Essential Question: How is Earth's climate connected to its geological, biological and cultural systems?
ENGAGE
Matter Matters
Earth, with its tiny store of precious Carbon, has been around a brief 4.6 billion years, give or take a few. In the even longer story of our universe, Carbon is a new kid, as are nearly all elements.
When the whole show started 14 plus billion years ago, the only players on the stage were the simplest ones-hydrogen and helium, with one and two protons in their respective nuclei. This would have made for a much simpler periodic table to create or have to memorize had early science students been around at the time.
To get from hydrogen to carbon and all the 92 naturally occurring elements found on Earth requires a brief primer on stellar evolution--how a star is born, develops and dies.
EXPLORE
Teachers' Domain
Here is a great TD video produced by NOVA that tells the story of a few billion years in just 3 minutes and 42 seconds; The Elements: Forged in Stars. Or try this even more concise TD, NOVA video, The Origin of the Elements. For a more detailed view of the elements, try out this fun and engaging TD interactive Periodic Table.
The Elements: Forged in StarsThe Origin of the Elements
Periodic TableTry these TD video resources to explore if there are other "Earths" out there.
Evidence for the Big BangSeeing StarsEXPLAIN
- How many stars are in our galaxy? How many galaxies are in our universe?
- Where did the matter that makes up our solar system come from?
- How did Earth and other planets form?
EXTEND
- What other great online resources do you know that help students understand the long story of our universe and planet's creation?
- What other creation stories from different cultures could be told alongside for enrichment?
EVALUATE
- What is the utility of any of these resources in your or your students' learning; or how you might use any of them in your final project for this course?
