RPSEC Student Programs for
South Carolina & Georgia Schools

 

The Voyager Encounters

Student Programs Lesson Information, Standards Correlations, and Post Visit Activities

The Voyager Encounters: (Grades 4-12 • Planetarium • 60 minutes) In this program, students view stunning images of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and many of the moons that orbit these gas giants. These images were produced from data collected by Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, which explored that region of the solar system in the 1980s. The instruments on the Voyager spacecraft are described, and so is the "Message to the Universe" that the Voyagers are currently carrying beyond the solar system. Learn how the Voyagers send data back to Earth and where they are now -- 30 years after they were launched! Following the automated portion of the show, students learn what is in the "sky tonight," including any visible planets.

Traveling Science Kits that support or extend this lesson
Pre & Post Visit Activities

This lesson supports the following science standards:

South Carolina Schools

Georgia Schools

Grade 4: SCSS 3.1, 3.8
Grade 8: SCSS 4.1

Grade 4 Science
Astronomy
Standard 4-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the properties, movements, and locations of objects in the solar system. (Earth Science)

Indicators:
3.1 Recall that Earth is one of many planets in the solar system that orbit the Sun.
3.8 Recognize the purpose of telescopes.

Grade 8 Science
Astronomy: Earth and Space Systems
Standard 8-4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics, structure, and predictable motions of celestial bodies. (Earth Science)

Indicators:
4.1 Summarize the characteristics and movements of objects in the solar system (including planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteors).

Grade 4: S4E1 a, b, c, d / S4E2 d
Grade 6: S6E1 a, b, c, d, e, f

Grade 4 Science
Astronomy
S4E1: Students will compare and contrast the physical attributes of stars, star patterns, and planets.

Indicators:
a. Recognize the physical attributes of stars in the night sky such as number, size, color and patterns.
b. Compare the similarities and differences of planets to the stars in appearance, position, and number in the night sky.
c. Explain why the pattern of stars in a constellation stays the same, but a planet can be seen in different locations at different times.
d. Identify how technology is used to observe distant objects in the sky.

S4E2: Students will model the position and motion of the earth in the solar system and will explain the role of relative position and motion in determining sequence of the phases of the moon.

Indicator:
d. Demonstrate the relative size and order from the sun of the planets in the solar system.

Grade 6 Science
S6E1: Students will explore current scientific views of the universe and how those views evolved.

Indicators:
a. Relate the Nature of Science to the progression of basic historical scientific theories (geocentric and heliocentric) as they describe our solar system, and the Big Bang as it describes the formation
b. Describe the position of the solar system in the Milky Way galaxy and the universe.
c. Compare and contrast the planets in terms of
Size relative to the earth
Surface and atmospheric features
Relative distance from the sun
Ability to support life
d. Explain the motion of objects in the day/night sky in terms of relative position.
e. Explain that gravity is the force that governs the motion in the solar system.
f. Describe the characteristics of comets, asteroids, and meteors.

Please direct inquiries to:
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
c/o Student Programs
USC Aiken, Box 3, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801
(803) 641-3313 from Augusta 278-1967 Ext. 3313

RPSEC@usca.edu

Copyright © 2008 by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina.

Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
Center of Excellence in Educational Technology
University of South Carolina Aiken
471 University Parkway
Aiken, SC 29801
803-641-3313

URL: http://rpsec.usca.edu/student/Programs/Voyager/VoyagerEncounters.html (April 2008)