Dark Matters | Science Research Project + Article #6 | Astronomy / Astrophysics

Dark matter and dark energy are two of the most confusing, but interesting phenomenon in current astronomy. Given that from current models these make most of our universe, this is a topic worth learning about with students. From this teaching resource they can learn some of the little we know about these matter and energy forms.

The research project template provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can supplement lessons. It is an project template with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking. It gives a rich and supportive framework that can be tweaked as needed for students to support differentiation.

Each research project template includes:

• Space for a one paragraph summary (that links to the 2 page science article also available on this topic - but does not have to).
• Students should produce a mathematical connection, an engineering / technology connection, 2 interesting facts / stats.
• 5 glossary terms they should fill in with their own words (which also links to the science article also available)
• 3 thought provoking questions (ie: critical thinking questions) they must answer.
• Finally, each template has 3 alternative thought provoking questions for younger students and 3 other alternative harder questions to extend high flying or older students. Giving you a total of 9 possible thought provoking questions that could be used with students to enhance their research and critical thinking.
• Further, I have added a 1 page - 20 point rubric to be used for either self-assessment or teacher assessment as you deem fit. I hope it helps support the learning even further!

The template is some of my best work and I am proud to share it with you.

The science article provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can supplement lessons. It is an article with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking. I am very proud of this series of science articles and they are rich with information and wonder at the majesty of science. Each science article includes a fun fact(s) to add to the knowledge gained from this article. Formatted in an easy to read and digest manner, each paragraph is numbered to help with referencing and each question answer has a paragraph reference number to point to the specific information (where applicable).

WHY / WHEN TO USE:

• Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
• To extend students
• To increase scientific literacy and research skills in your class
• Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast and you need a long running task
• To inspire students on a particular topic
• As a scaffold to support students who need support on research skills and can use a framework
• To enhance critical thinking when doing research and making a relevant and interesting output
• Give a selection of these research project templates for students to choose from
• To enhance students ability to express ideas and synthesis knowledge
• To increase scientific literacy in your class
• A weekly reading / research task

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Research Project Template

• 7 page Word doc teacher version with supporting appendix items and alternative question pages (includes text boxes)
• 3 page Word doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
• 7 page PDF teacher version with supporting appendix items and alternative question pages
• 3 page PDF student version with space to fill in answers
• 1 page 20 point rubric for self or teacher assessment in both Word doc and PDF form

Science Article

• 3 page Word doc teacher version with answers
• 2 page Word doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
• 3 page PDF teacher version with answers
• 2 page PDF student version without answers (but space left to do so)

More will be coming to cover other subjects and other topics, so please do keep an eye out for more science articles from The Teaching Astrophysicist!

If you have any questions, please feel to DM me on instagram @theteachingastrophysicist

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