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Big History
Unit 2

The Big Bang

The Big Bang theory of the origin of the Universe is based on centuries of work by scientists and scholars. As you study such theories, you’ll develop skills for testing the claims of others and making claims of your own.

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Student Resources

Unit 2 Driving Question

How and why do individuals change their minds?

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2.0 The Big Bang

View Lesson
Opener

PDF / 3

Causation – Alphonse the Camelexternal link
Video

MP4 / 9:30

Activity

PDF / 3

Vocab – Word Wallexternal link
Video

MP4 / 3:40

Article

PDF / 6

Complexity and Thresholdsexternal link
Activity

PDF / 2

Narrative and Thresholds – The Big Bangexternal link
Video

MP4 / 1:59

Activity

PDF / 7

This Threshold Today – The Big Bangexternal link
Video

MP4 / 2:50

Visual Aid

JPG

Timeline: The Big Bangexternal link
Closer

PDF / 2

Big Bang Infographicexternal link

2.1 How Did Our Understanding of the Universe Change?

View Lesson
Opener

PDF / 3

Claim Testing – Authorityexternal link
Activity

PDF / 1

DQ Notebookexternal link
Activity

PDF / 3

Vocab Trackingexternal link
Video

MP4 / 10:59

Article

PDF / 1

Dr. Wu and the Left-Handed Universe: Chien-Shiung Wu – Graphic Biographyexternal link
Activity

PDF / 2

Scale – Changing Views Timelineexternal link
Article

PDF / 6

Claudius Ptolemyexternal link
Article

PDF / 9

Nicolaus Copernicusexternal link
Article

PDF / 9

Galileo Galileiexternal link
Article

PDF / 8

Isaac Newtonexternal link
Article

PDF / 10

Henrietta Leavittexternal link
Article

PDF / 12

Edwin Hubbleexternal link
Article

PDF / 5

Standing on the Shoulders of Invisible Giantsexternal link
Activity

PDF / 6

Views of the Universe Debateexternal link
Article

PDF / 7

The Missing Link?: The Maragha Observatoryexternal link

2.2 What Are Disciplines?

View Lesson
Opener

PDF / 1

Disciplines – Who Knows What?external link
Activity

PDF / 1

DQ Notebookexternal link
Activity

PDF / 4

Vocab – Word Wheelexternal link
Video

MP4 / 2:46

Video

MP4 / 6:22

Video

MP4 / 4:44

Article

PDF / 1

Revealing the Dark: Vera Rubin – Graphic Biographyexternal link
Activity

PDF / 6

Disciplines – What Do You Know? What Do You Ask?external link
Activity

PDF / 3

Analyzing Investigation Writing – Use of Evidenceexternal link
Activity

PDF / 7

Analysis and Evidence Warm-Upexternal link
Closer

PDF / 15

Investigation 2external link
Activity

PDF / 1

Investigation 2 Writing Samplesexternal link
Assessment

PDF / 7

Unit 2 DBQexternal link
Activity

PDF / 3

Analysis and Evidence Revisionexternal link

2.3 Science – The Expanding Universe

View Lesson
Opener

PDF / 1

Doppler Effect Demonstrationexternal link
Activity

PDF / 1

Big Bang Balloonexternal link
Article

PDF / 4

Hubble Finds Ghostly Ring of Dark Matterexternal link
Closer

PDF / 5

Universe Comicsexternal link

Other Materials

Video

MP4 / 2:56

Video

MP4 / 13:18

Article

PDF / 5

The Structure of Scientific Revolutionsexternal link
Article

PDF / 6

Tycho Braheexternal link
Article

PDF / 12

Science, Theology & the Copernican Revolutionexternal link
Article

PDF / 8

The Vatican Observatoryexternal link
Activity

PDF / 18

Threshold Concentrationexternal link
Activity

PDF / 1

What Did You Say Happened?external link
Video

MP4 / 2:40

Video

MP4 / 6:50

Activity

PDF / 1

Big Bang Snap Judgmentexternal link
Video

MP4 / 11:01

Activity

PDF / 6

How Do We Know What the Milky Way Looks Like?external link
Activity

PDF / 1

Claim Testing Worksheet - The Big Bangexternal link