Current Events Bell Ringer for Grades 9–12: Whether towns should dim their lights for the night sky
A free current events bell ringer for grades 9–12. Put the prompt on the board as students walk in, give them three to five minutes, then go over it together. The answer and teacher notes are in the box below the prompt.
The prompt
The Orionid meteor shower peaks the night of October 21–22. NASA's advice is to watch from somewhere far from city and street lights. Some towns limit bright outdoor lighting at night to protect the view of the sky. Would you support a rule like that where you live? Give one reason for it and one reason against it.
Answer and teacher notes
Answers will vary. Reasons for: darker skies, less wasted energy, less disruption to wildlife. Reasons against: safety and visibility at night, cost to businesses, people's right to light their own property. Grade the reasoning, not the side they choose.
Source: NASA: Orionids Meteor Shower
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