A Trip Around Our Solar System
Author: Norine C. Hull
School District: Brasher Falls Central
Intended Audience:
Content Area: Science
Course Title: Earth Science
Grade Level: 10
Technology Integration:
Technology Hardware: Computer Lab
Technology Software: PowerPoint, moviemaker
Internet Resources:
Other Content Areas for STEM Integration:
Content Area:
Standard MST4: ScienceStudents will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.
Physical Setting
Key Idea MST4.PS1: The Earth and celestial phenomena can be described by principles of relative motion and perspective.
Intermediate Performance Indicator MST4.I.PS1A: Students explain daily, monthly, and seasonal changes on Earth.
Major Understandings 1.1c
The Sun and the planets that revolve around it are the major bodies in the solar system. Other members include comets, moons, and asteroids. Earth’s orbit is nearly circular.
Standard MST2: Information Systems
Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies
Key Idea MST2.IS1:
Information technology is used to retrieve, process, and communicate information and as a tool to enhance learning.
Problem Statement:
This should be posed as a problem that students will be addressing. This will be the focus of the learning experience.
There are eight planets in our Solar System. Where are they located, how far from the sun are they? Of those eight planets are any of them suitable to sustain life as we know it? These and many other questions run through peoples minds everytime they look up at the sky, be it day or night.
Essential Question:
This is one focus question that promotes inquiry based learning and allows for multiple solutions and processes.
What are the planets in our Solar System like?
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this learning experience students will be able to:
1. Talk about their planet in detail. Including:
a. The placement of the planet
b. The atmosphere
c. Likelyhood of life
d. When discovered
e. Who discovered
f. The surface of the planet
Necessary Resources:
List all materials that the teacher or students need to complete this learning experience.
Textbook(s), Workbook(s):
Reference Book(s): Any reference books that pertain to the planets
Handout(s): Students will need the attatched 6 handouts
Other: Students will need internet access
Steps for Implementing Learning Experience:
List the actions that take place during this learning experience.
Day 1: Send around a sheet for them to sign up to research their favorite planet. On the sheet you will need to only put enough blanks under each planet so that there are the same number of students researching each planet. This guarantees that each planet will be researched. Hand out the rubric, check list for the PowerPoint, guided question worksheet, planet data collection worksheet. Worksheets will be collected after the PowerPoint presentation to be graded. Explain to students what will be happening for the next week and a half.
Day 2: Head to the computer lab to research the planets.
Day 3: Head to the computer lab to research the planets.
Day 4: Before heading to the computer lab have students divide into groups according to what planet they have researched for the past two days, this will be their group for the remainder of the project. Explain that for the next two days they will be working in this group to construct a PowerPoint presentation to present in front of the class. Head to the computer lab to prepare a 25 slide PowerPoint including an introduction slide, a conclusion slide and a citation slide. Students must also construct a 10 question worksheet that fellow classmates and teacher will complete while watching the PowerPoint presentation. The 10 question worksheet must pertain to their presentation. (These are also graded)
Day 5: Work in the computer lab on the powerpoint presentation with their group.
Day 6: Work in the computer lab on the powerpoint presentation with their group.
Day 7: Presentation of PowerPoints to class.
Day 8: Presentation of PowerPoints to class.
Day 9: If needed finish powerpoint presentations and collect worksheets with planet research information on them and the 10 question worksheet, to grade. Each group must turn in their 10 questions with the answers.
Instructional Modifications:
List all modifications to the classroom setting as well as those used to enhance learning for all students.
If students have extended time be available after school during activity period. Have aides available to read to students that require it.
Time used for Planning:
Time spent without students to prepare.
You will need one prep period to prepare for this project. I made a sign up sheet with the planets on it and lines for how many students could sign up for each planet, if not you will have too many for one planet. This is also time to photo copy the sheets to hand out.
Time for Implementation & Assessment:
List each day that the learning experience occurs along with the timeframe of the day in minutes.
This will take 8-9 class periods that are 42 minutes each.
Assessment Tools:
List all forms of assessment for the learning experience.
Rubric for the PowerPoint presentation
Graded planet data worksheet
Graded 10 question worksheet
Reflection:
Share the pros and cons of the learning experience. State any modifications that you would make next time this lesson is implemented.
I used this in my Astronomy class at the beginning of the year and it workded out nicely for them. I am concerned of the amount of time it took to get through all the presentations. I believe that I will reduce the amount of slides required for my Earth Science class at the end of the year.
Student Work:
Attach one sample of student work that demonstrates a mastery, average, or below average level.
Rigor and Relevance Target:
The Rigor/Relevance Framework has four quadrants. Each is labeled with a term that characterizes the learning performance of the student at that level. Select the quadrant that is most appropriate regarding this learning experience.
Provide Supporting Information to Validate the Quadrant in Which This Learning Experience is Located.
I feel that mine is in quadrant D because it pertains to our Solar System and gets students to evaluate the fact if they could live on their planet. They are asked to only research one planet and apply that research in a group to construct a PowerPoint and come up with a 10 question sheet for students to follow along.
