|
At 6:30 on the morning of December 14, 1807, a
blazing fireball about two-thirds the size of the moon was seen
traveling southwards by early risers in Vermont and Massachusetts.
Three loud explosions were heard over the town of Weston in
Fairfield County, Connecticut. Stone fragments fell in at least 6
places. Several large stones, including one of about 200 pounds (91
kilograms), had been smashed to bits on the rocky ground. Others
were smashed by the finders:
Out of the approximately 350 pounds of the meteorite that fell on
the town of Weston (which is now called Easton), less than 50 pounds
can now be accounted for. Yale.edu
Task
Definition/Problem:
Students will
research and collect information about the universe or community
during the time period of the meteor strike. They will synthesize
and evaluate the composition, structure, and motion of celestial
bodies in our solar system as well as in our universe. They will
further make the connection between and among all of the information
of this historical astronomical event.
Requirements:
1. Choose one of the topics below (or one of your
own with approval by teacher) to research.
Topics:
Life in Weston during
1807
Work in Weston during
1807
Families in Weston
during 1807
Constellations
Novas, star clusters,
nebulas, quasars
Galaxies
Big Bang Theory
Star characteristics
(composition, size, temperatures, brightness, etc.)
Layers of the
Sun/Activities of the Sun
Types of stars (white
dwarfs, protostars, black holes, supernovas)
Formation of the
solar system
Orbits (including
planets, comets, asteroids)
Planets
Asteroid belt
Meteors, meteorites,
meteoroids
Winter solstice
Oort cloud
2. Make a
connection between the selected topic and the meteor strike of 1807.
3. Present your
research in a final project, including a Works Cited.
Final Product:
An oral
presentation that supports your research. The project may be
presented in any of the following formats:
- Video interviews
- PowerPoint
presentations
- 3D Models
- Interactive Software
- Games
- Newspaper/periodical
articles
- Maps
- Video interviews
- Creative use of
technology
- Mobile
- Constellation Map
Due dates for the
project:
Project
choice and parental signature: November 16, 2007
Notes:
November 27, 2007
Final
Product: December 7, 2007
Assessment:
Use the project
rubric provided.
ALL STUDENTS’
PROJECTS WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE METEOR CELEBRATION AT THE EASTON
LIBRARY ON DECEMBER 13TH 6:30-8:00 P.M. (More details on
the event to follow.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My choice for the
Meteor Project:
___________________________________________________________
Child’s Name
Parent’s
Signature
|
