Go Home

Grade 6-8 Lessons

National Institute of Aerospace Home Page

Nortel LearniT Home Page

Pokemon Home Page

Pokemon Learning League Sample
Pokemon Learning League Trial. Username: niademo Password: pokemon

Expanding Universe

Grade Focus: 6 - 8

We live in an expanding universe. All of the galaxies, including our Milky Way, are moving away from each other. How quickly this happens depends on their distance from us. From our viewpoint, the galaxies farther away seem to be moving faster away from us. This results in more and more space between galaxies. Today's best data and models indicate that space will continue to expand forever.

In the Pokémon world, Palkia's legendary abilities to warp and change space are no grander than the real-world changes we've seen and may yet discover in our universe. In this lesson, students complete a KWL chart to assess what they already know about the universe. Through models and hands-on experiences, students gain an understanding of the expanding universe and Big Bang Theory. They create a PowerPoint presentation to organize and share what they've learned. Students use online virtual telescopes and spectroscopy to experience the work of an astronomer.

Please note: The lesson plan is interactive. All links in the PDF file are live. You may choose to print out only needed teacher resources and student handouts found at the end of each lesson.
`