Exploring Our Universe:  From the Classroom to Outer Space II. The FUSE Satellite - Observing from Space NOTES TO THE TEACHERS

This second kit, "The FUSE Satellite"  is designed to give students a feel for the excitement and complexity of a current space science satellite mission as well as providing easy-to-use lessons with a high level of student interest .The kit contains a fact sheet with background information, several classroom activities that can be incorporated into the science and mathematics curriculum at the high school level, notes to the teachers for use of the material and correlation to the National Science Education Standards and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Principals & Standards for School Mathematics, a list of resources for expanding the topic, a glossary of useful terms, solutions for the student activities, and an evaluation form that we urge you to complete and send back to us.

The activities in this kit have various degrees of difficulty and different prerequisites. All are suitable for a  physics class, but several would also be exciting lessons in geometry, algebra, physical science, earth science or astronomy. The activities are self-contained and do not need to be used in sequence. They can be selected based on specific topics covered by the teacher with consideration of available time and resources. The activities are written as comprehensive cooperative learning lesson plans but may be assigned as independent study or enrichment assignments, or used as assessment instruments. Teacher notes for each activity list suitable class, objectives, time required, prerequisites, procedure, and materials.  Tables 1 and 2 below summarize the topics addressed for each activity.
 
 
 
 

Table 1

Science Topic	Activity #
gravity	1,2,3
uniform circular motion	1,2,3
satellites	1,2,3,5
Kepler's Law of Periods	1,2,3
optics	4
rotational motion	3,5
conservation of angular momentum	5

 
 
 
 

Table 2

Mathematics Topic	Activity #
model	2
triangle trigonometry	4
angle measure	3
linear function	2
circles	3
solid geometry	3
scale diagram	3