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Science Cases
Improve your knowledge of the Universe from your school
The CESAR team provides free online interactive tools to introduce students into the fields of astronomy, science and technology, with plenty of material for advanced students to expand their knowledge. These tools and materials are part of what we call "Science Cases".
Science Cases are small exercises, guided investigations or experiments that teach students about an astrophysical topic by making them work with real scientific data. Those Science Cases are intended not only to make science approachable and appealing to young people, but also to help them develop scientific reasoning and critical thinking skills.
All on-line science cases
Choose the correct Science Case
The CESAR Science Cases deal with many different topics, all of them didactic and suitable for involving students in a science experience. A given Science Case is offered in different levels, so that teachers can pick the one more appropriate to their students' background of Mathematics and Physics. Note that not all Science Cases are available for all levels; pay attention at the level indicator and read the corresponding Teacher's Guide for further information.
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Intermediate |
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Advanced |
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Super Hero |
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Fundamental knowledge of the Universe at one-click distance! Without formulae or complicated Math, simple as it is.
Credits: Nautilus
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Basic Physics crafting the Cosmos! The next step to expand your knowledge of our Universe with some basic concept and formulae. |
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Go one step forward! Put all your knowledge of Physics and Math to use. Skip no detail, and experience the Universe from end to end. |
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The real pro-level! Science as it is. Advanced Physics, high-level Math ,and programming. Use every tool available to reveal the mysteries of the Universe.
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Basic Level Science Cases teach basic ideas about the Universe and the tools used to explore it. In these activities, understanding the concepts is more important than measurements. Without any formulae, they are recommended for Primary School children or people with only very basic knowledge of science.
The Intermediate Level is intended for students with basic knowledge of Physics and Mathematics. Simple calculations and/or basic mathematical and physical reasoning are required to successfully complete them. They are recommended for Secondary School and higher students.
The Science Cases in the Advanced Level are suitable for students in the few years previous to University. They may also be used in University Introductory Science courses. All the required background is provided, but students are expected to be able to work easily with mathematical equations and scientific formulae, and/or to have developed some skills in mathematical and physical reasoning.
The Super-Hero Level has been developed for the most exigent students. Real science is done at this level: Reliable data must be collected and analysed, and some of the tools are the same used by professional scientists. They are intended for students of Physics and Astronomy at University level.
Prepare for a Science Case
For each Science Case, we provide:
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A Teacher's Guide with all necessary information for teachers to organise the activity and solve any possible issues arising during its execution. Print a copy of this document and keep it at hand.
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A Student's Guide: A manual for students, guiding them through all the activity steps. Print a copy for each student or group of students.
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A Quiz: A sample of multiple-choice questions that can be used to assess the students' understanding of the concepts and procedures worked in the activity.
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Web tools: Online tools needed to carry out the activity, most of them specifically developed by the CESAR team for that particular Science Case.
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Other resource, such as external links to databases, images, support documentation and videos, and materials to expand and reinforce the students' learning after completion of the activity.
Most of the activities require little preparation, aside from reading the Teacher's Guide and make sure that all the required materials are available. We recommend testing the activities completely before proposing them to students, to ensure that the level is appropriate and that all web tools work properly. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any doubts or if you find any error.
Most of the Science Cases can be completed in 30 to 60 minutes if students have the necessary background knowledge. If the Science Case requires students using the CESAR Observatories, remember to contact the CESAR team well in advance to check for availability and arrange a date for the observations.
The complete guide on how to perform a CESAR Science Case activity with your students is available here.
Astronomical data collected by the CESAR Observatories; texts, experiments and software developed by the CESAR Team.
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