California Academy of Sciences: Modeling Eclipses with Size and Distance Scales

How much space is truly in space? And how does the distance between things affect the ways that objects in space are perceived?

This activity leads students to explore the concepts of size, distance and scale through using 3-dimensional models to understand these question in regards to the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. Students begin with thinking about their own internal mental models, then use different sized balls in order to develop an explanation for why solar eclipses happen.

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Science Topics
Astronomy
K-6, Middle School, Educator
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade

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