In this online PD session recorded in August 2015, secondary school teacher Steve Chrystall describes how he uses the Science Learning Hub’s satellites and rocket resources to teach space and astronomy to junior high school students.
These resources are useful for any level, from junior primary to senior physics, although some adaptation will be required.
This has been great and really encouraging to have so many new resources to use for students who need extension.
Teacher
2022 update
Since this recording we have developed a new suite of content – Aotearoa New Zealand in space introduces these resources, though created for the middle years, there’s something for everyone. Our recorded webinar gives a super helpful overview of the resources that make up part of this new content.
This PLD session was based on the legacy Science Learning Hub however all the resources are available on the new-look Science Learning Hub site.
See link above to view the video of this professional development session (we recommend downloading the video) and also link below to download the PowerPoint presentation.
For additional information on space science, check out the content under our astonomy topic.
Thank you folks – this was great. Always good to have someone sharing their passion! Great opportunities for thinking critically about the data and evidence, then opportunities to test their conclusions.
Teacher
| Topic | PowerPoint slide number(s) | Video timecode |
| About the Science Learning Hub | 2 | 00:28 |
| Finding the Satellites context via Google | 3–4 | 01:43 |
| Landing page for Satellites | 5 | 02:30 |
| Teaching and Learning Approaches: Scale model for satellite orbits | 6–9 | 04:36 |
| Teaching and Learning Approaches: Observing natural satellites | 10 | 12:28 |
| Looking Closer: Our solar system – revolutionary ideas | 11 | 14:37 |
| Image of an artificial satellite | 12 | 16:25 |
| What does it take to get a rocket into space? | 13–17 | 16:32 |
| What does it take to make a satellite stay up there? | 18–20 | 25:39 |
| Why do astronauts feel weightless? | 21–23 | 30:25 |
| Artificial satellite in space – image | 24 | 31:25 |
| Satellites and orbits – interactive | 25 | 32:10 |
| Alternative conceptions | 26 | 33:47 |
| Other resources on space – people, research, science ideas and concepts, video clips | 27–30 | 34:05 |
| Steve Chrystall – pictures taken while developing resources for the Science Learning Hub | 31 | 35:01 |
| Order promotional material, SLH links, thanks | 32–33 | 35:49 |
Activity idea
Students can develop the science capability ‘Interpret representations’ using teaching and learning activities such as Scale model for satellite orbits. Using this activity, students make meaning of scientific representations such as scale distances in space and other space models
