Curriculum Unit Title: Author:
We Are Made of Star Stuff
Michael A. Doody
KEY LEARNING, ENDURING UNDERSTANDING, ETC.
NGSS Standard HS-ESS1-3 – communicate ideas about the way stars, over their life cycles, produce elements
NGSS Standard HS-PS1-8: develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the changes in the nucleus and the energy released in nuclear processes
ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S) for the UNIT
How do stars produce elements throughout their life cycle
CONCEPT A CONCEPT B CONCEPT C
Star Composition
Fission vs Fusion
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and Cosmic Recycling
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS A ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS B ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS C
What are the similarities and differences of fusion and fission?
How do fission and fusion impact the formation of elements?
How can star composition be determined?
How are light elements formed?
How are heavy elements formed?
How are elements recycled in the universe?
VOCABULARY A VOCABULARY B VOCABULARY C
Spectra
Wavelength
Fission
Fusion
Nucleus
Elementary particles Supernovae
Nucleosynthesis
Light elements
Heavy elements
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/MATERIAL/TEXT/FILM/RESOURCES
Neil deGrass Tyson. 2017. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. Carl Sagan. 1980. Cosmos. Hyperphysics: hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu
Chandra X-Ray Center: Chandra.harvard.edu