Science 6: Why and How God Created the Universe

WHY AND HOW GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE--$16.95
(Ages 12 and up; 67 pages) An excellent introductory section to this guidebook is an article by J. Reuben Clark, Jr., called "Who Was This Jesus?" In his remarks made to Brigham Young University students in 1951, President Clark shows how Jesus is the great "Creator and Destroyer of Universes." His marvelous power is demonstrated in this testimony-building report.
The book is divided into ten divisions of study. All the basic research on the Universe will become a part of the student's original textbook as they search the scriptures and define the vocabulary words. At the conclusion of their study of the four main divisions of Geology, students are asked to answer the question: WHY did God create the universe?
Students DEFINE, EXPLAIN, and ILLUSTRATE the major vocabulary words in each of the ten divisions of Astronomy. They then use religious writings or their scriptures of choice to study the spiritual existence of the universe.
The ten divisions and the major vocabulary words in this guidebook are:

The Universe
Clusters
Eternity
Infinity
Light year
Quasar
Red shift
Superclusters
Example of a Learning Exercise: "Research the mathematical symbol for 'infinity.' Write the symbol down, and explain in your own words how the symbol is considered 'infinite'. Name objects around you that have a similar shape to this symbol. Draw one of the objects."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "The Bible refers to the universe as 'heaven.' Look up at least five scriptures that have to do with the creation of heaven and write them down. Choose one of these scriptures and illustrate 'the heavens' being created. Use your imagination! Also, use different mediums for your illustration - water colors, colored pencils, or oil paints. Write the scripture (or the reference) somewhere on your picture. Make your illustration an inspiration to others about the Creator of the universe."
Nebulae
Diffuse Nebulae
Planetary Nebulae
Example of a Learning Exercise: "Do a research report on the nebula 'Orion'. Illustrate this nebula on a black piece of paper, using white chalk, colored pencils, or white poster paint to show its general shape and form. Write your research in a report and teach your findings to a group, using your illustration as a visual aid."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "In the Bible, Job spoke of the greatness of God's creations and mentioned nebulae. Read Job 9:6-10 and research each."

Galaxies
Elliptical Galaxy
Irregular Galaxy
Spiral Galaxy
Milky Way
Example of a Learning Exercise: "On the following page, list as many facts about the Milky Way as you can discover by research and study. After one week, see how many of your facts you can recall."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "Using your internet, search 'worlds without end' (be sure to use quote marks for quicker search), and write about what you discovered about God's galaxies in the universe."

Constellations
Big Dipper
Little Dipper
North Star
Zodiac
Example of a Learning Exercise: "On the following page, show the constellations which appear during each of the four seasons, as seen from the northern hemisphere of the earth. Label each constellation. (As a reference, most encyclopedias show these postions under the heading 'Astronomy.'"
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "On the internet, research the word 'Kolob' (also refer to the Book of Abraham) and draw a diagram of the constellations spoken of in these resources."

Stars
Absolute Magnitude
Apparent Magnitude
Binary Star
Black Hole
Neutron Star
Nova
Supernova
White Dwarf
Superclusters
Example of a Learning Exercise: "Research why stars 'twinkle'. Write your theories and findings."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "Project to present to your family or group: Gather a video camera, silver and gold glitter, a long piece of black fabric (velvet is best), CD of beautiful music representing 'space', and a Bible. Lightly sprinkle glitter on the black velvet fabric which has been laid flat on a table or the floor. Making sure that there is nothing else in the picture, take a 2-minute video of it, slowly panning across the glitter. On camera, the glitter will look like stars in the night sky. Afterwards, watch the video and play beautiful "space-like" music in the background. Read to the group John 1:1-5 and have a discussion on God's creations. Record in your journal your feelings about this project."

The Solar System
Asteroids
Gravitation
Interplanetary Dust
Interplanetary Plasma
Orbit
Space Travel
Example of a Learning Exercise: "Explain and illustrate how a gyroscope works."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "Explain how you think the Creator could have caused the miracle found in Joshua 12:14."

Comets
Elliptical Path
Hale-Bopp Comet
Halley's Comet
Period
Tycho Brahe's Comet
Example of a Learning Exercise: "Make a list of all the known comets. Put this list into a chart that shows the year each comet was first seen, as well as their period of orbit (in years)."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "The scripture found in Jude 1:13 may be referring to comets. Write this scripture and ponder its meaning. Write your feelings."

Meteors
Friction
Meteorite
Meteoroid
Meteor Showers
Example of a Learning Exercise: "On the following page, illustrate and explain how and why a meteorite disintegrates when it enters the earth's atmosphere."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "In Doctrine & Covenants 88:87 (also Revelation 6:13), we learn the prophecy about the Earth returning to Kolob, as it hurtles though space. The scripture says that the stars will 'fall' from heaven and appear as 'a fig that falleth from off a fig-tree." Could the stars appear as meteorites, or maybe comets? Research 'figs' and illustrate how the stars falling may appear this way when we see them 'falling'."

Moons
Phases
Crater
Eclipse
Full Moon
New Moon
Rilles
Tides
Example of a Learning Exercise: "On the following page, illustrate the moon in its various phases."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "Study the prophecies of Isaiah concerning the moon (look in your Bible Index or topical Guide under 'moon'). Read also Matthew 24:44-477 about being prepared at the time of the fulfilling of these prophecies. Write each prophecy down and then record your feelings about the future and your part in it."

Planets
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Example of a Learning Exercise: "Do a research report on the theories of Nicholas Copernicus. Diagram his idea that the planets revolve around the sun. include in your report the life of Ptolemy and his theory about the rotation of the universe around the earth. Illustrate his theory."
Example of a Learning Exercise from the scriptures: "Read Hebrews 1:1-2. Describe what other 'worlds' might look like, that the Creator has made for his children.