Astronomical systems resources

Students are provided with a star map showing the path of comet Haley-Bopp 1997. Students use this map to answer three questions.

Students are provided with two star maps as seen from Wellington at two different times of the year. Students are asked to explain why the stars on the map appear in different parts of the sky depending on the time of the year.

Students answer two multiple-choice questions about full Moon and lunar eclipses.

For this task students use a diagram to explain the different seasons experienced in different hemispheres.

Students are asked to explain why the Southern Cross appears not to be in the same place in the night sky that it was a few months previously.

Students interpret information about unnamed planets and their length of year to answer questions about their distance from the Sun and the order of these planets from the Sun.

Task: Label a diagram. Assessment focus: relative positions of Earth and Sun for each season.

Task: Design a station on Mars. Assessment focus: problem solving to meet human needs in a different environment.

For this practical task students investigate some features of craters, complete a table, and explain what they found out. Students then use a diagram showing some craters on the Moon to write as much information as they can about these craters.

Students use two diagrams of the night sky to answer a multiple-choice question on each.

In this NEMP task students look at photos to describe similar and different environmental features of the moon, the Earth, Mars and the sun. Assessment focus: The solar system. In the original NEMP task the assessor gave oral instructions, read the questions and wrote the answers for each student.

Students are asked four short questions that explore their understanding of the Earth's rotation, Earth's revolution, and seasons.

Three multiple choice questions ask students to identify the most likely times for sun rise, sun set, and which diagram best illustrates night and day.

Task: Use a diagram to answer questions about seasons and day and night. Assessment focus: relationship of Sun and Earth.

Students match each planet to its correct description.

Task: Describe what sort of day it is easiest to see shadows, and answer 2 multiple choice questions about length of shadows and time of day. Assessment focus: shadows.

Task: multiple choice questions and interpreting a diagram. Assessment focus: phases of the moon.

Task: Identify seasons from events described. Assessment focus: seasons.