Download Solar System Lesson Plan - Henry County Public Schools

Teacher __Radford___Subject ____Science___Block/Period ____ Date __________
Concept / Topic To Teach: 6.8 The student will investigate and understand the organization of the
solar system and the relationships among the various bodies that comprise it. Key concepts
include
a) the sun, moon, Earth, other planets and their moons, meteors, asteroids, and comets;
b) relative size of and distance between planets;
c) the role of gravity;
d) the history and technology of space exploration.
Approximate Time Needed: 4-5 days depending on students
Standards Addressed: 6.8a
Pre-Assessment: Space\Solar System preassessment.pdf
Defining the Learning Goals: What the student will:
Know (Facts/Vocabulary): geocentric, heliocentric, ellipse, gravity inertia, meteors, asteroids, and
comets; Copernicus, Galileo, extraterrestrial life, Kepler, Newton, solar wind, sunspot, solar flare,
terrestrial planets, asteroid belt, orbital missions, robotic explorers, Ptolemy, Aristotle, solar system,
satellites
Understand (Big Ideas): The solar system is made up of the sun and the objects are held in orbit
by its gravitational force. Our solar system is an unexplored frontier. As technology evolves,
current theories may also change as it has throughout history.
Do (Specific Skills student is able to do after the lesson):


describe the nine planets and their relative position from the sun;
explain the role of gravity in the solar system;

compare and contrast the ideas of Ptolemy, Aristotle, Copernicus, and Galileo related to
the solar system;

create and interpret a timeline highlighting the advancements in solar system exploration
over the past half century. This should include information on the first modern rockets,
artificial satellites, orbital missions, missions to the moon, Mars robotic explorers, and
exploration of the outer planets.
Required Materials/Supplies (Teacher and Student): laptop carts, copies of materials for
activities, assorted books about space
Technology Connections: webquest http://teach.fcps.net/trt8/SolarSystem/Planets.htm
Procedures/Activities (Include Marzano’s Strategies): (see chart at end of procedures)
HCS
1. Administer pretest. Students who score 90% or above will choose from a choice board of
activities (choice board) this will be individualized. Some students may complete more
than one activity.
2. Write the following mnemonic device on the board: My Very Educated Mother Just
Served Us Nine Pizzas. Students discuss (pair/share) what connection this has with the
solar system briefly. Share findings, explain the purpose if necessary.
3. Students will complete research on the solar system using a template to gather facts
about the different planets. (Space\SolarSystemWorksheetwebquest.doc) Students may
work in groups, but each student will record his or her own information. Students may
also use the text book Prentice Hall Science Explorer for another resource. This may take
at least two days. For students who are unable to complete the activity, they may also use
the following resource: Space\Solar System Coloring Book.pdf
4. At the close of each class, summarize information into a graphic organizer.
5. Do a midpoint assessment for order of planets with smartboard activity
Space\solarsystem (labeling).notebook Note which students need
remediation/clarification and provide intervention as needed.
6. Day 3: Watch a BrainPop about the solar system using the worksheet to help students
summarize information and as an assessment for misunderstandings. Space\brainpop
solar system worksheet.pdf
7. Day 4: gravity experiment Space\Gravity experiment.doc Demonstrate experiment for
class, modeling the process: prediction making, data collecting etc.
8. Day 5: students create time line of space exploration: provide students with key
information using the interactive timeline from NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/PQTimeline/ , also discuss Ptolemy, Aristotle,
Copernicus, and Galileo beliefs (graphic organizer for early astronomers: Space\solar
system blacklne masters.pdf) foldable for notebook: Space\Famous Astronomers Cards
and Pocket.pdf and a timeline for notebook: Space\Timeline accordion fold.pdf
9. Allow students to compare their timelines using the clock buddy strategy. (instead of
clock buddies use planets, sun, moon, and other vocabulary terms)
x Identifying similarities and differences
x
Summarizing and note taking
x Reinforcing effort and providing recognition
x
x
x Homework and practice
 students will complete and glue in their
interactive notebook the following pages
Space\Solar system pages for
notebook.pdf
 Space\chart_observation.pdf
 Space\solarsystem_clozepluto.docSpace\ss
© Henry County Schools 2007
Nonlinguistic representations (for
definitions)students will use the
Freyer vocabulary model for
definitions. other voc. list
..\Desktop\Space\solar system
voc..doc
Cooperative learning
Setting objectives and providing
feedback (write on board in “I can”
statements)
Generating and testing hypotheses
HCS
solarsyschallenge.pdf

x Cues, questions, and advance organizers
Targeted Higher Order Thinking Skills (Bloom’s Taxonomy): students will choose 2 activities
from the analysis, synthesize, and evaluation stages Space\multiple intelligence.pdf (scroll
through) Choice of activities will depend on students’ needs and interests.
(If) Differentiated Instruction:
What?
How? x
x
content
process
product
readiness
interest
learning profile
Why (What prompted you to differentiate in this way)?
Anchor Activities: “Space” learning center of library books on space at different reading levels,
puzzles Space\solarsyswordsearch.pdf, Space\solarsysvocab1.pdf model of planets that may be
sketched and labeled, write a “biopoem” for a planet Space\Planet biopoem.doc coloring page
for planets (could be glued in notebook) Space\planet coloring page.pdf make a planet flapbook:
Space\Planets Flap Book.pdf for notebook
Post-Assessment:
Space\Solar System IA test.pdf
Closure:
Possible ideas: students write a science fiction story about the solar system in the year 3010.
Website from NASA game about solar system: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/solarsystem/#
Teacher Reflection:
© Henry County Schools 2007