To support your astronomy curriculum, check out the following Websites for science project ideas, lesson plans, and more. Note, while Spaced Out: A Cosmic Scene provides links to these web-based resources that we feel are appropriate, we cannot guarantee that all the content presented in these web resources is scientifically accurate. As an educator it is your responsibility to verify the accuracy of all resources used with your students.

Background on Spectroscopy

Physics 2000: Quantum Atom
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/quantumzone/index.html

For the connection between atoms, electrons and specific spectral line "barcodes" for elements, continue on to:

Physics 2000: The Bohr Atom
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/quantumzone/bohr.html

Spectra Imagery – full color spectra of each element
Spectra imagery of each element observed as emission lines in an electrical gas discharge
http://astro.u-strasbg.fr/~koppen/discharge/

This diagram demonstrates the difference between emission and absorption spectra for hydrogen. The URL for the photo: http://cseligman.com/text/stars/stellarproperties.htm

Lesson Ideas on Spectroscopes - Lesson Plans/Activities/Demonstrations

At the Stanford Solar Center website you will find student activities on spectrography and teacher resources for building a spectroscope. Information on how to order spectroscope posters and diffraction grating is also provided at this site http://solar-center.stanford.edu/COTS/

Lesson for Building and Using a Spectroscope from readily available material
http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/rfl/pdf/du_u03_spectroscope.pdf

Windows to the Universe: Projecting Spectra
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/space_astronomy/page30.html

Windows to the Universe: Simple Spectroscope
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/space_astronomy/page32.html

You can also use the following link to obtain a series of lessons where unit 2 lessons deal with the stellar spectra.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/space_astronomy/contents.html&edu=mid&back=/search/search_navigation.html

Amazing Space website provides lessons and teacher resources. Go to the link Star Light, Star Bright. Star Light, Star Bright can be used to introduce the concept of spectra and waves in the "Catch the Waves" section.
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/eds/tools/type/complete.php.p=Teaching+tools%40%2Ceds%2Ctools%2C

Lesson Ideas for High School Students, Spectra Displayed As Light Bands and Frequency Charts:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/science/hubble.html#standards

Stellar Spectra: http://www.learner.org/teacherslab/science/light/color/spectra/index.html

Sun as a Star:
Sun As a Star: Science Learning Activities for Afterschool - The Sun As a Star activities teach concepts related to the sun with opportunities for the students to investigate each idea. Activity #8 is most relevant to Episode 6, Cooking with the Stars. These activities were developed for 10 – 12 year olds, but can easily be adapted to make them age appropriate.

Background on Electromagnetic Radiation

The electromagnetic spectrum is more familiar to you than you might think.
http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/ems.html

Physics 2000: The Atomic Lab http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/waves_particles/index.html
On the opening page to this site you will see an illustration of Electromagnetic Waves; by moving the curser your students will see the proximity of infrared, visible light and ultraviolet light on the spectrum.

NASA Imagine the Universe: Electromagnetic Spectrum
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/emspectrum.html
This site provides explanations and illustrations of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. It could be used by students for reading about ES.

Cool Cosmos link for some great websites on the electromagnetic spectrum. http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/index.html