OVERVIEW

Activity Overview:

Use the micro:bit to create a kinesthetic model of the solar system. Students will be given an example at the beginning and then be asked to make their own.

Meta description

• Subject Area: Computer Science, Mathematics, Science
• Grade Level : 6-8
• Computer Science Domains:
  • Computing Systems, Data Analysis, Algorithms and Programming
• Computer Science Principles:
  • Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems, Developing and Using Abstractions, Creating Computational Artifacts, Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts
• Materials:
  • Website, Micro:bit, https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/
• Considerations:
  • Students should have a basic background in the solar system and micro:bits before starting.

Lesson Plan

Overview

Use the micro:bit to create a kinesthetic model of the solar system. Students will be given an example at the beginning and then be asked to make their own.

ASSESSMENT PRE/POST-TEST

What is a scale? What type of code allows a sensor to continually sense and record data? If the sun was the size of a baseball on [teacher]’s desk, where would Neptune be?

OBJECTIVES

program a micro:bit to alert them when they have walked the correct distance to create a scale model of the solar system.

determine how adjusting the ratio of the model sun to the real sun changes the ratio of all other objects in the solar system model.

develop an accurate, scale model of the solar system using physical computing, coding, and math.

CATCH/HOOK

Create a scale model using a quarter and a dime to show students the size difference and distance of Earth and Mars. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/366/red-nickel-scale-model/

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS

Using the youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxPdbOC1Tys, have students create a basic code to show the model that has been created. Students then improve upon this to develop their own.

Supplements

Any items in this section are the property & under the license of their respective owners.

REVIEW

Present the video. Talk through how many planets are in the current model and what the limitations are. Have students identify limitations of the first model

STANDARDS