaxy nearby. Write the names of the galaxies and constellations at the top opposite the punched out patterns. Below is a list of galaxies and where they can be found by location within or by a constellation. See any chart of constellations for the position of the major stars.

 

Name	Constellation	Notes
Northern Hemisphere
M31-NGC 224	Andromeda	Great Spiral
M32-NGC 221	Andromeda	Elliptical Companion of M31
M81-NGC 205	Andromeda	Elliptical Companion of M31
M65-NGC 3623	Leo
M66	Leo
NGC 2903	Leo	Barred Spiral
M81-NGC 3031	Big Dipper
M82-NGC 3034	Big Dipper	Edge-on Dust Galaxy
NGC 3377	Member of Leo Spur	Elliptical Galaxy
NGC 3379	Member of Leo Spur	Elliptical Galaxy
NGC 4038 & NGC 4039	Corvus	Colliding Galaxies
NGC 5253	Centaurus	Irregular Galaxy
NGC 7217	Pegasus	Spiral Galaxy
Southern Hemisphere
LMC	Doradus	Large Magellanic Cloud
SMC	Tucana	Small Magellanic Cloud
M83-NGC 5236	Hydra	Barred Spiral
M104-NGC 4594	Virgo	Sombrero Galaxy