Essay / Lesson Plan
During the course, you will either design a lesson plan or write an essay. You can select from the list of topics or choose your own topic with the approval. The format is flexible, but you could, for example, create a power point presentation for a class or design an experiment for students, write a paper on a controversial topic related to astronomy, or detail some interesting science. You must make a connection to real-world applications in either the essay or lesson plan.
Example topics could be:
- Evaluate a topic for scientific accuracy (Astrology, Life on Mars, etc.)
- Choose a wavelength range (e.g. X-rays, radio, etc.) and discuss how and what we observe in that range (be careful: you will need to find a way to make this more than just facts!)
- Climate change (global, or focus on how global changes will affect Minnesota)
- Robotic explorations
- Choose a potential mission (humans on Mars? Robotic Europa?) and discuss the challenges and benefits for that mission
There are many other possibilities, so find something that interests you!
As always, do not plagiarize. Make sure to properly cite sources.
Due Dates and Procedure:
Jul 13: Topic proposal (just run it by me)
Jun 26: First Draft. Post to Blackboard discussion boards.
Aug 1: Peer review due. Review 2 papers/lesson plans following the rubric provided. Constructive feedback and suggestions only, please. Everyone must review at least two, and every submission must have at least two reviews. I will also provide my comments by this date.
Aug 9: Final Draft to me. If you wish to share with the class, you may provide revised versions on Blackboard.
Guidelines: Essays
Essays should be between 5 and 6 pages long (no more than 6!). Papers must follow MLA style guidelines. When writing the essay, you should consider the following:
- Essays are meant to be read by someone. Who is your target audience, and is the level of the essay appropriate for that audience? You must indicate this when you turn this in! (not within the essay itself; indicate on a cover page)
- What misconceptions will the essay need to address?
- Real world application. For example, how does this relate to your own future career?
- Where will people reading the essay have difficulty? Where do you need to explain scientific concepts more fully?
- Responses to peer review (also indicate on the cover page)
- Overall clarity, originality and flow will be part of the grade.
- I want to read your own words - short quotes are fine but no large blocks of text.
- Humor is good! Make it interesting to read!
Guidelines: Lesson Plan
Teaching activities need to be fully described, so that someone else could use the lesson plan with no difficulties. They should be a one-class or one day activity to the appropriate level for your intended classroom. Be sure to include a list of materials that will be necessary. In addition to the lesson itself, you should prepare a short write-up which addresses the following questions:
- What is my targeted level and is the level of the activity appropriate for my students?
- What is the goal of this activity? How will you know if you achieve that goal?
- What misconceptions will the activity have to address?
- Within the activity, where are likely places students may become confused, and what am I going to do to prepare for that?
- Where will this activity fit within a curriculum?
- Real world application. For example, how does this relate to your students' lives?
- Responses to the peer review (make it clear what changes were incorporated)
- If you are modifying a lesson plan from somewhere else, be sure to include a link to the original material(s). There should be enough changes to make this your own work.
In addition, the overall clarity, originality and presentation will be part of the grade.
