GRADE Author: J. Haase and D. Warren Lesson #: 3 ​ ​ 5 Unit Title: Hawaiʻi as an ESS Lab Time Frames: Two 50­Minute Periods ​ ​ Studying the Earth Using Satellites ABSTRACT This lesson introduces students to satellites and satellite applications for studying Earth system science. In the first part of the lesson the students will learn about the parts of a satellite, complete a worksheet and actively build a satellite as a collaborative jigsaw activity. In the second session of the lesson, students will learn about how scientists are currently using satellites to gather data on a range of Earth system science topics. Students will work with one data set collected from a satellite to analyze and consider using satellite data collection as part of Earth system science. Students will develop ideas and questions about how the satellite data can be used to study the four spheres in Hawai‘i and record these in their science notebook. PLANNING INSTRUCTION ASSESSMENT STANDARDS REFERENCES BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS Satellite data comes in many forms and research topics designed as “missions”. NASA has an increasing number that are specific to the study of Earth System science. There are exciting possibilities to further study Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Satellites contain instruments that collect raw data remotely through various sensors. The data is transmitted using radio waves to other satellites, and computers and scientists on Earth. This data must be analyzed and processed in context to be useful to scientists. For an example, view the following video which describes how the Global Precipitation Measurement project processes its satellite data: ● NASA Precipitation Education website: ​ http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/data­downpour The dictionary definition of a satellite is “a body that orbits a larger body”. For this lesson we will be using satellite as a man made technology placed in orbit around the Earth or moon or another planet to collect ​ information. Students will be familiar with satellites and how we use satellites today for televisions, weather ​ forecasting, cell phones, GPS tracking (made of 20 satellites working together), navigation and monitoring of natural resources. Yet students may not know much about how satellites work or why they are useful to Earth system scientists. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ © Bishop Museum, 2015. 1 NASA Earth Observation System has placed many satellites into orbit with missions to study Earth and changes over time. Collecting valuable data on the Earth is like taking the “vital signs” to see what the current levels and indicators of health are in a patient. The Earth’s vital signs are useful in seeing and tracking changes over time and will help us work to find solutions and adjustments associated with climate change. To see the current missions associated with the Earth Observation System visit: ● Earth Observatory website: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/?eocn=topnav&eoci=logo ​ ​ ● NASA’s Earth Observing System website: (browse the missions) http://eospso.nasa.gov/ ​ ​ ​ For this lesson, you will guide your students to read information cards and together construct a model satellite. A keystone of constructing the first satellite collaboratively as a class is highlighting that engineers must work together, especially with demanding projects such a satellites. Later in this unit, students will be working in teams to design a research mission and will be building a team satellite to study a research question for their chosen Hawaiian species. In the second session of this lesson, students will be working with one data set collected from the The ​ Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. GPM is an international network of satellites that provide ​ the next­generation global observations of rain and snow. (Refer to the additional resources section of this lesson plan to investigate further on the GPM program.) There are many relevant connections for the Hawaiian Islands. Students at the University of Hawaiʻi Small Satellite Program have worked on satellite technology and made a launch in 2013. The following video and article gives a brief synopsis of the satellite technology being designed and applied right here in Hawaiʻi. This video may inspire elementary students and influence career pathways in Engineering. ● University of Hawaiʻi News website: ​ https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2013/11/20/satellite­built­by­uh­students­launched/ PLANNING Essential Questions ● What can data from NASA satellites tell us about Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Ocean? ● In what ways can Earth system scientists use satellite data to study and solve problems in Hawai‘i? Instructional Objectives Students will: ● Investigate the parts of a satellite through a collaborative class jigsaw activity ● Discover how NASA satellite data is collected and processed by watching two short videos ● Recognize how scientists are using satellite data on a range of Earth system science topics. ● Use precipitation data collected from satellites to compare rainfall in Hawaiʻi with other locations. ● Write their thoughts about the essential questions in their science notebooks. Key Vocabulary ● Satellite (additional vocabulary is on the Construct a Satellite Jigsaw Cards) ● Data ● Precipitation ● Visualization BACK TO TOP _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ © Bishop Museum, 2015. 2 INSTRUCTION Materials ● “Construct a Satellite Jigsaw” cards­ collaborative class jigsaw activity ● “Parts of a Satellite” worksheet ● “NASA GPM Satellite Data Student Worksheet” NASA GPM Satellite Data Student Worksheet Suggested “Construct a Satellite” activity materials: ● Two liter bottle or shoe box for main body ● Aluminum foil for solar panels ● Paper rolls for rocket motors ● Two Water bottle caps for thrusters ● Eraser stuck on a toothpick for attitude control system ● Pipe cleaners for radio antennas and transceivers ● Two small pill or similar sized bottles for fuel tanks ● Paper towel for thermal control system ● Two Batteries of any small size ● Cell phone for on­board processors (old flip phone works well) ● Items to assemble parts: tape, construction paper and bamboo skewers Preparation ● Review the Background Information section as well as these web based resources, most can be downloaded: ­ Our Wet Wide World Video from GPM Overview: ​ http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/our­wet­wide­world­gpm­overview ­ Show Me the Water: http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/show­me­water ​ ​ ­ University of Hawaiʻi students build and launch a satellite Blast off! UH Student­Built Satellite ​ Deployed: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2013/11/20/satellite­built­by­uh­students­launched/ ​ ​ ​ ­ Information about GPM at Global Precipitation Management Mission (GPM): ​ ​ http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/ ­ NASA Earth System Science Missions: ​ http://science.nasa.gov/earth­science ● Prepare copies of student worksheets. Resources NASA: ● GPM Multi Media Videos: http://pmm.nasa.gov/multimedia/videos ​ ​ ● Image of Satellites of GPM: http://pmm.nasa.gov/image­gallery/gpm­constellation ​ ● Our Wet Wide World Video from GPM Overview: ​ http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/our­wet­wide­world­gpm­overview ● Show Me the Water: http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/show­me­water ​ ​ ● NASA Earth System Science Missions: http://science.nasa.gov/earth­science/missions/ ​ ​ BACK TO TOP ENGAGE _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ © Bishop Museum, 2015. 3 Session One: Image courtesy of Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM). 1. Display on the projector screen the image of multiple satellites orbiting Earth. Here is a link to this image: Image of Satellites of GPM: http://pmm.nasa.gov/image­gallery/gpm­constellation and ask ​ ​ the questions: ● What is a satellite? ● What do satellites do? ● What are the parts of a satellite? 2. Give the students time to discuss their answers in a Think­Pair­Share format. Class generated ideas of how satellites are used may include: weather monitoring, communication, migration tracking, navigation, military intelligence and climate monitoring. Class generated ideas of parts of a satellite will vary. Record student ideas on the board in a two column format. 3. Create a class definition of a satellite, write the definition on the board and have students write it into their science notebooks. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ © Bishop Museum, 2015. 4 Images courtesy of J. Haase. 5. The next activity is a whole class collaborative construction process where the students will build a model satellite in the front of the class in order to learn more about the parts of a satellite. These are basic satellite parts and will give students an idea of what they will need to include later in the unit when they build their own satellites with a team. 6. Before beginning you can have the students brainstorm what household and recycled items could be used to construct a model of a satellite. Remind students to think about how design elements need ​ to match the function of their work on the satellite. 7. Communicate to students that in order for a satellite to work effectively, several different subsystems must work together and many different engineers and technicians must