Task: The Universe Rated R!

Alignment of Performance Task with National Standards

Grade Level: 9-12

Specific skills and knowledge demonstrated by the task:	Alignment with Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy	Alignment with National Science Education Standards
Students' ability to describe violent and catastrophic changing nature of the universe.	4A-universe (9-12)#2:The current theory is that its entire contents expanded explosively from a hot, dense, chaotic mass. Stars condensed by gravity out of clouds and molecules of the lightest elements until nuclear fusion of the light elements into heavier ones began to occur. Fusion released great amounts of energy over millions of years. Eventually, some stars exploded, producing clouds of heavy elements from which other stars and planets could later condense. The process of star formation and destruction continues.	Standard D- Earth and Space (9-12)- The Origin of the universe- Stars produce energy from nuclear reactions, primarily the fusion of hydrogen to form helium. These and other processes in stars have led to the formation of all the other elements.
Students' ability to describe the technology for gathering data scientists use to learn about the universe.	4A-universe (9-12)#3: Increasingly sophisticated technology is used to learn about the universe. Visual, radio and X-ray telescopes collect information from across the entire spectrum of electromagnetic waves; computers handle an avalanche of data and increasingly complicated computations to interpret them....	Standard A- Inquiry (9-12)- Understandings About Scientific Inquiry - Scientists rely on technology to enhance the gathering and manipulation of data. New techniques and tools provide new evidence to guide inquiry and new methods to gather data, thereby contributing to the advance of science.
Students' ability to describe a particular cosmic object or event.	4A universe (9-12)#2 … Eventually, some stars exploded producing clouds containing heavy elements from which other stars (and presumably planets orbiting them) could later condense. The process of star formation and destruction continues.	Standard D: Earth and Space- The Origin and Evolution of the universe - …Billions of galaxies, each of which is a gravitationally bound cluster of billions of stars, now form most of the visible mass in the universe…Stars produce energy from nuclear reactions, primarily the fusion of hydrogen to form helium, These and other processes in stars have led to the formation of all the other elements.