Subject: Science, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

Lesson Length: 45 mins - 1 hour

Topic: Astronomy, Universe, Origin

Grade Level: 10, 11, 12, 9

Standards / Framework:

Brief Description: Students will explain the Big Bang Theory based on the composition of matter in the universe.

Know Before You Start: Students should be familiar with the Big Bang Theory of the origin of the universe.

Hook:

  • Ask students:
    • “Why do scientists like to research the origin of the universe?”
    • “What is the Big Bang Theory?”
    • “Why is it important to know about where things come from?”

Activity:

  • Review the definition of a theory in science.
  • Have students discuss the Big Bang Theory and how scientists formulated the Big Bang Theory.
  • Have students create a comic that explains the Big Bang Theory, using at least two different principles, such as continued expansion and cooling.

Closure:

  • Have students share their comics with the class or in small groups.
  • Have students explain their representations of the Big Bang Theory.
  • Have students discuss why a scientific explanation of the universe’s origin is important.
  • Remind students that while there are other origin stories for the universe, an understanding of the Big Bang Theory is important because it is the prevailing accepted theory of origin.
  • Emphasize that while it is called a “theory,” a scientific theory is based on facts and evidence and can be used to make predictions.

Differentiation:

  • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
  • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
  • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
  • Allow students to make their representations as complex or basic as is appropriate.

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