Lesson Plan

School:

Year Group: year 10

Date :

Focus Area
The focus area of this lesson is the HertzsprungRussell diagram, which is a method of classification of
stars.

Learning Intentions

Victorian curriculum

In this lesson, we are learning about the

classification of stars by using the HertzsprungRussell Diagram. They will have to be able to
interpret a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram by
referring to its axes which are temperature and
luminosity. They will also use the correlation
between colour and temperature to predict the
physical appearance of stars in the universe.

The Universe contains features including galaxies, stars

and solar systems; the Big Bang theory can be used to
explain the origin of the Universe (VCSSU129)
Construct and use a range of representations, including
graphs, keys, models and formulas, to record and
summarise data from students own investigations and
secondary sources, to represent qualitative and
quantitative patterns or relationships, and distinguish
between discrete and continuous data (VCSIS137)

Location / Setting

Organisation / Student Groups

The setting of the class will be kept the same. The

students will stay in the classroom and will be required
to work in pairs or in groups to accomplish the
assessment tasks.

The students will be given a worksheet and will be

required to finish it by the end class. They will be
required to work in pairs or in groups

Lesson Plan Template

Special Considerations
To prevent class management issues, I will apply
Gordons theory. According to Gordon's Theory of
Classroom Management, teachers are encouraged not to
discipline students in the traditional manner. Instead, I
should foster open relationships marked by excellent
student-teacher communication that encourages the
student to take an active role in their own behaviour and
understand that it is their own choice and in their own
best interest to behave in a manner that benefits the
student, the teacher, and the rest of the class.

Key Vocabulary
HertzsprungRussell diagram
Stars
Absolute magnitude
Luminosity
Classification
Temperature
Colour
Main sequence
Star cluster
Red supergiant
White supergiant
White dwarf

Focus Questions

What is an example of 1 star?

How many stars is there in the universe?
What is the colour of a star?
Are all stars similar?
How can we classify stars?
Why is measuring the luminosity of stars
difficult?
Are blue stars hotter or cooler than red stars?

Lesson Plan Template

References / Sources / Materials /

Resources and Equipment

Powerpoint presentation
Worksheets

INTRODUCTION
Establishing prior knowledge. Tuning in activity.
Focus questioning

MAIN BODY
Guiding Inquiry and Practise

Assessment criteria: Assessment FOR learning

Assessment Criteria: Assessment AS Learning

CONCLUSION
Sharing, Explaining and Reviewing Inquiry
Share time. Student reflection. What do they now
know?
Assessment Criteria: Assessment OF Learning

Brief introduction to what is expected

from the students today (includes the
learning intentions and the success
criteria)

Ask the students a series of probing

questions concerning stars
(Note: The aim of this is to encourage
students to use their prior knowledge
about the topic of stars)

Can you give me examples of stars?

What do you know about stars?
Are all stars similar?
Do they emit the same amount of light?
Are they all of the same size?
Do they all have the same temperature
at their surface?
Are they all of the same colour?

Video showing the colour of metal

under different temperatures.
(Note: This is an essential part of
this lesson because it is likely to
enable high-order level thinking.
Indeed, this video provides an
insight about the fact that a
correlation between the colour of a
star and its temperature)

Explanation about the fact that each

star is unique. Indeed, they differ in
terms of materials and elements
present within them. They also
differ in terms of:
Brightness
Colour
The temperature at their surface
Size

1.
2.
3.
4.

Viewing of a video putting the size

of stars in perspective with that of
Earth.
The video compares the Earth to
the different stars
Link: https://youtu.be/octRYMsiLX0

Units of luminosity
An explanation is going to be given
to the students about the concept of
luminosity. The students will be
introduced to the units of luminosity
and they will have a basic overview
Lesson Plan Template
about how luminosity is relevant to
stars.

For the last 10 minutes of the class, the

students will be required to have a
discussion in groups of 4-5 students. For
5 minutes, the students will be required to
discuss about what they have learnt
today.
They will focus on the main points that
they have learnt. For the next 5 minutes,
the students will share their learning with
all the class

An assessment will be given to the

students in two weeks time where they
will be assessed about their knowledge
concerning the HR diagram. This will
involve questions about:
1. Reading a HR diagram
2. Plotting a HR diagram
3. Interpreting the colour of stars and
determine their temperature.