Page 6 - Kindergarten.indd

T E A C H E R N O T E S

MEASURING DISTANCES OF STARS - SC.5.E.5.1

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

How can the altitude of stars be measured?

HYPOTHESIS: (predictions will vary)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In this activity, students will construct an astrolabe to compare the height of
the North Star over a period of three days.
An astrolabe is a device used to
measure the altitude or the height of objects in the sky. Our galaxy is a big

place, with hundreds of billions of stars. Some stars are relatively close and
others are over on the other side of the galaxy. Stars are massive shining
spheres of hot gas, the closest of which is our Sun.

VARIABLES:

Control Group Stars

Independent Variable Tall building and tall trees

Dependent Variable The altitude
The same….
Constant (Controlled)
Variables Protractor, type of dark yarn, metal washer,

plastic straw, etc…

DATA COLLECTION/OBSERVATIONS: (data collection will vary)

GRAPHS: (answers will be based on the data collected)

RESULTS: (answers will vary)

CONCLUSION: (answers will vary)

APPLICATION: (answers will vary)

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