Who Owns the Sky?

Have students record observations of the night sky for several nights in a row. Ask: Can they see the moon, planets, or stars? Can they identify any constellations, or group of stars forming a recognizable pattern? Do they see any moving objects in the night sky? What could the moving objects be? Discuss their observations. Then ask: How do you think the night sky looked 200 years ago compared with today? List some ways humans have changed what people see when they look up at night. (e.g., airplanes, satellites orbiting Earth, lights on Earth that make the night brighter and objects in space harder to see)

Make a T-chart titled “Space-Based Internet Network.” Label one side of the chart “Advantages” and the other side “Disadvantages.” Read the article aloud. After reading, ask students to add information to the T-chart. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages. Ask: Are there any possible solutions to any of those drawbacks? Let students brainstorm and discuss possible solutions. Have students complete the article’s “Check for Understanding.”

Hand out the “Internet Access” skills sheet. When everyone has finished, ask: Is lack of available service the only problem people have when it comes to accessing the internet? Will a space-based program address all of the reasons that people don’t have highspeed internet? Add any new information about these advantages and disadvantages to the T-chart (Step 2).

Hand out the “Night Lights” skills sheet and have students complete the activity at home or conduct a demonstration. Discuss what the model showed about light pollution and the model’s limitations.

Share the “A Good Idea?” skills sheet. Instruct students to think through their opinion about new satellite internet projects by answering the guiding questions. Have students write a oneor two-paragraph explanation sharing their point of view. Then ask students to give a “Yes” or “No” response to the question: “Do you support the new satellite internet projects?” Submit their answers to the poll (found at the end of the online scrollable article) and discuss how their opinions compare with survey responses submitted by other students.

⇨ SEL: This lesson plan contains social-emotional learning support related to social awareness.

⇨ TAKE OUR POLL: Share your opinion.