9th Grade: Science II　 Teacher: Mr. Nobuhiro Saito School: Oritate Junior High School Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture

Place □Regular classroom　□Computer room　■Special classroom　□Gymnasium □Athletic Field　□Outdoors　□Others〔　〕 Type of Lesson ■Class　■Group　□Pair/Individual　□Follow-up　□Others〔　〕 Phase ■Introduction　□Development　■Conclusion　□Others〔　〕 Main user of IT ■Teacher　□Student　□Others〔　〕 Objectives ■To introduce the topic　■To motivate students　■As illustrative material used by the teacher　□As illustrative material used by the student　□To master through repetition　□To present a model　□To recollect past experiences　□To compare　■To examine what has been done/studied　□To provide second-hand experience　□Others〔　〕 Equipment ■Computer　■Projector　■Screen　□Electronic Whiteboard　□Visual Presenter　□Digital Camera　□Video Player　□Internet　■Digital Contents　□CD-ROM　■Speakers　□Others〔 〕 Presenting unusual and surprising visuals motivates the students. Also, showing a video clip taken from outer space furthers the students’ understanding of the subject. The Apparition of Venus Contents: based on curriculum guidelines (6) The earth and the sun Examine the rotation and revolution of the earth through observation of familiar planets and stars and provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the sun and the solar system. B The solar system and its planets (A) Observe the sun, stars and planets and their movements and write an observation record which is to be used with other reference materials to discover the characteristics of the sun and to understand the characteristics of the stars and planets. In addition, grasp the structure of the solar system in relation to the planet orbits. To understand the changes in the apparition of the planet Venus through its orbit and its relative location to the earth. (1) Show the digital picture “The shape of Venus (crescent phase)” found in “Space and Astronomy,” a digital educational material provided by Science Network, and capture the students’ interest in the subject by showing its apparition and brightness. (2) Show a video clip of a “rotating Venus” found in “The Views of the Solar System” for a visual understanding that Venus is a spherical planet. (3) Show the video clip “Changes in the Apparition of Venus” provided by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan to present today’s (lesson) topic, “the apparition of Venus and its correlation to the location of the earth.”     [Abstract] The teacher is showing a video clip of the phases of a star and surprising the students by informing them that the star is actually the planet Venus. Students are encouraged to discuss among themselves why the shape and size of the planet changes between phases and to present their opinions.     (4) Conduct an experiment using a miniature bulb (Sun) and a white polystyrene sphere (Venus) to discover the changes in Venus’ apparition in correlation to the location of the Earth. (5) Show the video clip “The Phases of Venus” found under “The Earth and Space,” of the Information-technology Promotion Agency’s educational visual collection for science, to explain the changes in Venus’ apparition caused by its revolution.Also, show the visual “Changes in Brightness and Size of Inferior Planets” of “Star Click!” (Astro Disk Magazine) to confirm the apparition of inferior planets.     [Abstract] Using small models of the Sun and Venus, students are confirming how the shape and size of Venus look different between phases from the Earth. Students are watching the video clip on the Internet to confirm their hypothesis. The timing of showing the video clip is important for better and firm understanding.     (6) Wrap up today’s lesson by showing “Today’s Apparition of Venus” and “Location of Planets” found in the website “Starry sky com.” Most students imagine the moon when shown a picture of Venus in the crescent phase. Many exclaim when shown a video clip of a rotating Venus. This will motive the students to follow the lesson.In addition, students will be able to visually grasp the relationship between the revolution and the apparition of Venus through video clips explaining the phenomena. (1) Digital educational material “Space and Astronomy,” Science Network http://www.rikanet.jst.go.jp/ (2) “Views of the Solar System” http://www.solarviews.com/cap/venus/vidven1.htm (3) National Astronomical Observatory of Japan http://www.nao.ac.jp/pio/SolSys/Venus/venus_v.jpg (4) Information-technology Promotion Agency Educational Visual Collection: Science “The Earth and Space” http://www2.edu.ipa.go.jp/gz/d-etu1/d-sor1/d-ten1/IPA-etu160.htm (5) Star Click! (Astro Disk Magazine) http://www.starclick.ne.jp/backnumber/1999Win/qanda/nai/nai.html (6) Starry sky com http://www2d.biglobe.ne.jp/~hasegawa/hoshi/