In this paper, we present a teaching module about stellar structure, functioning and evolution.
Drawing from literature in astronomy education, we designed the activities around three key ideas:
spectral analysis, mechanical and thermal equilibrium, energy and nuclear reactions. The module is
divided into four phases, in which the key ideas for describing stars’ functioning and physical
mechanisms are gradually introduced. The activities (20 hours) build on previously learned laws in
mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism and help students combine them meaningfully in order
to get a complete picture of processes that happens in stars. The module was piloted with two intact
classes of secondary school students ( N = 59 students, 17–18 years old), using a ten-question
multiple-choice questionnaire as research instrument. Results support the effectiveness of the
proposed activities. Implications for the teaching of advanced physics topics using stars as
fruitf…