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Author: Tom Teshima
E-Mail Address:
School: 
THEME : Explorers and Exploration
BROAD CONCEPT: Our place in the universe
GRADES: Grades 2-5
INTEGRATED SUBJECTS: Writing, Math, Science, Art
UNIT GOALS AND PURPOSE: Students will gain factual knowledge
of astronomy and the Solar System, and gain a sense of our place in the universe.
TIME FRAME: 3-4 weeks
In this lesson, students will:
Ø
Name and describe the planets.
Ø
Compare the sizes of the Sun,
the Moon, and the Earth, and other planets.
Ø
Locate the planets in order of
distance from sun, and in order of relative size.
Ø
Identify and describe the basic
characteristics of the sun, moon and Earth, and other planets
Ø
Describe the solar system.
Ø
Describe how the rotation of the
Earth produces day and night.
Ø
Describe and demonstrate the motions
of the Earth and the Moon.
Ø
Model the relative sizes of the
planets.
Ø
Model the relative distance from
the sun of the planets. Return To Menu
MATERIALS:
- General materials and equipment: Arts and crafts materials, papers, markers,
drawing materials, glue, sticks, paper mache.
- Technology tools Computer access, color printers, internet access,
digital camera, computer programs (spreadsheet, desktop publishing,
word processor, Kidpix, Kidspiration),
scanner
- Software Used in this Unit (Include the type and the title of
the software.)
_X_Desktop Publishing- (MS Publisher)
_X_ Brainstorming (Kidspiration)
_X_Word Processing ( MS Word) _X_Spreadsheet (Excel)
_X_CD-ROM
Encyclopedia (Encarta) __ Database (ex. MS Works)
_X_ Multimedia (KidPix) _X_
Other software
CD ROMs;
The
Astronomy/star map programs if available
STATE STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS
UNIT:
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3.C.1a Write for a variety of purposes including description,
information, explanation, persuasion and narration.
3.C.1b Create media compositions or productions which convey meaning visually for a variety of purposes.
3.C.2b Produce and
format compositions for specified audiences using available technology.
5.A.1a Identify questions and gather information.
5.A.1b Locate information using a variety of resources.
5.B.1a Select and organize information from various sources for a specific purpose.
5.C.1b Use print, nonprint, human and technological resources to acquire and use information.
5.A.2b Organize and integrate information from a variety of sources (e.g., books, interviews, library reference materials, web- sites, CD/ROMs).
6.B.2 Solve one- and two-step problems involving whole numbers, fractions and decimals using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
6.C.2a Select and perform computational procedures to solve problems with whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
6.D.2 Describe the relationship between two sets of data using ratios and appropriate notations (e.g., a/b, a to b, a:b).
7.A.1a Measure length, volume and weight/mass
using rulers, scales and other appropriate measuring instruments in the customary
and metric systems.
7.A.2a Calculate, compare and convert length, perimeter, area, weight/mass and volume within the customary and metric systems.
7.B.1a Given a problem, describe possible methods for estimating a given measure.
7.C.2a Describe relationships in a simple scale drawing.
7.C.2b Construct
or draw figures with given perimeters and areas.
8.D.1 Find the unknown numbers in whole-number addition, subtraction, multiplication and division situations.
9.A.1b Draw two-dimensional shapes.
9.A.2b Identify and describe how geometric figures are used in practical settings (e.g., construction, art, advertising).
9.A.2c Describe and draw representations of geometric relationships, patterns, symmetries, and designs in two- and three-dimensions with and without technology
10.A.1a Organize and display data using pictures, tallies, tables, charts or bar graphs.
10.B.1b Collect, organize and describe data using pictures, tallies, tables, charts or bar graphs.
10.B.2b Collect, organize and display data using tables, charts, bar graphs, line graphs, circle graphs, line plots and stem-and-leaf graphs.
11.A.1c Collect data for investigations using measuring instruments and technologies.
11.A.2c Construct charts and visualizations to display data
12.C.1b Compare large-scale physical properties of matter (e.g., size, shape, color, texture, order).
12.F.1a Identify and describe characteristics of the sun, Earth and moon as familiar objects in the solar system.
12.F.2a Identify and explain natural cycles and patterns in the solar system (e.g., order of the planets; moon phases; seasons as related to Earth's tilt, one's latitude, and where Earth is in its yearly orbit around the sun).
12.F.2b Explain the apparent motion of the sun and stars.
26.A.1e Visual Arts: Identify media and tools and how to use them in a safe and responsible manner when painting, drawing and constructing.
