Planetary Science with Star Wars Planets - Videos + Extension Activities

▬▬▬▬▬▬ COURSE SUMMARY ▬▬▬▬▬▬

This seven part course covers over 100 planets in the Star Wars Universe and their relationship to real-life science. While Star Wars has a lot of fantasy elements, much of that galaxy far, far away was inspired by what scientists here on Earth have discovered about planets in our own galaxy! In this course, we'll examine each Star Wars planet and explore the science (or lack of science) behind the planet.

Having extensive knowledge of the Star Wars Universe is not required for this class! Students will probably be familiar with some of the planets, and some will be new to them. Even students with NO knowledge of Star Wars will find this to be an enjoyable and informative course; we cover a ton of topics in planetary science, astronomy, geology, and even oceanography!

▬▬▬▬▬▬ VIDEOS, ACTIVITIES, AND MORE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

• This course has seven parts to it. Each “part” consists of downloadable video presentations (about an hour long for each part) hosted on Google Drive, along with some resources and project ideas to expand the students’ understanding.

• In a regular school setting, these materials are ideal for reverse instruction or a flipped classroom unit. For instance, you can assign the video recording to watch at home for homework, and then use the extension activities for class projects. The recordings also work well for sub days and much-needed sanity days!

• If you are using these materials in a home school setting, you could choose to do one part per day or one part per week, doing the projects as time allows. Feel free to have your child email me at lauren.rae.ard@gmail.com, if they have any questions or want to share what they’ve done with the materials.

• This unit also includes a link to my notes and Prezi presentation I use throughout the course, in case you want to give some of the presentation, or expand on the material yourself. Please keep in mind that the video may not match up exactly with the notes and lecture materials, because I do alter and add to my notes as time goes on.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ COURSE OUTLINE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

WEEK 1: PLANETARY ASTRONOMY

⬥ Introduction to the course

⬥ What is Planetary Astronomy?

⬥ Is that galaxy far, far away a realistic galaxy?

⬥ Solar system formation (Lira San, Starkiller Base, Exegol)

⬥ Stars in solar systems (Ahch-To, Tatooine, Dathomir)

⬥ Earth-like planets and the Habitable Zone (Takodana, Tython, Zygerria, Alderaan, Kashyyyk, Lotho Minor)

WEEK 2: PLANETARY ASTRONOMY, PART 2

⬥ Planetary rings (D'Qar, Lah'Mu)

⬥ Moons in a solar system (Iego, Ajan Kloss, Yavin Prime)

⬥ Damaged planets (Anaxes, Hosnian Prime, Lola Sayu)

⬥ Asteroids (Polis Massa, Mining Guild Planetoid)

⬥ Gravitational forces (Nixus, Montross, Forest Moon of Endor)

WEEK 3: ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE

⬥ What is atmospheric science?

⬥ What affects a planet's atmosphere? (Agamar, Forest Moon of Endor, Mining Guild Planetoid)

⬥ Moon atmospheres (Bahryn, Concordia, Rishi Moon)

⬥ Human manipulation of atmospheres (Coruscant, Nal Hutta, Lothal)

⬥ Oxygen formation (Mandalore, Dagobah, Bespin, Sorgan, Orto Plutonia)

WEEK 4: ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE PART 2

⬥ Weather on planets (Jedha, Scipio, Cato Neimoidia)

⬥ How mountains affect an atmosphere (Kijimi and Krownest)

⬥ Are these atmospheres realistic? (Shantipole, Sorgan, Tatooine)

⬥ Miscellaneous atmosphere topics (Aleen, Vanqor, Florrum, Eadu, Umbara)

WEEK 5: GEOLOGY

⬥ What is geology?

⬥ Layers of the Earth (Naboo, Mustafar, Scarif)

⬥ Plate tectonics (Concord Dawn, Dagobah, Florrum, Lah'Mu, Aeos Prime, Ahch-To, Kef Bir)

⬥ Volcanoes (Mustafar, Obadiah, Nevarro)

WEEK 6: GEOLOGY PART 2

⬥ Minerals (Crait, Kessel, Malachor, Seelos, Vanqor, Yavin 4)

⬥ Erosion (Teth, Ryloth, Onerdon, Moraband, Garel, Iego, Eadu)

⬥ Fossils (Geonosis, Malastare, Rugosa)

WEEK 7: GEOLOGY PART 3, OCEANOGRAPHY

⬥ Caves (Aleen, Christophsis, Ilum, Lothal)

⬥ Groundwater (Jakku, Pasaana, Utapau)

⬥ Oceanography (Cantonica, Castilon, Cato Neimoidia, Corellia, Hoth, Kamino, Mon Cala, Rodia, Savareen)

▬▬▬▬▬▬ PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

Prior to class, I recommend that students have some general knowledge about the following basic science topics (watching a few YouTube videos about each topic should be enough):

⬥ The names and characteristics of the planets in our own solar system

⬥ Mass and density

⬥ The states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and how matter changes states - such as going from a gas to a liquid. (Bonus points if you include the fourth state of matter - plasma - but we will also be covering this in class!)

⬥ What an atom is, and that it's made of protons and electrons