OverviewOverview

This is a science class in a CD This is a science class in a CD special education resource room special education resource room at a lower income high school. at a lower income high school.

The classroom contains 11 high The classroom contains 11 high school students, 7 boys and 4 school students, 7 boys and 4 girls, who have a 1girls, who have a 1stst through 4 through 4thth grade reading level. grade reading level.

Standards: Standards:

Grade 9-Ohio 1- Explain how stars Grade 9-Ohio 1- Explain how stars and other celestial objects and other celestial objects provide information about the provide information about the processes that cause changes in processes that cause changes in composition and scale of the composition and scale of the universe. universe.

Formative Formative Assessment: Assessment: Student’s were given a pretest to see what they know Student’s were given a pretest to see what they know

about black holes at the very beginning of the lesson. about black holes at the very beginning of the lesson. The video downloaded from United Streaming was The video downloaded from United Streaming was

viewed. Discussion Questions were: viewed. Discussion Questions were: 1. Describe how a black hole is formed from the time a 1. Describe how a black hole is formed from the time a

massive star begins its collapse.massive star begins its collapse. 2. Describe the steps involved in determining the mass 2. Describe the steps involved in determining the mass

of a black hole. What do you have to measure or of a black hole. What do you have to measure or observe in order to estimate the mass?observe in order to estimate the mass?

3. If you were observing a probe entering the event 3. If you were observing a probe entering the event horizon of a black hole, you would see it “hovering for horizon of a black hole, you would see it “hovering for an eternity and destroyed in an instant.” Discuss the an eternity and destroyed in an instant.” Discuss the meaning of this phrase as it applies to conditions near meaning of this phrase as it applies to conditions near a black hole.a black hole.

4. Discuss Einstein’s theory of gravity and the 4. Discuss Einstein’s theory of gravity and the curvature of space time. curvature of space time.

Formative continuedFormative continued

Project: Divide class into 3 groups of 4, giving each a Project: Divide class into 3 groups of 4, giving each a different kind of black hole to research. Group one did different kind of black hole to research. Group one did Stellar Mass black holes. Group 2 did Super Mass Stellar Mass black holes. Group 2 did Super Mass black holes and group 3 did mini black holes. black holes and group 3 did mini black holes.

They were assessed on the research project using the They were assessed on the research project using the following rubrics: following rubrics:

• • 3 points: report well-researched, information clearly 3 points: report well-researched, information clearly and logically organized, presentation interesting and and logically organized, presentation interesting and lively lively

• • 2 points: report adequately researched, information 2 points: report adequately researched, information sufficiently organized, presentation dull sufficiently organized, presentation dull

• • 1 point: report insufficiently researched, information 1 point: report insufficiently researched, information inadequately organized, presentation poorly prepared inadequately organized, presentation poorly prepared

Summative Summative AssessmentAssessment Students were given a final test. Students were given a final test.

This was basically the 1This was basically the 1stst test they test they were given for the summative were given for the summative assessment, rewritten slightly so assessment, rewritten slightly so that it was more at their reading that it was more at their reading level. level.

Data and ResultsData and Results

Student Pretest Grade Final Test Grade IncreaseNames were changedAnna 0 63 63Steven 50 88 38Shayla 38 100 62Sophie 38 75 37Kerry 50 63 13Dakata 25 88 63Brooke 25 88 63Mattie 25 100 75Alice 25 88 63Josie 50 AbsentDannie 25 SuspendedTotal 276 753Average 31 84

4 of the 8 Questions used 4 of the 8 Questions used on the Pretest and Final on the Pretest and Final TestTest

1. Describe how a black hole is formed from the 1. Describe how a black hole is formed from the time a massive star begins its collapse. time a massive star begins its collapse.

We discussed, as we saw in the movie, that first We discussed, as we saw in the movie, that first there was a huge explosion, followed by huge there was a huge explosion, followed by huge implosion and then an incredible concentration of implosion and then an incredible concentration of mass. mass.

What was previously the size of 10 of our suns is What was previously the size of 10 of our suns is now the size of Washington D. C. We discussed now the size of Washington D. C. We discussed prior lab with the sun and showing how many earths prior lab with the sun and showing how many earths we could line across it. we could line across it.

Then we drew the pinpoint on just one of those Then we drew the pinpoint on just one of those earths representing something the size of earths representing something the size of Washington DC. Washington DC.

One of the Discussion Questions after the MovieOne of the Discussion Questions after the Movie

An example of an An example of an accommodation for the 1accommodation for the 1stst

question: question: 1. To detect black 1. To detect black

holes, astronomers holes, astronomers look for____. look for____.

  ultraviolet radiation ultraviolet radiation they emit  they emit  

objects falling out of objects falling out of space-time  space-time  

nuclear reactions at nuclear reactions at their centers  their centers  

stars circling stars circling massive compact massive compact objects objects

1. To find black 1. To find black holes, astronomers holes, astronomers look for _______.look for _______.

Ultraviolet radiation Ultraviolet radiation they spit outthey spit out

Objects falling out of Objects falling out of space and timespace and time

Nuclear reactions at Nuclear reactions at their centerstheir centers

Stars circling huge Stars circling huge invisible objectsinvisible objects

Overall ReflectionOverall Reflection

All students had improved their scores much All students had improved their scores much better than I had anticipated. better than I had anticipated.

Research was hard for the students as they Research was hard for the students as they read at such a low level but they still were read at such a low level but they still were able to gather enough data to do a Venn able to gather enough data to do a Venn Diagram which we will do this week. Diagram which we will do this week.

Next time I will try to have sites that they Next time I will try to have sites that they may be able to comprehend better. may be able to comprehend better.

I’ll also remember that if the lesson plan I’ll also remember that if the lesson plan states that it can be done in two 50 minute states that it can be done in two 50 minute class periods, that a special ed group may class periods, that a special ed group may actually need at least twice as much time, if actually need at least twice as much time, if not 3 times as much. not 3 times as much.