Lunar and Planetary Science XXIX 1924.pdf

SATURN IN THE CLASSROOM: HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND THE NEW CASSINI TEACHER GUIDE . M. L. Urquhart, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Boulder CO 80309-0392, USA, [email protected], C. A. Morrow, Space Science Institute, Boulder CO 80303, USA.

In the spring of 1997, Mary Urquhart designed two sup- Summary of Instructions: plemental activities for the Cassini Teacher Guide (developed The moon Titan is ``built'' in a 10 gallon fish tank with at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado with the a 3 to 4 inch tall Styrofoam liner. Water and a tiny bit of support of numerous science and education partners). The two ammonia are mixed with dirt (for the rocky component of activities, A 3-D Scale Model Saturn and TitaninaFish Titan) to represent the bulk composition of the icy satellite. Tank were initially tested in the classroom of Randy Sachter, The mixture is then poured into the liner inside the fish tank. a teacher at Nederland Elementary in Nederland, Colorado and Next, dry ice is broken into small pieces with a hammer and a member of the Cassini Teacher Guide Development Team. added to the mixture. (Although not compositionally correct, Both were included as supplemental activities in the field test

the frozen CO 2 is easy to obtain, freezes the water, and allows of the Cassini Teacher Guide, and are available on the WWW for a discussion of the extreme cold of the 94 K surface of at http://lyra.colorado.edu/sbo/mary/. Titan.) When the dry ice is added, the fish tank will fill with a thick ``atmosphere''. This is a great time to discuss why A 3-D Scale Model Saturn scientists know so little of the nature of Titan's surface, and by Mary L. Urquhart how the Cassini mission will help us learn more. After the This hands-on activity for grades 4-8 uses common ma- atmosphere begins to dissipate (about 5 minutes), talk about terials to make a hand-held 3-D model of Saturn, its rings, the methane or ethane rain that may fall on Titan and produce and the giant moon Titan. A 3-inch diameter Styrofoam ball lakes, rivers, glaciers, and oceans on the frozen moon. Pour (available at most craft stores) represents Saturn and trans- a small amount of syrup (Karo syrup works well) onto the parency film (representing empty space) covered with a thin surface to represent lakes and rivers composed of organic layer of talcum powder (representing ring particles) is used liquid. Compositionally, gasoline would work better, but I do for the rings. Titan is represented by a red peppercorn. not recommend its use in a classroom setting. Summary of instructions: Cassini Teacher Guide Students begin the activity by completing a size/distance table using a scale factor of 1 inch in the model corresponding Developed for JPL by the Space Science Institute to 40,000 km in the real solar system. They then use a The Cassini spacecraft is on route to Saturn where it compass (or a template) to outline the ring plane on a sheet will spend 4 years touring the Saturnian system. The Cassini of transparency film, and cut out the ring plane. Next, they TeacherGuide (for grades 5-8) will bring students and teachers add talcum powder to one side of the ring plane and draw along on this exciting journey of science, beauty, and explo- in the Cassini division with a fingertip. Students then color ration. The Guide is a product of a collective effort between their Styrofoam ball using yellow and orange markers to look scientists, engineers, teachers, and educational researchers. like Saturn. Five or more toothpicks are placed around the Cutting-edge science is blended with cutting-edge educational ``equator'' of the ball, and the ring plane is carefully placed research in a guide that is also practical for use in the class- onto the toothpicks (talc side up) and taped to the toothpicks room. Saturn and Cassini serve as motivational contexts for on the underside. teaching fundamental standards-based content in science. The At this stage, the model Saturn can be help in front of a Cassini Teacher Guide has six constructivist lessons matched light such as an overhead projector and tilted to show how to National Science Education Standards. the rings seem to disappear and reappear at different viewing Cassini represents more than an extraordinary scientific geometries. Titan is added to the model by having students effort; the international mission is a culmination of centuries cut a string to the scale distance between Saturn and Titan and of human interest in Saturn. To bring the excitement of Cassini attach the red peppercorn to one end. The other end is taped to students with diverse interests, the Cassini Teacher Guide to the underside of the ring plane. Students then compare the highlights interconnections between Saturn and art, language, size of the completed model to that of a small round candy history, and mythology. that represents the Earth. Overview of Guide Contents Titan in a Fish Tank Lessons by Mary L. Urquhart Six standards-based, constructivist lessons. Building a ``Titan'' in a fish tank will help to introduce A. Getting to Know Saturn students to this smog shrouded satellite. The ingredients are A1 - The Saturn System easy to find, and students are excited and fascinated by the A2 - Moon Comparisons demonstration. Titan in a Fish Tank is appropriate for grades A3 - Moons, Rings, and Relationships 3-8, and easily adapted to higher grades. A4 - It's about Time: A History of Saturn Discoveries Lunar and Planetary Science XXIX 1924.pdf

SATURN IN THE CLASSROOM: M. L. Urquhart and C. A. Morrow

B. The Cassini Mission Educator Resources: B1 - The Cassini Robot References to books, WWW-sites, videos, CD-ROMS B2 - The People of the Cassini Team Attachments: Connections Amazing Saturn poster Relevant references to art, poetry, and mythology. The Huygens probe descent onto Titan -- lithograph Paper model of the Cassini spacecraft Questions and Answers One hundred questions posed as students would ask them. The field test version of the Cassini Teacher Guide is Glossary available at the Space Science Institute Web Site: Over ninety well-defined technical terms. http://www-ssi.colorado.edu/ Appendices: Chart of Saturn's position in the sky The final version of the Guide is scheduled for release at Cassini Crossword Puzzle the National Science Teachers Association conference in Las Electromagnetic Spectrum Vegas in April 1998.