Interrelationships in Earth/Space Systems

Sixth Grade

Courtney Wiest

Rationale
The reasoning for teaching the material the way that is described is because I believe it is a better way for students to learn while having a hands on, critical thinking learning experience rather than a PowerPoint, lecture, test, test, test kind of environment. I believe it is important to assess students, but I do not think it needs to be done by testing. Testing does not always show a childs true understanding. So, instead of testing I feel a child should present to their fellow peers what they have learned during a specific unit, have mini quizzes, write a closing card, and have class discussions and group work. I believe students should be able to interact with the teacher and their peers because from what I have observed it helps students excel a little more and understand the material presented to them. They understand material better because they are hearing the information from many different views, which in turn helps the student come up with their own perspective on the information. Communicating with people in general also helps a person to remember the information if they are saying it a numerous amount of times. The way I show my beliefs about teaching in my unit is by implementing the variety of learning tools into my lesson plans for the unit. Giving the student the opportunity to learn something for him or herself can be an important learning experience for the student, their peers, and the teacher.

Objectives
The students will be able to:

Explain the role of gravity in the solar system. Compare the characteristics of Pluto to the planets and explain its designation as a dwarf planet.

Describe the planets and their relative positions from the sun. Compare and contrast revolution and rotation and apply these terms to the relative movements of planets and their moons.

Describe what revolution and rotation are. Describe the effect gravity has on the Earth and other planets of the solar system. Compare and contrast each planet to another planet. Describe what a meteors, asteroids, and comets are.

SOL Coverage Science: 6.8 The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system and the interactions among the various bodies that comprise it. Key concepts include a) the sun, moon, Earth, other planets and their moons, dwarf planets, meteors, asteroids, and comets; b) relative size of and distance between planets; c) the role of gravity;

d) revolution and rotation. Math: 6.6 The student will a) multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers; and b) estimate solutions and then solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions. 6.7 The student will solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of decimals. English: 6.7 The student will write description. a) Write multiparagraph compositions with elaboration and unity. 6.2 The student will present, listen critically, and express opinions in oral presentations. e) Use language and vocabulary appropriate to audience, topic, and purpose.

Lesson Plan Matrix

LESSONS 1. Video 2. Worksheet video 3. KWL Chart 4. 5/9 Planets (sun included) 5. Class Discussion 6. Closing Card 7. Homework assigned 1. Mini-Quiz 2. Class Discussion 3. KWL Chart 4. Group Work mnemonics 5. 4/9 Planets 6. Meteors, asteroids, comets 7. Closing Card 8. Homework assigned 1. Mini-Quiz 2. Class Discussion 3. Group Work Textbook 4. Students come up with their own questions 5. Closing Card 6. Homework assigned 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Mini-Quiz Class Discussion KWL Chart Closing Card Homework assigned GOALS 1. S6.8 Student will be introduced to the sun, moon, Earth, other planets and their moons and their characteristics. OBJECTIVES 1. Compare and contrast each planet to another planet a. Be able to discuss the different characteristics of each planet.

2. S6.8 Student will describe what a dwarf planet, meteor, asteroid, and comets are.

2. Describe what meteors, asteroids, and comets are.

3. S6.8 Student will calculate relative size of and distance between planets. a. M6.7 The student will solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving addition, subtraction. 4. S6.8 Student will be identify and describe the role of gravity and its effect on objects and planets.

3. Describe the planets and their

relative positions from the sun a. Solve how far apart the planets are from each other.

4. Explain the role of gravity in the

solar system. a. Describe the effect gravity has on the Earth and other planets of the solar system 5. Compare and contrast revolution and rotation and apply these terms to the relative movements of planets and their moons. a. Describe what revolution and rotation are.

1. Mini-Quiz 5. S6.8 Student will distinguish 2. Class Discussion between revolution and 3. KWL Chart rotation. 4. Lecture Rotation and Revolution 5. Open Note Test Group Work 6. Closing Card 7. Homework assigned

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Mini-Quiz Class Discussion Presentations Peer-Evaluations Closing Card

6. E 6.7 Write description of solar system topic 7. E 6.2 Student will present oral presentation and listen to their peers presentations.

