Physics of the Universe · Week 31 · Stars and the Origin of the Universe
The Sun's Engine
Modeling fusion in the Sun's core and naming what fuels students' own inner light.
- Students will
- Students model hydrogen fusion in the Sun's core and explain how a small amount of mass becomes the energy that has powered the Sun for billions of years.
- SEL skill
- Name what fuels you and how it feels when you run low
- What it looks like
- Students use emotions to think by naming what fuels their own inner light and how it feels when they run low.
- Content focus
- The Sun's engine and what fuels us
- Format
- Think write pair share
Self-awareness
Self-awareness means paying attention to your own thoughts, emotions, and strengths and how they affect your choices. More self-awareness activities
What you get
A teacher guide with what to say, step by step, plus student pages and a supports page for students with diverse learning needs, including those with IEPs. Print or Project it, or assign it in Google Forms and Google Docs for Google Classroom. Your first 10 activities are free.
Standards
- HS-ESS1-1: High School Earth and Space Science performance expectation
- Science and engineering practice: SEP2 Developing and using models
- Crosscutting concept: CCC5 Energy and matter
- CA Environmental Principles and Concepts: Principle I: People depend on natural systems
- Literacy in science: RST.11-12.7 Translate between quantitative or technical information in words, tables, graphs, and equations.
- Traditional course: Physics
Fits these textbook chapters
- Physics Techbook, Concept 4.1: Nuclear Physics
- Physics Techbook, Concept 6.2: Stars and Galaxies
- Inspire Physics, Unit 6: Quantum Theory and the Atom
- Inspire Physics, Unit 6: Nuclear and Particle Physics
- California HMH Science Dimensions: Physics in the Universe, Unit 6: Nuclear Processes
- California HMH Science Dimensions: Physics in the Universe, Unit 8: Stars and the Universe
Textbook names are used only to help you find activities that fit what you teach. RoseThread Connect is not affiliated with these publishers.
More self-awareness activities for Physics of the Universe
- The Physicist in Me Self-awarenessStudents list the motion questions they wonder about, from skateboards to dust devils, and name the scientist identity they bring.
- Electric Charges Self-awarenessModeling attraction and repulsion between charges and reflecting on what attracts and repels us in hard situations.
- Energy Is Conserved Self-awarenessCalculating energy changes in a system and tracking where students' emotional energy goes during a school day.
- Semester Reflection: My Energy Story Self-awarenessStudents write an energy conservation story of their semester, showing where their effort went and what it built.
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RoseThread Connect activities are drafted with the help of AI and shaped by educators. Students never have to share anything personal. Our five SEL skills are informed by CASEL's SEL Framework; RoseThread Learning is not affiliated with or endorsed by CASEL.