Teaching Guide: Wanda Diaz-Merced: Hearing Stars
In this lesson plan students will learn about Stellar seismology, a technique that was developed by the astronomy Wanda Diaz-Merced.
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Wanda Diaz-Merced is a blind astronomer who works in the South African Observatory. She developed a program called XSonify, which turns her astronomical data into sound, making it possible for her to do research. Diaz-Merced works both on the internal structure of star, and in educational outreach for blind students. Students will learn what it is like to suddenly lose your sight, and about the process of sonification, and what it means to analyze stars with sound.
Grade level(s): 9-12
Guide subjects: Astronomy, Physics
Minority Group(s): Hispanic
In-class time: 65 min
Prep time: 20 min
Technology Requirements: Audio/Video required
Common Core Standards: Reading: Informational Text, History/Social Studies, Science & Technical Subjects
Next Generation Science Standards: Physical sciences