6. Write description of what their favorite thing was that they learned during the week and something they did not know before the unit began. 7. Make a visual presentation on topic assigned to each individual student.

List of Materials

1) Worksheets 2) Notecards 3) Mini Quizzes 4) Pencils 5) Paper 6) Textbook (for reference) 7) Directions for Solar System project 8) Technology

Special Safety Concerns

The student is not learning enough and is not enjoying it. The student is learning too much and is enjoying it too much! The student forgot their thinking cap!

Flow Chart

Refer to Overview Lesson Summary

Lesson Day 1

SOL S6.8 The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system and the interactions among the various bodies that comprise it. Key concepts include: a) the sun, moon, Earth, other planets and their moons

Activities: Students will watch a 15-minute video, A Tour Through Our Solar System. While watching the video, students will answer questions that come directly from the video. After, the class will be asked a couple of questions from the worksheet and be able to ask questions about the video if they would like. When discussion is over, students will take five minutes to fill at KWL chart and turn it in once they are finished. Lesson: We will begin studying the planets one at a time, starting with the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The rest of the class period will consist of discussion and note taking on what information the student thinks may be crucial (I will emphasis things they may want to jot down just in case they show up on a mini-quiz). During the lesson, I would like

students to raise their hand and insert information they know about each planet we are directly discussing. Five minutes before class ends, the students will be handed an index card to fill out for their closing card. On the closing card the students will write one thing they learned during class that day and I will later compare it to the KWL charts they passed back to make sure they did not repeat the same information. Students will be told their homework is to read for the next class so they know what we will be discussing and so students can join in on the discussion for participation points.

Lesson Day 2

SOL S6.8 The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system and the interactions among the various bodies that comprise it. Key concepts include e) the sun, moon, Earth, other planets and their moons, dwarf planets, meteors, asteroids, and comets; Activities: Students will take a mini-quiz on information they learned the previous class period. When students are finished with their mini-quiz, we will discuss as a class the answers to the questions on the mini-quiz and discuss information that was not on it that was learned the class before. Students will complete a KWL chart on what they know for the last four planets and space junk. The students will be broken up into groups of four and will come up with their own mnemonic for the planets in order and share it with the class. For homework the students will complete a worksheet on the planets, meteors, asteroids, and comets and bring it to the following class period. Lesson: We will begin the lesson by refreshing our memory about two things we learned about each of the five planets the class before. We will precede the lesson by learning the last four planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. After covering the planets, student will make their own mnemonic, present it to the class, and we will begin learning about dwarf planets, meteors, asteroids, and comets. The students will again, take notes on what they believe is important during discussion and chime in whenever they have information they know about a certain solar object we are directly discussing. Students will be told

their homework is to read for the next class so they know what we will be discussing and so students can join in on the discussion for participation points. Five minutes before class ends, students will complete a closing card and write down something they didnt know before class that day. While students are handing in their notecards, they will pick up a homework sheet to complete on the planets, comets, asteroids, and meteors.

Lesson Day 3 SOLs S6.8 The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system and the interactions among the various bodies that comprise it. Key concepts include a) relative size of and distance between planets; M6.6 The student will b) estimate solutions and then solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions. Activities: Students will take a mini-quiz on information they learned the previous class period. When students are finished with their mini-quiz, we will discuss as a class the answers to the questions on the mini-quiz and discuss information that was not on it that was learned the class before. Students will break up into groups and use their textbooks to figure out the distance from each planet and then figure out which planets are closer together and which planets are farther apart. Lesson: We will begin the lesson by refreshing our memory about two things we learned about each of the planets the class before, and one thing about comets, asteroids, and meteors. Students will then break up into groups of three and use their text books to figure out how far away each planet is. If students have any questions, they are more than welcomed to

come up to the teachers desk and ask questions. During group work, students will come up with some of their own questions (a minimum of two) about size of the planets and distance from each planet. For homework the students will try to research and figure out the answers to their questions. After the students have finished up their math and their questions they want answered, the students will pick what they would like to do for their presentation for the solar system. A planet can only be chosen twice and the students have the option of picking a meteor, dwarf planet, or comet for their project. The teacher will then hand out the rubric for the presentation and the project guidelines and then students will be told their homework is to read for the next class so they know what we will be discussing and so students can join in on the discussion for participation points and to start their project.

