Desktop Stars
Requirements


Introduction

Teacher's Component

Standards

Requirements

Assessment

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TO THE LESSON

PREREQUISITES

Before beginning this activity, students should be familiar with the following:

  • Graphing data points
  • Manipulating simple equations
  • The primary way astronomers learn about the universe is by observing the light emitted by stars and galaxies.

NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Netscape Navigator 4.0, Internet Explorer 4.0, or other comparable web browser.
  • Either one computer with internet connection for each group of students or a local copy of the activity web pages (web page instructions could be printed out if it is necessary to do activity offline).
  • Optional software:
    • Spreadsheet/graphing software

MATERIALS

The materials needed for the hands-on components of this activity are listed below. Listed along with each item is the approximate cost, a suggested source for purchasing the item (if it is unusual or hard to find), and the part of the activity in which the item is used. For some of the items, a picture and more details are available by clicking on the item name.
ItemPurchasing SourceCostUsed in Part(s)
Small table lamp (also known as a Desktop Star!)Hardware or convenience store$5-101,2
Meter stick--$51
Light meterHardware store gardening section$101
Spectrometer Learning Technologies Inc. $10-202
Colored Discharge TubesEdmund Scientific $2002