N.C.T.M.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:
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- Understand
numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers,
and number systems
- Understand
meanings of operations and how they relate to one another
- Understand
patterns, relations, and functions
- Represent
and analyze mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols
- Analyze
characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric
shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships
- Specify
locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry
and other representational systems
- Understand
measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes
of measurement
- Apply
appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements
- Select
and use appropriate statistical methods to analyze data
- create
and use representations to organize, record, and communicate mathematical
ideas
- Use representations
to model and interpret physical, social, and mathematical phenomena.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROMOTE
ENGAGED LEARNING: Return To Menu
1. Solar System webquest. Use webquest sites to collect facts about the planets; size, distance from sun, distinguishing features (moons, rings, surface type).
The students should research information using the webquest sites listed. Have them set up a data table to collect information (sample below).
|
Planet |
Distance from Sun |
Size |
Composition Gas/Rocky |
Color |
Rings? |
Number of Moons |
|
Mercury |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Venus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. The Students will use KidPix to draw pictures of the planets. They should use the correct color, moons, rings, etc using information collected from their webquests. Students should set up a slideshow to display their work. Students may work in small groups.
3. Write a travel brochure for a trip to another planet, using MS Publisher. Students should try and include actual information (such as “the beautiful rings of Saturn” or the great suntans on Mercury) in their brochure. They should include some pictures also (they can use pictures they have made in Kidpix or clip art or downloads from the internet.
4. Use spreadsheet (Excel) to set up comparative distance for the solar system; i.e. if mercury were one foot from the sun, how far would the other planets be from the sun. Students should first list each planets distance from the sun. Then set up formulas to determine the comparative distances. Divide each planets distance from the sun by Mercury’s distance to set up ratios based upon Mercury. If students are too young to set up the formulas, the teacher will have to set up the basic spreadsheet, and the students can input the specific information about the planets. Then you can plug in numbers for Mercury’s distance from the sun (i.e. 1 foot, or one step, or one inch) and you will get the comparative distances (in the same measurement unit) for all the other planets. For example, if Mercury were 1 foot from the sun, Venus would be 2 feet from the sun, and Earth would be 3.5 feet from the sun. Check out the teacher resource web sites for more explicit instructions. Students should produce a spreadsheet with several different comparative distances (actual in miles/K, in inches, in feet, in number of footsteps).
5. Use spreadsheet to set up comparative sizes of planets and the sun. If the earth were the size of a grape, how big would the sun and other planets be? . If students are too young to set up the formulas, the teacher will have to set up the basic spreadsheet, and the students can input the specific information about the planets. Check out the teacher resource web sites for more explicit instructions. Using this information, measure and draw pictures of the planets. Glue together the pictures on a big piece of yellow paper (to simulate the sun) to make a poster. The Earth\Jupiter/Sun ratio is 1/10/100. In other words if the Earth is 1”, Jupiter is 10” in diameter and the sun is 100”. The sun is too big to make completely, so just create a small slice of the sun with the yellow paper.
6. Go outside and form a model solar system. Student groups should make small flags on sticks to mark where each planet would be. You can also make the planets to scale on each flag (the inner planets will be extremely tiny, the size of a pin). Use spreadsheet info from #4 and #5. You may have to adjust the first distance (mercury to the sun) so that you will have enough room to plot the entire solar system in the area you have access to. Students will be amazed at the emptiness of space and small size of the planets.
7. Use a spreadsheet to determine what you would weigh on the other planets. Make a chart for the class, graphing the weight of the class and each student on each planet. Check the teacher web sites for the specific gravity ratios of the planets. Younger children may need the spreadsheet to be set up for them. Students should graph individual results as well as class results. Bar graphs tend to be a good choice for these graphs.
8. Use a spreadsheet to plot travel times to the other planets, by car (60 mph), by jet (600 mph), at the speed of light (187,000 miles per second). Graph the results. Check the teacher web sites for the specific distances between planets. Use the basic distance from the sun to determine distance from earth. You don’t really want to get into orbital mechanics at this age. Younger children may need the spreadsheet to be set up for them.
9. Make a scale model of the earth moon system. Use a spreadsheet to set up a ratio of distance to size for the earth and moon. (about 3.8/1). If the earth were a 16” globe, the moon would be a 4”ball and would be in orbit about 40ft. from the earth. You can make a paper mache earth moon model to use. 2” Styrofoam balls make good moons (you can paint them gray and the foam gives them a nice texture). With a 2” moon, the earth should be about 7.5” in diameter. The space shuttle orbits at about an inch from the earth. You can have the students add shuttles and satellites to their models. More advanced students can discuss geosyncronous orbits.
10. Get a volleyball from the gym and wash it so it is white. Darken the classroom. With a flashlight at the back of the room shining on the volleyball at the front, ask the students to identify the phase of the moon represented. Use a flashlight that has a narrow beam. If such a flashlight is not available, wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the front of the flashlight to narrow the beam, or shine the flashlight through a tube pointed at the volleyball. Move the volleyball to the back of the room, but maintain the same position of the flashlight, so that the ball is between the students and the flashlight. What phase does this represent?
