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Astronomy Year / Week 10 / Friday
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Week 10 · Shooting Stars

Friday

Plan a meteor watch
// Meteors and meteor showers
⏱ about 15 min

Friday: Plan a meteor watch

Rocket wants to count every meteor.

Raven gets a pencil. "What do you notice? We need a way to count fast."

Nova draws four lines and a slash. "Hint: tally marks are quick!"

Count with tally marks

Make one line for each meteor.

The fifth line crosses the first four.

Then count your groups of five.

TALLY CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You made two groups of five tally marks. How many meteors?
You made one group of five and two more lines. How many?
  1. Pick a dark spot with your grown-up.
  2. Bring a blanket and a warm jacket.
  3. Bring your red light and a pencil.
  4. Set a timer for 20 minutes.
  5. Make a tally mark for each meteor.
For a grown-up
A meteor watch works any clear night; shower nights are a bonus.
NASA lists this year's shower peak nights online.
Moonless, dark nights work best.
Plan checkTrue or false?
Bring a warm blanket.?
Go meteor watching alone.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEA good plan keeps you warm and safe.

Skip count by fives

Tally marks come in groups of five.

So count them by fives: 5, 10, 15, 20.

Then count on any extra lines.

COUNT THE TALLIES
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You have three groups of five. How many meteors?
You have four groups of five. How many meteors?
You have two groups of five and three more lines. How many?
What does the fifth tally line do?
COUNT BY FIVES
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
11st group
22nd group
33rd group
44th group
Try it
Practice tally marks with a grown-up.
Your grown-up claps. You make one line for each clap.
Count your tallies by fives at the end.
Draw your tally marks from the clap game in groups of five.

Your meteor watch is planned! Tomorrow night you count shooting stars.

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