Download Our Place in the Solar System chatterous

Solar System Lesson
Our Place in the Solar System1
Overview: It is very important for Students to have a full understanding of where earth is in our
solar system, how relatively large it is and how relatively small it is. It is also important for
students to understand that the earth rotates around the sun and the earth is itself rotating all
the time. Also it is important to have somewhat of an understanding of each of the other planets
of our solar system. The knowledge of these things will be exercised through an online
discussion via a Chatterous group chat. This group will provide students with instant feedback
from both the instructor and their peers.
Objectives
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Materials
1
In this activity students should learn what planetary days
and years are.
They will also learn about the earth’s size, and distance
from the sun.
For students to gain the knowledge and tools required to
create a chatterous group, and discuss classroom
materials within the chatterous group
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8-14 sports balls of various sizes (from a ball bearing to a
basketball) for use as representation of different planets in
a scale setting.
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Large room, or outdoor sports field (optional smaller model
for use on table top.
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Access to a computer for use of the Chatterous web group
preferred home internet access for ‘homework’ version of
the second part of the assignment.
Information adapted from http://www.noao.edu/education/peppercorn/pcmain.html
Solar System Lesson
Procedures
1. Before beginning the activity the students should have
some knowledge of each of the eight planets, and the
existence of the dwarf planets
2. Students will also join a pre-created group on the Chat
website ‘Chatterous’ to discuss the major differences
between their planet, and those of their classmates
3. The students will collectively form a scale model of the solar
system Students will each be given an individual Spherical
object in representation of a scale planet.
4. For the graded portion of this project the students will all
join the Chatterous group at a specified time, and discuss
with each other and the instructor a few characteristics of
their planet.
 The length of a day
 The length of a year
 How much more or less you would weigh on each
planet.
 How hot or cold the planets are
Standards
o Indiana State Standard 6.3.1
The Physical Setting.
Compare and contrast the size, composition, and surface features
of the planets that comprise the solar system, as well as the
objects orbiting them. Explain that the planets, except Pluto, move
around the sun in nearly circular orbits
o Indiana State Standard 6.3.2
Observe and Describe that planets change their position relative to
the background of stars.
o Indiana State Standard 6.3.3
Explain that the Earth is one of several planets that orbit the sun
and that the moon, as well as many satellites and debris, orbit
around the Earth.