Download Lesson #6: Solar System Model - Center for Learning in Action

Earth and Space Science
Lesson #6: Solar System Model
Time Frame: 1 session of 30 minutes
Learning Standards:
The Earth in the Solar System
13) Recognize that the earth is part of a system called the “solar system”
that includes the sun (a star), planets, and many moons. The earth is the third
planet from the sun in our solar system.
14) Recognize that the earth revolves around (orbits) the sun in a year’s
time and that the earth rotates on its axis once approximately every 24 hours.
Make connections between the rotation of the earth and day/night, and the
apparent movement of the sun, moon, and stars across the sky.
Skills of Inquiry:
- work together in a group to create their accurate replica of the solar system
Student will be able to:
Learn about what the solar system contains: sun, stars, planets, and moons.
Be able to place the different parts of the solar system in relation to the
distance from each other.
Anticipatory Set: Make sure you take down the classroom solar system
diagram. Hand out the materials and explain to the students that they will be
assembling a diagram of the solar system.
Activity:
1. Explain to the students that they will be using their prior knowledge through
the course of the solar system unit to construct their models of the solar system.
Tell them they can use any notes or sketches they have taken over the past few
weeks to help them accurately assemble their diagrams. They can also look at
the models they made in the first lesson plan to see what they can do to make
their models today more accurate.
2. Tell students that their models should represent the true size and scale of the
solar system. They must use the yellow clay for the sun, their cut outs of the
planets for properly placing the planets in order, the gray clay can be used for
stars and constellations, the blue clay is for the mob, and the red and green clay
can be used for any extra aspects they have learned or know, such as asteroids
and craters for example.
3. Allow 15-20 minutes for the students to build their models. During this time
students should also pick a spokesperson to explain the model to the rest of the
class.
Closure: Lead the same class discussion from Lesson Plan #1 about the
models: 1) What are the strengths of our models? 2) What are the weaknesses
of our models? 3) How are our models different from the real solar system? 4)
How are our models similar to the real solar system? Explain to the students that
99% of the mass of the solar system is found in the Sun. That leaves only 1% for
the rest of the solar system. In other words, for the models to be an accurate
representation in terms of mass, 99 grams of clay would be needed to represent
the Sun, and only 1 gram could be used for all of the planets, 59 moons, and
thousands of asteroids. Hold up 99 grams of yellow clay for the Sun and 1 gram
of gray clay that represents everything else in the solar system. It is hard to
believe isn't it? Go over the order of the nine planets, the position of the moon,
stars, and any other aspects of the solar system they may have included. Use
the class diagram of the solar system for the students to use in order to check
the accuracy of their group’s model.
Assessment: Group participation in project and class discussion.
Resources and Materials: For each group of 4 students: 50 grams of gray clay,
100 grams of yellow clay, 50 grams of green clay, 50 grams of blue clay, 50
grams of red clay, cut out of planets from Lesson Plan #2, a balance.