Solar System Math: Comparing Size and Distance (Downloadable Curriculum)

NASA has created a downloadble curriculum series called Solar System
Math that provides fun, hands-on learning. The Solar System Math series
includes:

* I: Size and Distance
* II: Comparing Mass, Gravity, Composition, & Density
* III: Comparing Planetary Travel Distances
* IV: Analyzing Payload Size and Cost

Each of the above parts within the series includes a downloadable
student workbook, a teacher's guide and an answer key.

The first unit of the series is Solar System Math: Comparing Size and
Distance. (Preview now!
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/preview-solar-system-ma\
th-comparing-size-and-distance-picture> )

The main concept of this unit: The Earth is the third planet from the
Sun in a system that includes Earth's moon, eight other planets
and their moons, and small bodies including asteroids and comets.
These bodies all vary greatly in terms of their size and their
distance from the Sun.

Math topics covered in the unit:

* Ratio and proportion
* Measurement with standard and metric units
* Unit conversion
* Scale
* Data analysis
* Problem solving

Major Focus Concepts

Math

* Measurement involves measurement tools and measurement units that
have been determined by people.
* Different measurement tools and measurement units are used to
measure different properties. (Example: rulers with centimeters or
inches or yards are used to measure length.)

Science

* In our solar system, nine planets of different sizes move around
the Sun in oval orbits that are known as elliptical orbits. These
elliptical orbits are very close to being circular orbits, so in order
to make our calculations easier, we will assume that the orbits are
circular.
* The sizes of all of the planets vary greatly and the distances
between them are so great that it is often easier to develop two
small-scale models, one for size and one for distance.
* The paths of most planets around our Sun do not vary that much,
which means that their orbits are nearly circular.
* Since each of the planets orbits the Sun at a different rate, the
planets' distances from each other at any given time vary a great
deal.

Preview Solar System Math: Comparing Size and Distance
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/preview-solar-system-ma\
th-comparing-size-and-distance-picture>

Ready to download? The student workbook
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=7\
5237588-2E38-49B6-B1CA-F3E4EDC4869A> , teacher's guide
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=B\
7502106-55B8-441F-ADB6-6C4A29C840BB> and answer key
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=A\
E5DEF6B-FBE6-466A-A276-CF3207C4B05B> can be download on the Christian
Home School Hub. (There is a $1 a year subscription fee which allows
for unlimited downloads from the CHSH site.)

You'll also find other related downloads as well on the Hub: Solar
System Exploration (NASA)
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/homeschooling-in-denver\
/nasa-solar-system-exploration-lithograph-set-spectacular-resource-for-e\
ducators> , NASA Rockets
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=8\
BF53E74-EFFB-4513-BC54-55752DE83B7D> and 321 Liftoff
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=5\
0D899C5-0262-42CE-A8E7-2BA3AC9A9DAF> .