11. Ask the students to work individually, or in groups, to make a model of a living organism which might live on one of the other planets of the solar system. Remind them to take into account the characteristics of that planet in designing the organism's physical characteristics, and its requirements for life. How would the two be able to complement each other? What would be the food source for the organism? How would it survive in the temperature ranges and atmosphere of the planet? How would the effects of gravity influence the development of the organism? How would it move? What type of shelter would it have? Have the students use Kidspiration to list the characteristics for the creature based upon the characteristics of the planet. Students should produce a picture, using KidPix, to illustrate their organism.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS:
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Students will produce a series of projects, including pictures, models, posters,
group presentations, brochures, and reports.
|
Project |
Points |
|
Webquest |
150 |
|
KidPix Planet
Slideshow |
150 |
|
Trip to the Planet Brochure |
150 |
|
Distance Spreadsheet |
50 |
|
Group Solar System Model Making planet flags, locating correct distance from
sun. |
100 |
|
Weight on other Planets |
50 |
|
Time to travel to other Planets |
50 |
|
Model of the Earth/Moon System |
150 |
|
Kidspiration characteristics and KidPix
picture of alien organism |
150 |
|
Total |
1000 |
Grading Scale: A=900-1000
B=800-900
C=700-800
D=600-700
F=500-600
STUDENT AND TEACHER ROLES: The teacher should try and guide students to allow
them to investigate and discover information on their own. Students should
work with each other and share information between groups. The teacher should
act as facilitator, setting up ground rules for
activities and letting students provide input on the information gathered
and products produced.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE PRINT
RESOURCES STUDENTS MAY USE : Return To Menu
Encyclopedias; Grolier’s, World
Book,
THE FOLLOWING BOOKS CONTAIN INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS TOPIC:
The Magic School Bus, Joanna Cole,
Bruce Degen (Illustrator), 1998
Planet Earth,
Robert Hughes, 2002
The Smithsonian Book of Mars, Joseph M. Boyce, 2003
The
The Planets, David McNab, James Younger, 1999
The Planets in Our Solar System
(Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2), Franklyn Mansfield
Branley, Kevin O'Malley, 1998
FOR ADDITIONAL ONLINE INFORMATION AND MEDIA PERTAINING TO THIS UNIT, TEACHERS MAY WANT TO USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET ARTICLES:
Title1: The
Nine Planets
URL1:http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html
Description1: Excellent site for information and lesson plan ideas.
Lots of good graphics.
Title2: Windows
to the Universe
Description2: Coloring book with downloadable planet images. Good
pictures for classroom use.
Title3: Come
to my Planet Webquest
Description3: Planet webquest for students.
Title4: Planetary Webquest
URL: http://www.proteacher.com/cgi-bin/outsidesite.cgi?external=http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/webquests/planets/planets.htm&original=http://www.proteacher.com/110066.shtml&title=Nine%20Planets%20Webquest
Descriptio4: Very nice Webquest for
younger students. Gives pretty basic planetary information.
Title5: Planetary
Size and Distance
URL5: http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=1341
Description5: Lessons about planetary size and distance scales.
Gives explicit instructions for determining relative
sizes and distance in the solar system. Good for getting all you
basic planetary ratios down.
Title6: Planet
Wordsearch
Description6: Printable planet Wordsearch
Title7: Absolute
Astronomy
URL7: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/
Description7: Lots of images and information on the planets
RELEVANT INFORMATION,
STUDENTS WILL VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES:
Title1: The
Nine Planets
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URL1:http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html
Description1: Excellent site for information and lesson plan ideas.
Lots of good graphics. Multimedia information
Title2: NASA
Kids
URL2: http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/
Purpose of Use2: Use as part of webquest,
and as informational source.
Description2: Good resource site for students with lots of info
about space and the solar system. Very extensive, some
information very complex.
Title3: StarChild: A
URL3: http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
Purpose of Use3: Use as part of webquest,
and as informational source.
Description3: Good resource site for students with lots of info
about space and the solar system.
Title4: Window to the Universe
Purpose of Use4: Use as part of webquest,
and as informational source.
Description4: Good resource site for students with lots of info
about space and the solar system. Fun site with lots
to do. Some games and other kid based activities.
Title5: Astronomy
for All
URL5: http://www.pd.astro.it/hosted/MOSTRA/E-MOSTRA/A0000HOM.HTM
Purpose of Use5: Use for Webquests and
source of pictures and information
Description5: Two levels on the site, one for younger and one for
more advanced students. Lots of pictures and information
Title6: Eric
Weisstein’s World of Astronomy
URL6: http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/
Purpose of Use6: On line encyclopedia. Use for Webquests and source of pictures and information
Description6: Mainly text based but with lots of very specific information.
Good for older students.
Title7: An Inquirer’s Guide to the Planets
URL7: http://www.fi.edu/planets/planets.html
Purpose: Use for webquests and source of information on the planets
Description of Use: Very comprehensive site on space and the universe. Has some interesting areas on planets in other star systems.