Classifying Galaxies

Classifying Galaxies

An Interactive Lesson on the Hubble System of Classifying Galaxies

by George & Jane Hastings

Š1997 The Regents of the University of California

Grade Levels: 5-9
Time Requirements:

Preparation Time for teacher: 2 hours

explore lesson online ahead of time
save online worksheets to your computer and print hard copies for students.

Two class periods

Student Prerequisites: fifth grade reading level

Topics Covered by This Lesson:

What is a galaxy?
Hubble classification of galaxies
Practice in using Hubble classification system as an example of how scientists classify objects in nature.

Brief Overview:

Students will observe examples of galaxies that have different shapes.
Students will observe how the galaxy classification system of Edwin Hubble assigns galaxies to different groups according to their shapes .
Students will attempt to categorize unknown galaxies according to the Hubble classification descriptors.

Unit Features:

Teacher Lesson Plan
Worksheets and answer keys which can be printed for classroom/teacher use
Images

Images from telescopes all over the world show the vast variety of galaxies.
Interactive classification practice with galaxy images.

Hotlinks to other useful astronomy websites..

Materials Required For This Lesson:

All materials provided ONLINE

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Go to the Student Lesson

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This lesson has received the following awards:

Blue Web'n Learning Applications Library

Science Museum of Virginia homepage

comments to George & Jane Hastings

or to outreach@cea.berkeley.edu

All text, images, and other resources in this page are Copyright Š 1997 , The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Last update: November 25, 1998

For permission,

outreach@cea.berkeley.edu.