Week 6- Science Methods II

 What question are we investigating?

For the sixth week of Science Methods II, we would begin to ask the question: “How the phases of the moon occur, What causes the seasons, and What causes a lunar eclipse”? We did this through talking in small groups about these questions and investigating it with a globe and a foam ball with a light bulb. Then as a whole group we would learn the information about these questions. 

What did we do in lab to investigate this question?

The teacher would start out by allowing everyone in small groups to talk about the different questions and what their initial thoughts were. This would also be done through using a globe and a foam ball to see how it changes the moon with the light bulb. This would allow me to personally see how some of the information learnt in some of my previous science courses taught information similar or different as she explained it. One way I learnt the new information was through Geocentric and Heliocentric. This would be shown by explaining that  Geocentric means that it’s Earth centered which is what others thought was the correct way in the past. However, now people see the evidence that shows that Heliocentric which means sun centered is how it’s shown for space. This would allow me to get a better understanding of the next concepts that were shown within that class period to demonstrate how the phases of the moon work. 

What did we figure out?

Another important part would be again in discussion was learning about how seasons work when it comes to the tilting of the Earth. This would be shown when the teacher demonstrated how it can be different based on the hemisphere someone is in. An example of this can be in the Northern Hemisphere tilted by the Sun it would be summer for this part of Earth. While the Southern Hemisphere would be in winter because it’s tilting away from the Sun. That would also be interesting to see how spring and fall are similar to each other to make these seasons when it comes to the tilting of the sun. It would be the Equator that is getting direct sunlight and causing these two seasons.  

What are new or remaining questions after the investigation? 

This lab taught me more about what concepts are going to be shown in Space Science this semester. It also would allow me to see how my thoughts about Space Science are not always correct which it’s important to learn this information correctly so I’m able to teach it to my future students. Lastly, this lab would allow me to be interested in the other concepts shown for the rest of the semester.