Environmental Earth Science
Our Star

1. How did the Sun and Solar System form? See http://www.solarweek.org/mon_facts.html and http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/Curric_7-12/Chapter_1.pdf and  http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0401/es0401page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization and http://cougar.jpl.nasa.gov/HR4796/anim.html and http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/NatSci102/lectures/solarsysform.htm and (other):

2. What is the power source of the Sun and how do stars form the elements that make up everything? Include (a) What elements are present in the Sun and in roughly what proportions? (b) What elements can be formed by the nuclear fusion processes inside the Sun, a small star? (c) What elements can be formed inside larger stars? (d) How are elements heavier than iron formed?  See http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/sun/Solar_interior/Nuclear_Reactions/Fusion/Fusion_in_stars/H_fusion.html&edu=high and  http://www.astronomynotes.com/starsun/s3.htm and  http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/Curric_7-12/Chapter_1.pdf and  (other):

3. What features and activities occur on the surface of the Sun? See http://www.solarweek.org/mon_facts.html and http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/primer/primer.html and http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/classroom/glossary_middle.html and http://ds9.ssl.berkeley.edu/viewer/flash/index.html  and  http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/NatSci102/lectures/sun.htm and (other):

4. How does the Sun affect us here on Earth? See http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/21jan_severespaceweather.htm?list801964, http://ds9.ssl.berkeley.edu/LWS_GEMS/6/secef.htm and http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/spaceweather/spaceweather.shtml and http://www.solarweek.org/mon_facts.html and http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/primer/primer.html and http://www.solarweek.org/wed_spaceweather.html and  (other):

Other Space Weather Links: The Space Weather Prediction Center,  Space Weather Now, SpaceWeather.com,

5. What are people doing to be able to use the Sun's power source here on Earth (other than in an H-bomb)? See http://www.pppl.gov/fusion_basics/pages/fusion_basics.html and (other):

Another Assignment from previous years:

Partner reading means you work with a partner or two to read for information. It is an intensive reading method ideal for scientific information.  It does NOT mean reading out loud!

The assignment you are to read with a partner is A Primer on Space Weather from http://www.sel.noaa.gov/primer/primer.html .

Start by reading a portion of the first page silently. Then you or your partner tells the rest of the group what it said in your/their own words. If all the partners agree, you go on. If you all do not agree, discuss (quietly) what it does mean.  When you all agree, go on the next section, and someone new describes what it means.

Obviously, this takes longer than reading by yourself, but your comprehension of the material  is greatly improved because more than one brain is processing it, and verbalizing information also helps.