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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
How Big and How Far?
How big?
This resource uses scale models to understand the huge differences between the Sun and other stars in the galaxy. The spreadsheet gives scales for the Sun and five other stars, ranging from the gigantic Betelgeuse to tiny Sirius B. Students can draw out these scale models using pencils and string.
How far?
In this resource, students look at the distance in light years from the Sun to the stars in the constellation of Orion. It is suggested that a graph could be plotted to show the relative distances. The aim is to understand that although stars appear close together when viewed from the Earth, they are in fact at very different distances away.
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Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
Downloads
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How big? (teachers' notes) 36.5 KB
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How big? (spreadsheet) 61.5 KB
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How far? (teachers' notes) 37.5 KB
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How far? (spreadsheet) 74.5 KB
Show downloads
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How big? (teachers' notes) 36.5 KB -
How big? (spreadsheet) 61.5 KB -
How far? (teachers' notes) 37.5 KB
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How far? (spreadsheet) 74.5 KB
Download all files as a .zip79.96 KB
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