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Science lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 45 minutes

The expanding universe and the Big Bang

Space

CCSS NGSS.HS-ESS1-2England: KS4 Physics: Space physics (separate science)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: The expanding universe and the Big Bang.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: The life cycle of stars; The electromagnetic spectrum

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Torch and ball for a Sun-Earth-Moon model, Space images, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The life cycle of stars; The electromagnetic spectrum). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. In the life cycle of a star much more massive than the Sun, what comes straight after "supernova"? (red supergiant / nebula / protostar / neutron star or black hole) → neutron star or black holePrompt: Very massive stars end their lives far more violently than the Sun.
  2. In the life cycle of a star like the Sun, what comes straight after "nebula (cloud of dust and gas)"? (red giant / main sequence star / protostar / white dwarf) → protostarPrompt: The Sun is in its main sequence stage now.
  3. In the life cycle of a star like the Sun, what comes straight after "red giant"? (nebula (cloud of dust and gas) / protostar / main sequence star / white dwarf) → white dwarfPrompt: The Sun is in its main sequence stage now.

Hook · 5 min

  • Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
  • Share the objective: The expanding universe and the Big Bang. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: About how old is the universe?
  • Step 1: Measurements of the CMB and expansion give an age of about 13.8 billion years.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: about 13.8 billion years
  • Answer: about 13.8 billion years
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. More distant galaxies show greater red-shift. What does this suggest? (The universe is shrinking / Galaxies are standing still / Light slows down over time / The universe is expanding) → The universe is expandingPrompt: Further galaxies are moving away faster.
  2. The Big Bang: which statement is true? (The Earth is the centre of the universe. / Red-shift means galaxies are moving towards us. / The Big Bang was an explosion at one point in an existing empty space. / The cosmic microwave background is evidence for the Big Bang.) → The cosmic microwave background is evidence for the Big Bang.Prompt: Which way are distant galaxies moving?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. A spectral line normally at 656 nm is observed at 669.12 nm in light from a galaxy. By how many nanometres has it been red-shifted? → 13.12 nmPrompt: Find the difference between the observed and normal wavelengths.
  2. The Big Bang: which statement is true? (The universe is about 13.8 billion years old. / The Big Bang was an explosion at one point in an existing empty space. / Red-shift means galaxies are moving towards us. / The Earth is the centre of the universe.) → The universe is about 13.8 billion years old.Prompt: Which way are distant galaxies moving?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: The life cycle of stars.
  • Use concrete materials: torch and ball for a sun-earth-moon model.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-11.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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The expanding universe and the Big Bang

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    A spectral line normally at 600 nm is observed at 660 nm in light from a galaxy. By how many nanometres has it been red-shifted?

    Answernm

  2. Question 2

    What is the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB)?

    • A. light from the Moon
    • B. heat from the Sun
    • C. signals from mobile phones
    • D. leftover radiation from the early universe, seen in every direction

  3. Question 3

    The Big Bang: which statement is true?

    • A. The Big Bang was an explosion at one point in an existing empty space.
    • B. The Earth is the centre of the universe.
    • C. Red-shift is evidence that the universe is expanding.
    • D. Red-shift means galaxies are moving towards us.

  4. Question 4

    A spectral line normally at 500 nm is observed at 525 nm in light from a galaxy. By how many nanometres has it been red-shifted?

    Answernm

  5. Question 5

    A spectral line normally at 656 nm is observed at 721.6 nm in light from a galaxy. By how many nanometres has it been red-shifted?

    Answernm

  6. Question 6

    About how old is the universe?

    • A. about 13.8 billion years
    • B. about 4.6 billion years
    • C. about 6000 years
    • D. it has always existed

  7. Question 7

    A spectral line normally at 600 nm is observed at 606 nm in light from a galaxy. By how many nanometres has it been red-shifted?

    Answernm

  8. Question 8

    What is red-shift?

    • A. light becoming bluer
    • B. the Sun setting
    • C. light from distant galaxies is stretched to longer wavelengths
    • D. galaxies turning red because they are hot

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Answer key: The expanding universe and the Big Bang

  1. 1. 60 nm

  2. 2. D. leftover radiation from the early universe, seen in every direction

  3. 3. C. Red-shift is evidence that the universe is expanding.

  4. 4. 25 nm

  5. 5. 65.6 nm

  6. 6. A. about 13.8 billion years

  7. 7. 6 nm

  8. 8. C. light from distant galaxies is stretched to longer wavelengths