TITLE PAGE

TEACHER PAGE

STUDENT PAGE

BACKGROUND MATERIAL

STANDARDS

ASSESSMENT

 

 

LESSON  PLAN

   Solar Wind and Magnetosphere Interaction  Lab

by Lynne Zielinski  

Download the pdf version of this lesson plan.

     Be sure to read the Background Material associated with this lesson for further understanding of goals and outcomes.

     Preparation:  

Teacher should become familiar with this lab activity by trying it first so that it can be modified, if necessary, for use with available resources.  There should be one lab set up for each group of 3-4 students.  Each lab set up should include a small cup containing cereal (with iron filings in it) and some raisons, a beaker half full of oil-type product, and two strong magnets.  They should also have the direction worksheet.  

     Class management:     

Students should be in groups of 3-4.  

     Procedure:    

Opening discussion with students' should include a review of solar wind, magnetic field, and atmospheric protection.  The question should be posed:  How are charged particles effected by the Earth’s magnetic field and ionosphere?

Students should write down their ideas in answer to this question on the lab worksheet. 

Next, the students should be asked to get into their lab groups, perform the experiment, and fill out the rest of the worksheet.

 Finally, students in their groups will be asked to present their ideas, hypotheses, and conclusions to the class, which answer the question.  

     Assessment:

Assessment can come in many forms.  Two that are recommended for this lab are group presentation and experiment laboratory reports  

    Student Handout               - View

                                               - Download in pdf format

    Other Student Resources

For explanations on how the aurora are made look at:

     Dawn of the North - An Auroral Tutorial for grades 10-12

     Paintings in the Sky - An Auroral Tutorial for grades 5-9

      Last Update: 3/00