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How Telescopes Work

CONCEPTUAL
ScienceSpace Exploration|Ages 7—9|ID: mt_-SZU6cVB_-

Know that telescopes are instruments that help us see distant objects in space, and that space telescopes like Hubble and James Webb orbit above Earth’s atmosphere to get clearer views of the universe

Mastery Evidence

  • Explain that a telescope magnifies distant objects so we can see them in more detail
  • State that Earth's atmosphere blurs the view, so space telescopes get clearer pictures
  • Name at least one space telescope (Hubble or James Webb) and describe what it does

Assessment Prompt

“Does [child] know what a telescope does and why some telescopes are sent into space — like the Hubble or James Webb telescopes?”

Prerequisites1

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  • The Sun is a star soft

    Understanding the Sun as a star motivates learning about telescopes for studying other stars

    • Sun, Moon & Stars hard

      Must know the Sun is a sky object before learning it is a star

      • Why seasons change soft

        Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification

        • Naming the Planets soft

          Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary

        • Seasonal changes soft

          Seasonal changes observation supports daylight pattern recognition

    • Our Solar System hard

      Must know about the solar system before learning the Sun is at its centre

      • Sun, Moon & Stars hard

        Must know the Sun and stars before learning about planets and the solar system

        • Why seasons change soft

          Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification

          • Naming the Planets soft

            Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary

          • Seasonal changes soft

            Seasonal changes observation supports daylight pattern recognition

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