4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
[G03-10] Development of teaching materials for learning about our Solar System by using commercially obtainable chondrites
Keywords:chondrite, scale model, teaching material
1 Introduction
The return mission of Hayabusa 2 attracted much attention from many people last year. Following exploring missions such as Osiris-Rex and MMX, could gather enthusiastic public attention in near future. In most case, education of our Solar system is planned in high school or junior high school in Japan, characteristics and movements of each planet are learned in such curriculums. Although one of the significant aims of the exploring missions are to analyze extraterrestrial materials, material science for extraterrestrial samples is not usually taught in the school curriculums. In this study, chondrite, which is one of primitive meteorite groups that recorded the history of our Solar System, was utilized as a teaching material to let students understand the outcomes from various planetary explorations.
2 Method
2-1 Developing teaching materials
2-1-1 Thin sections and one-side polished specimens
Ghubara and NWA869, both belonged in ordinary chondrites, were prepared to develop thin sections and one-side polished specimens. At first, both samples were cut through the center of them using power cutter (MC-430). The cut surface was polished using diamond plates in order of 800#, 1000#, 3000#, then the polished surface was mounted on glass slides. The other side of samples for thin sections were ground further to the required thickness. Thin sections were used to observe the petrographic textures of chondrites and one-side polished specimens were to show fusion clasts.
2-1-2 Scale model of our Solar System which includes an asteroid belt
A scale model including an asteroid belt was also developed to associate the learning of meteorites with learnings of our Solar System in schools. The scale of the size of each planet was decided as 1/1.2 billion, and the scale of the distance from the sun to each planet was one to 1/150 billion. Asteroids in an asteroid belt were simulated by the appropriately sieved sand.
2-2 Lesson plans
In previous study, two classes with lecture and activity, each class was 50 minutes, for high school students were designed. In the first class, students learn the history of our Solar System and about hometown of most of recovered meteorites. Then, the scale model of the Solar System with an asteroid belt is made by students. In the second class, students learn the history of our Solar System in terms of material science. They observe chondrites using thin section and one-side polished specimens to find inclusions which could show us the early stages of our Solar System.
3 Practice of the lesson
The planned classes were conducted for 38 students in Tennoji High School attached to Osaka Kyoiku University as a part of Super Science High School (SSH) project. Students were divided 8 groups to cooperate in activities. In the first class, students calculated and made the scale model with no problems. In the second class, they could find various inclusions such as chondrules and metals. They could appropriately summarize the characteristics of the inclusions.
4 Discussion
From the questionnaires carried out after the practice, following points could be discussed as the outcome of this study.
a. Many students could satisfy this practice and realize the real scale of our Solar System.
b. This practice was not independent from the learning of Solar System in school curricula for students. Students could learn the history of our Solar System in terms of material evolution using chondrites.
c. Student can observe inclusions of meteorites and fusion clasts using commercially obtainable meteorites.
The return mission of Hayabusa 2 attracted much attention from many people last year. Following exploring missions such as Osiris-Rex and MMX, could gather enthusiastic public attention in near future. In most case, education of our Solar system is planned in high school or junior high school in Japan, characteristics and movements of each planet are learned in such curriculums. Although one of the significant aims of the exploring missions are to analyze extraterrestrial materials, material science for extraterrestrial samples is not usually taught in the school curriculums. In this study, chondrite, which is one of primitive meteorite groups that recorded the history of our Solar System, was utilized as a teaching material to let students understand the outcomes from various planetary explorations.
2 Method
2-1 Developing teaching materials
2-1-1 Thin sections and one-side polished specimens
Ghubara and NWA869, both belonged in ordinary chondrites, were prepared to develop thin sections and one-side polished specimens. At first, both samples were cut through the center of them using power cutter (MC-430). The cut surface was polished using diamond plates in order of 800#, 1000#, 3000#, then the polished surface was mounted on glass slides. The other side of samples for thin sections were ground further to the required thickness. Thin sections were used to observe the petrographic textures of chondrites and one-side polished specimens were to show fusion clasts.
2-1-2 Scale model of our Solar System which includes an asteroid belt
A scale model including an asteroid belt was also developed to associate the learning of meteorites with learnings of our Solar System in schools. The scale of the size of each planet was decided as 1/1.2 billion, and the scale of the distance from the sun to each planet was one to 1/150 billion. Asteroids in an asteroid belt were simulated by the appropriately sieved sand.
2-2 Lesson plans
In previous study, two classes with lecture and activity, each class was 50 minutes, for high school students were designed. In the first class, students learn the history of our Solar System and about hometown of most of recovered meteorites. Then, the scale model of the Solar System with an asteroid belt is made by students. In the second class, students learn the history of our Solar System in terms of material science. They observe chondrites using thin section and one-side polished specimens to find inclusions which could show us the early stages of our Solar System.
3 Practice of the lesson
The planned classes were conducted for 38 students in Tennoji High School attached to Osaka Kyoiku University as a part of Super Science High School (SSH) project. Students were divided 8 groups to cooperate in activities. In the first class, students calculated and made the scale model with no problems. In the second class, they could find various inclusions such as chondrules and metals. They could appropriately summarize the characteristics of the inclusions.
4 Discussion
From the questionnaires carried out after the practice, following points could be discussed as the outcome of this study.
a. Many students could satisfy this practice and realize the real scale of our Solar System.
b. This practice was not independent from the learning of Solar System in school curricula for students. Students could learn the history of our Solar System in terms of material evolution using chondrites.
c. Student can observe inclusions of meteorites and fusion clasts using commercially obtainable meteorites.