Jessica Harriman & Libby Boland

Unit Topic or Theme: Solar System

Grade: Grade 3

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Lesson Topic or Theme: A trip through the Solar System

Lesson Objectives:

The students will create a poster or PowerPoint.

The students will navigate through the website by answering questions.

The students will work patiently with classmates.

The students will present their PowerPoint or poster.

The students will follow directions.

Instructional Technique: (group work, debate, discussion, lecture, experiment, demonstration, etc.)

Each student will work at a computer to complete their trip through the solar system.

Then the students will pick a card that will have a planet on it, depending on the cards that they pick the students will get into groups and create a presentation on their planet for the class. To present their information they can create a poster or a powerpoint.

Instructional Materials: (provide specific bibliographic information and/or copies of handouts, instructional sheets etc.)

The students will use a computer to go through the website, and possibly to make a PowerPoint. They will also have access to art materials and poster board if they choose to create a poster.

Theoretical Perspective:

Students need to learn about our solar system and the planets in our solar system.

Procedure:

Introductory Activity (if applicable)

A KWL chart will be used to assess the students, because they have not been learning from the books and posters around the room.

B. Step-by-step (descriptive outline)

Before leaving the rug they will be given directions that will be written on the whiteboard. The directions are as follows:

  1. First they will complete the website’s question.
  2. Once they have made it back they will read a planet book until their classmates are finished.
  3. We will all meet on the rug and they will take a card with a planet on it, the student’s with matching planet cards will work together to create a presentation either a PowerPoint or a poster to teach the class important information about their planet.
  4. The students will be asked to go quickly and quietly to their computer which will already have the website open.

The students will go quickly and quietly to their computers, complete the website and then meet on the rug for card picking. Before the groups leave we will talk about important things to know about a planet, the things they should present will be given as a handout. Afterwards they will go with their groups and collect information.

C. Closure

After everyone had finished groups would take turns presenting the information they had collected to the class.

D. Adaptations for different learners (i.e. non-native speakers, struggling readers or math phobic learners, students with poor study skills)

A translator will be in the classroom for non-native speakers, also I will look for some books about planets in the student’s foreign language. Students who are having a hard time reading the handout will be able to ask their partners for help; students will not be groups on academic ability.

E. Homework

The students will be asked to complete a crossword for homework!

  • Evaluation:

A. How/ when will you determine if you have met your objectives?

The students will create a poster or PowerPoint.

When the students do their presentation we will see that they either created a poster or a PowerPoint or did not.

The students will navigate through the website by answering the questions correctly.

The students will not be able to reach the end if they do not get the questions correct.

The students will work patiently with classmates.

We will be walking around the classroom observing the students working in groups.

The students will present their PowerPoint or poster.

We will see the student’s presentation at the end of the lesson.

The students will follow directions.

The students will have to follow directions in order to complete the steps in this lesson.

B. Concerns or questions you have about teaching this lesson?

Important information to find!

  1. What is the size of your planet?
  2. What is the weight of your planet?
  3. What is the terrain or temperature like on your planet?
  4. Does your planet have any moons?
  5. Any interesting fact about your planet?
  6. How far is your planet from our Sun?

/ Across
2. Earth's companion.
4. The farthest planet from the sun.
5. An instrument that scientists use to observe planets.
9. This planet is known as the red planet.
11. One of many 'rocks' in a belt between Mars and Jupiter.
12. Planet between Saturn and Neptune.
14. The largest planet in the solar system.
15. Planet named after the sea god.
Down
1. Planet known as the evening star.
2. Our galaxy.
3. An icy rock that has bright tail when it comes close to the sun.
6. Our sun is this. / 7. The path that a planet takes around the sun.
8. Planet closest to the sun.
10. Planet famous for its rings.
13. Star at the center of our solar system.
16. Our planet. /

© 2006