Origins of the Universe baMEL

Below are links to resources that will help students use the Origins of the Universe baMEL to learn more about light spectra and characteristics of a universe changing through time.

Overview

This article provides an introduction to the Origins of the Universe MEL build-a-MEL (baMEL). It is useful even if you are using the Origins of the Universe pcMEL with your students. The primary difference between the pcMEL and the baMEL is that with the pcMEL students are given two models and four lines of evidence in a preconstructed diagram where as with the baMEL students choose two models from three and select four lines of evidence from eight to create their own MEL diagram.

The Origins build-a-MEL (Acrobat (PDF) 492kB Feb8 21)

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations

HS-ESS1-2: Earth's Place in the Universe

• Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.

The Models

Model A: Space, time, and matter came into existence a finite time ago in a hot dense state. It has been expanding and cooling ever since.

Model B: The Universe has always existed in its current state and always will. Matter is created in some places and destroyed in other places at different times.
Model C: The Universe began a finite time ago when a small ball of matter exploded. The matter then spread out throughout space.

Student Handouts

• Origins baMEL Model Plausibility Ratings (Acrobat (PDF) 45kB Jul31 24)
• Origins baMEL - Model Cards (Acrobat (PDF) 71kB Jul31 24)
• Origins baMEL - Large Model Cards (Acrobat (PDF) 112kB Jul31 24)
• baMEL – Diagram (Acrobat (PDF) 38kB Jun30 24)
• Explanation Task (Acrobat (PDF) 52kB May6 24)

Lines of Evidence

Evidence #1: Scientists expect that the scientific principles we use on and around Earth also work elsewhere in the Universe. Observations of phenomena around the Universe show that this is true.
Evidence #2: Models of the Universe predict how much we should see of the lightest elements. Our observations of hydrogen, helium, and other light elements match these predictions.
Evidence #3: On average we observe about the same distribution of galaxies in any area of space. We would also make this observation from any other location in space.
Evidence #4: Astronomers observe a uniform glow in the background of the sky no matter where we look.
Evidence #5: Observations of the sky's background glow match predictions from models very well. This data tells us that the temperature of the Universe is about 2.7K.
Evidence #6: All galaxies are moving with space. Galaxies that are farther from Earth are moving faster than galaxies closer to Earth. Most galaxies are moving away from each other.
Evidence #7: The Universe has a predictable age based on its rate of expansion. Nothing in the Universe is older than that age.
Evidence #8: The Universe was once extremely hot and allowed for matter and energy to spontaneously convert back and forth into each other. Today, the Universe is far cooler than it once was.

Student Handouts

• Origins baMEL - Evidence Cards (Acrobat (PDF) 29kB Jul31 24)
• Origins baMEL - Large Evidence Cards (Acrobat (PDF) 28kB Jul31 24)
• Origins baMEL - Evidence Texts Color (Acrobat (PDF) 6.3MB Jul31 24)
• Origins baMEL - Evidence Texts BW (Acrobat (PDF) 3.7MB Jul31 24)

Other Resources

This Plausibility Ranking Task (PRT), which may be completed prior to using any MELs, helps students to understand the role of evidence in supporting or refuting models.

• Plausibility Ranking Task (Acrobat (PDF) 76kB May6 24)

Virtual baMEL

The Google Drive folder below contains MEL resource documents in the Google formats. In order to maximize the flexibility of our activities, the MEL Project Team wanted to make more resources compatible with virtual settings. We have made our MEL scaffolds available in Google formats, so that they can be copied, modified, and uploaded more easily on a variety of platforms and devices. Please note that to access all the materials for each MEL scaffold, you will need a Google account. View the README file first.

• README First Instructions & FAQ (Acrobat (PDF) 70kB May24 21)
• Virtual Origins baMEL Resource Documents in Google Drive

Digital Resources

The Big Bang, a google project in collaboration with CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), provides access to a video, an augmented reality app, and a series of articles about the Big Bang and the origin of the universe.

The Big Bang from NASA Science shares how the universe evolved and describes its fundamental forces and composition, through big bang stories, multimedia and more!

NASA's Origin of the Universe Group provides links to the missions and projects conducting research in this area and pointing to data, images and videos. The group is researching these questions: 1) What is the origin of the Universe? 2) What is the nature of Dark Energy? and 3) What will gravitational waves reveal?