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H-R DIAGRAM LESSON PLAN – A COMPLETE SCIENCE LESSON USING THE 5E METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

At the end of this comprehensive H-R diagram lesson plan, students will be able to describe how the H-R diagram classifies stars.  They will also be able to interpret the H-R diagram.  Each lesson is designed using the 5E method of instruction to ensure maximum comprehension by the students.

The following post will walk you through each of the steps and activities from the H-R diagram lesson plan.

ENGAGEMENT

At the beginning of the lesson, the class will discuss the objectives and some of the relevant vocabulary using the included objective statements and word wall cards.

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The engagement continues with a with a Think-Pair-Share brainstorm activity. Students will write down a name of a celebrity, or YouTube star. Students will then use the board at the front of the room and place the name on the board based on “hotness” and “star-power.” This is a great intro to teach students that this is how stars are classified as well. The teacher will help to clear any misconceptions like the brightest of stars are the biggest, and how temperature increases along the right side of the X-axis.

Estimated Class Time for the Engagement: 20-30 minutes

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EXPLORATION

This student-centered station lab is set up so students can begin to explore the  H-R diagram. Four of the stations are considered input stations where students are learning new information about the H-R diagram, and four of the stations are output stations where students will be demonstrating their mastery of the input stations.  Each of the stations is differentiated to challenge students using a different learning style.  You can read more about how I set up the station labs here.

EXPLORE IT!

Students will be working in pairs to create a model of the H-R diagram using current celebrities. Students will place celebrities like Drake, Oprah, Fluffy, on a card based on “hotness” and “star-power” of each celebrity. Students will discover that the scale is a representation of how stars are actually classified. Students will then have a follow-up question to answer.

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WATCH IT!

At this station, students will be watching a four-minute video about interpreting the H-R diagram. The short video explains how to read the different axes of the H-R diagram. There are 3 questions related to the H-R diagram which students will answer on their lab sheet.

RESEARCH IT!

The research station will allow students to go online and interact by categorizing stars on an H-R diagram according to brightness and temperature. Students will be allowed to check for understanding while online. Students will then be asked to answer 2 questions based on what they learned during the activities.

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READ IT!

This station will provide students with a one page reading about the H-R diagram.  Students are asked four questions about the reading, including what factors determine placement on the H-R diagram, where most stars can be found, and what would a characteristic of a star have on a certain spot on the H-R diagram.

ASSESS IT!

The assess it station is where students will go to prove mastery over the concepts they learned in the lab.  The questions are set up in a standardized format with multiple choice answers.  Questions include asking about the direction of temperature along the x-axis, description of our sun compared to other stars on the H-R diagram, and which star in the brightest and hottest.

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WRITE IT!

Students who can answer open-ended questions about the lab truly understand the concepts that are being taught.  At this station, the students will be answering three questions like explaining the H-R diagram, explain how to read the H-R diagram to a younger student, and how the temperature is recorded on the diagram.

ILLUSTRATE IT!

Your visual students will love this station.  Students will be completing an H-R diagram by labeling both axes, the location of star groups, and certain temperature/brightness combinations.

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ORGANIZE IT!

The organize it station allows your students to use a manipulative to ensure their understanding of the H-R diagram. Students will use cards to place labels in the correct locations within and on the diagram.

 Estimated Class Time for the Exploration: 1-2, 45 minute class periods

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EXPLANATION

The explanation activities will become much more engaging for the class once they have completed the exploration station lab.  During the explanation piece, the teacher will be clearing up any misconceptions about the H-R diagram with an interactive PowerPoint, anchor charts, and interactive notebook activities. The H-R diagram lesson includes a PowerPoint with activities scattered throughout to keep the students engaged.

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The students will also be interacting with their journals using INB templates for the H-R diagram.  Each INB activity is designed to help students compartmentalize information for a greater understanding of the concept.  The H-R diagram INB templates will challenge the students to understand and visualize the H-R diagram.

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Estimated Class Time for the Exploration: 2-3, 45 minute class periods

ELABORATION

The elaboration section of the 5E method of instruction is intended to give students choice on how they can prove mastery of the concept.  When students are given choice the ‘buy-in’ is much greater than when the teacher tells them the project they will have to create.  Each of the H-R diagram projects will allow students to explain how each star got its placement on the H-R diagram.

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Estimated Class Time for the Elaboration: 2-3, 45 minute class periods (can also be used as an at-home project)

EVALUATION

The final piece of the 5E model is to evaluate student comprehension.  Included in every 5E lesson is a homework assignment, assessment, and modified assessment.  Research has shown that homework needs to be meaningful and applicable to real-world activities in order to be effective.  When possible, I like to give open-ended assessments to truly gauge the student’s comprehension.

Estimated Class Time for the Elaboration: 1, 45 minute class period

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