Stellar Populations inquiry activity in which students construct their own Hertzsprung-Russell diagram from stellar images and spectra¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 design), q1 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

A two-day, paper-based inquiry for advanced high-school to senior college students in which students analyze pictures and spectra of stars, organize data via tables and plots, and build their own version of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to understand stellar evolution. The article states the inquiry is "designed to have students come up with their own version of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram as a tool to understand how stars evolve based on their color, mass, and luminosity." All materials are printed on paper and available on a public website, so it can be adapted to large introductory astronomy classes.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Students should first complete the Color, Light, and Spectra (CLS) inquiry or be taught its content (color filters, blackbody radiation, spectra) beforehand
• Facilitators must identify and address students' incorrect preconceptions
• It should not be the students' first inquiry activity

Constraints¶

• The materials somewhat limit the range of questions students can investigate
• Designed for students not pursuing science degrees or early in their careers

Target Learners¶

• advanced high-school students
• senior college students
• entering college students in introductory astronomy

Target Learning Goals¶

• stellar populations basics
• scientific process skills
• attitudes toward science

Claims¶

• In this inquiry, student pairs work better than groups of three because larger groups risk disengaging members [+W]

Related Elements¶

Examples¶

• Use a burning-fuel analogy thinking tool to bridge data trends to stellar lifetimes and mass-to-energy conversion
• Keep an extra unassigned spectrum (a red giant) in reserve to challenge students who finish early or reach an incorrect answer
• Use carefully chosen starter images to elicit student questions that are investigable with the given materials

Key Sources¶

• Rafelski, M., Foley, M., Graves, G. J., Kretke, K. A., Mills, E., Nassir, M., & Patel, S. (2010). Teaching Astronomy with an Inquiry Activity on Stellar Populations. ASP Conference Series. https://arxiv.org/abs/1009.5404. doi:10.48550/arxiv.1009.5404