Update: Since I first posted this resource in May 2022, I have become of aware of several inconsistencies with the original data and decided to make some updates in a Version 3.0!! I'm excited to share this activity with data that more accurately resembles accepted data. :)
The TaskWhen I do this in my class, I give a set of star cards to each group and instruct them to "organize the stars and look for patterns". Different groups did this in different ways, usually starting with colors and then sorting each group by their luminosity or temperature.
After they have had a chance to explore the stars a little bit, I ask them about patterns that they've noticed. They should notice that the colors map really closely to the temperature but don't necessarily predict the luminosity. For example all the red stars are around 3,000 K but their luminosity could range from 0.0001 suns (red dwarf) to 9,000 suns (red supergiant). Because of this, it is useful to organize these stars in two-dimensions and plot them on a graph
Since a typical H-R Diagram has a unique log scale and inverted temperature axis, I provide students with a template that they should use to set up and label their axes. This year, I just projected this blank example on the board and students transferred it to their lab benches using neon markers. I have also done this poster boards and with magnetic star cards on the front whiteboard but I liked this individual tabletop method the best. :)
Original Files
Version 2.0
Modification HistoryI've liked the task enough to use it for several years but there were a couple of things that I always wished were a little different and I finally took the time to make the updates that I've wanted. Updates made from the original to Version 2.0:
 After sharing version 2.0, several teachers reached out noticing that some of the stars were incorrect temperature, color, or both! In my first iteration, I never double checked the data from the original resource but now I was on a mission to make a version 3.0! Updates made from Version 2.0 to Version 3.0:
Downloadable FilesHere are the files one more time that you can modify, print, and use in your classroom. Let me know if you have any questions or ideas for this task.
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