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Big Bang

Driving Question: How did the Universe begin?

In an instant, the Universe went from nothing to producing the building blocks for everything we know. The Big Bang helps explain how these massive changes took place.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain the Big Bang theory and the evidence that supports it.
  2. Investigate the historical thinking skill of causation.
  3. Use scale switching to make sense of the history of the Universe, Earth, and humanity.

Vocab Terms:

  • Big Bang
  • causation
  • complexity
  • element
  • energy
  • matter
STEP 1

Opener: Big Bang

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out these Big History timeline posters External link  to show when the Universe was created and when the early Thresholds occurred.

We know a lot about the history of the Universe, but you may be surprised to learn that there are some mysteries we have yet to solve.

STEP 2

Causal Thinking

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out our Causation One-Pager to learn more about how OER Project approaches this historical thinking practice.

OER Project’s unofficial mascot is Alphonse the Camel. Jump into this conversation External link about how different teachers approach using this intro to causation in the classroom.

STEP 3

Big History’s First Threshold

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out the OER Project Video Guide for tips on using video in the classroom.

Need to remind students of what the thresholds are? Check out this conversation External link in the OER Project Teacher Community to see how different teachers approach this concept.

The first threshold in Big History was passed billions of years ago, but it wouldn’t have happened without certain “ingredients” and a just-right set of conditions.

Threshold 1: The Big Bang External link

The Big Bang provided the raw materials for everything around us including space, time, matter, and energy.
STEP 4

Origin of the Universe

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out the OER Project Differentiation Guide Locked  for ideas about how to scaffold writing for your students.

The Big Bang created the building blocks for new complexity in the Universe. This is your opportunity to watch how it all went down.

The Big Bang External link

We may not know everything about the Big Bang, but there’s a lot we do know. Our knowledge of the Universe begins just a fraction of a second after the Big Bang took place.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 5

Geography: Map of the Observable Universe

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 5 of the Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out the BHP Timeline External link  and the BHP Timeline Posters External link , they are great resources to hang in your classroom.

STEP 6

Closer: Big Bang

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 7 of the Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Wanting to evaluate your students understanding of the content in this lesson? Check out the OER Project Assessment Guide to help spark ideas.

Extension Materials
Checkmark Alert Banner
In these graphic biographies we’ll pay a visit to some of the key scientists who helped us understand the Big Bang!
...

Dr. Wu and the Left-Handed Universe

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 7 of the Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

So you now know how every scientist’s work builds on the work of other scientists. You’re about to meet one of the big ones in the discipline of physics.

...

Revealing the Dark

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 8 of the Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Dr. Vera Rubin examined the stars her entire life, and along the way, her observations transformed astronomy.