Lesson Day 4 SOL S6.8 The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system and the interactions among the various bodies that comprise it. Key concepts include c) the role of gravity; Activities: Students will take a mini-quiz on information they learned the previous class period. When students are finished with their mini-quiz, we will discuss as a class the answers to the questions on the mini-quiz and discuss information that was not on it that was learned the class before. Students will complete a KWL chart on what they know about gravity and its effects and then hand it in. Lesson: We will begin the lesson by refreshing our memory about the things we have discussed since the beginning of the unit. The class will then discuss the questions they had about the distance between planets and what they found out about their questions. We will precede the lesson by discussing the effect gravity has on the planets and how gravity acts different on each planet. The students will participate in class discussion about what they know about gravity and the teacher will write the variety of feedback the students are giving on the board. The class will then discuss the many effects gravity has on Earth compared to Mars and how you would weigh differently. We will then discuss how each students projects are going. Five minutes before the class ends the students will complete their closing card and hand it in. The students will then be told to read about revolution and rotation and be ready to discuss the next class period.

Lesson Day 5 SOL S6.8 The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system and the interactions among the various bodies that comprise it. Key concepts include d) revolution and rotation. Activities: Students will take a mini-quiz on information they learned the previous class period. When students are finished with their mini-quiz, we will discuss as a class the answers to the questions on the mini-quiz and discuss information that was not on it that was learned the class before. Students will then complete a KWL chart on what they know about rotation and revolution. Lesson: We will begin the class by refreshing our memory on what we learned in the previous class. The students will then engage in discussion about what they have learned from the reading homework during the lecture about rotation and revolution. Students will then complete a worksheet on rotation and revolution and as a class we will discuss the worksheet together. Students will then get into groups of three and take an open note, open book 10-15 question test. Students will not have to fill out a closing card. Students will be informed to remember to keep working on their presentations and that they are due the following class period.

Lesson Day 6 and 7 SOL E6.7 The student will write description. b) Write multiparagraph compositions with elaboration and unity. E6.2 The student will present, listen critically, and express opinions in oral presentations. e) Use language and vocabulary appropriate to audience, topic, and purpose. Activities: Students will take a mini-quiz on information they learned the previous class period. When students are finished with their mini-quiz, we will discuss as a class the answers to the questions on the mini-quiz and discuss information that was not on it that was learned the class before. The students will then begin to present their projects at random. (Day 7) Students will then complete a closing card. Lesson: Students will complete a peer evaluation where they will write what they liked the most about each peers presentation and hand it to the teacher after the presentation and the teacher will hand it to each student so the comments are anonymous. (Day 7) The students will then complete a closing card what their favorite thing was that they have learned in the unit.

Teaching Aids

YouTube Video A Tour Through Our Solar System A Tour Through Our Solar System Worksheet

 Lecture Group Discussions Class Discussions Textbooks Revolution and Rotation Worksheet Asteroid and Comet Worksheet Meteor and Moon Worksheet

Assessment Tools
Open-Note Test Presentation of Our Solar System Mini-Quizzes Closing Cards KWL Chart Worksheets Classroom Discussion Writing Assessment

Extension Activities
Open-Note Test Closing Cards Presentation Writing Assessment

Textbook Reading Group Discussion Class Discussion Lecture Mini-Quizzes Worksheets YouTube Video A Tour Through Our Solar System

Sources of Information
"Free Science Worksheets." Free Science Worksheets. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. "Oral Expression Rubric For." Oral Expression Rubric For. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. Dr. Cash Tuesday, February 19, 2013 4:30 PM