Galaxies, Galaxies by Gail Gibbons

Galaxies, Galaxies!

By Gail Gibbons

Summary: Galaxies, Galaxies explains in a simple and clear way the Milky Way and different types of galaxies. The book uses understandable language as well as colorful illustrations to hold the readers attention. The book begins with an explanation of the Milky Way and then moves into the different types of galaxies. The book also touches on stars, gravity, different types of telescopes, the history of space.

SC Science Standard: 4-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the properties, movements, and locations of objects in the solar system. (Earth Science)

SC ELA Standard: 4-6 The student will access and use information from a variety of sources.

Indicator: 4-6.3 Organize information by classifying or sequencing.

Activity/Lesson: The teacher will use the text to introduce Galaxies. The book will be used to engage the students interest and provide information on the different types of galaxies. After the read aloud, the students will work in groups to sort a set of galaxy images (one set of 20 per 4-6 students).

Objective:

• The Student will identify the parts of a galaxy
• The student will identify the different types of galaxies
• The student will compare and contrast the different properties of galaxies
• The student will sort images based on properties
  

Materials:

• Galaxies, Galaxies!
• overhead projector
• 20 images of galaxies per group
  

Procedure:

1. The teacher will briefly discuss with the students what a galaxy is, mentioning that it contains billions of stars bound together by their mutual gravity and that our Sun is just one of over a hundred billion stars that makes up our Milky Way Galaxy.
2. The teacher will give each group a set of 20 photographs of different galaxies.
3. The students will come up with categories to classify the photographs based on the traits. (at this point do not provide answers to the students let them come up with their own classification schemes)
4. Once all groups have finished classifying their photos, choose a few groups to explain how they sorted their photos. Ask the groups to explain how the galaxies are different.
5. The teacher will then read Galaxies, Galaxies!
6. After the book, the teacher will review the different type of galaxy discussed in the text.
7. Afterwards the students will review their categories of photos and make any changes necessary based on the information from the text and the class discussion.
8. The students will write down how they classified each photograph according to the type of galaxy.

Follow up Activity: Discuss the Hubble's galaxy classification system and have students sort the same 20 photos based on that scheme.