LESSON PLAN DAY #1:

Name: Amanda Dlugi

Content Area: Astronomy: Introduction to the Solar System: The Size and Scale of Planets
Date: 03/19/13
Grade Level: 10th- 12th

Goal(s):
National Science Education Content Standards:
Earth and Space Science: Content Standard D:
- As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of energy in
the earth system, geochemical cycles, origin and evolution of the earth system, origin and evolution
of the universe.
- As a result of their activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop an understanding of the
structure of the Earth system, Earths history, and Earth in the solar system.

A DNA: Do Now Activity, will be used in order to pre-assess the students level
of understanding of the solar system. This will be done by students following the
instructions on a hand out provided to them, and we will review the objectives
that we will meet pertaining to the solar system over the course of three day.
Students will be asked to do the following on a hand out:
1. On the back of this sheet of paper, draw a picture of our solar system. In your drawing, show the
different sizes of the planets and where they are located. Label everything.
2. Using the chart below, list what you know about our solar system in the column What I Know. In the
column, What I Want to Know, write down some questions you have about our solar system.

Pre-assess:

Objective(s)::

1. Students will be able to create a size and scale model of our solar system in order to be
able to analyze the difference in size between the planets, as well as locate the distance each planet is
from the Sun.

Assessment:

Informal:

Throughout the duration of this lesson, I will record the progress of students
individually throughout the day by make abbreviations of students names on a
post-it note and recording the following:
- tallying next to their name if they make a comment or answer
- a question mark if they ask a question
- a check mark if they behaved inappropriately and discipline was issued
A DNA, Do Now Activity, warm-up exercise will be issued in order to preassess the understanding levels of the students on the topic of the solar system.
Follow up questions handout: after the solar system model to assess if individual
students were able to grasp the material.

Formal: After learning about the solar system over three days, students will be
2008SP

administered a paper and pencil assessment to determine if the students were able to
grasp an understanding of concepts pertaining to the solar system.

Materials Needed:

Totaltime
timeneeded:
needed:
Total

Post-it notes
Folders for each student for the course of three days
Receipt paper rolls (approximately 4m each roll)
Power Point created by Amanda Dlugi
Projector and document camera
Projection screen
~20 printed copies of DNA warm-up exercise handout
~20 printed copies of The Size and Scale Model of Our Solar System handout
~20 printed copies of Follow up Questions handout
Chalk Board
Writing utensils
20 I-pads/ laptops
Molding Clay (approximately 15lbs)
~20 Manila Folders
___

90 minutes total:
15-20 minutes: DNA warm-up exercise and Review of Basic Concepts
10 minutes: Provide instructions to students for daily activities
40-50 minutes: Work time for students on building their model of size and scale of the solar system, as well as
answer the attached questions pertaining to the model they produced.
10-15 minutes: Work on follow up questions individually, go through the answers together, and turn in to folder
at the end of class.

Procedures:
Procedures:
(Include time allotments)
Introduction:
15- 20 minutes: Do Now Activity, will be used in order to pre-assess the students level of understanding of
the solar system. This will be done by students following the instructions on a hand out provided to them, and
we will review the objectives that we will meet pertaining to the solar system over the course of three day.
Also, a brief review of some of the incorporate concepts will be covered, as well as the objectives for the day
will be stated. Students will be given a few minutes to create a pneumonic device to help them remember the
order of the planets form the sun.
2008SP

 Steps for instruction:

10 minutes: The instructions to the daily activity will be provided to the students.
40-50 minutes: Students will be given the time to work in their groups to develop a scale of the solar system.
Closure:
10-15 minutes: Students will have the time to answer follow up questions pertaining to the activity, as well as
any clarifications will be made. If time permits, a Bill Nye video will be played to review a main concept that
was covered with the students.

Strategies for students requiring additional assistance:

If recommended by my cooperating teacher, I will be sure make adjustments to this lesson plan as
needed in order to accommodate the learners in his classroom. For example, to accommodate the needs
of students that have a difficulty in reading/seeing, I will be sure to read each question posted out loud to

the class, as well as provided a printed copy of the questions to the students.
To meet the needs of those who have difficulty understanding the material, I will be monitoring student
understanding throughout the solar system scale activity, so I will be able to address any individual
questions of students, as well as monitor participation. I will also ask for the assistance of my
cooperating teacher to complete these actions effectively so that all students receive the attention they
need. Also, for students that need more practice the material, with the permission of my cooperating
teacher, I will instruct students to come to his room after class on the day of my lesson or also during his

preparation period/ over lunch the following day with any questions that they may have.
For students that understand the information clearly and are ready to move on, I will be sure to instruct
them to assist classmates that appear to be struggling with the material, and also continue their own
practice with the material. Also, I will be sure to talk to Mr. Coffey about any additional assignments or
tasks that can be provided to these learners.

2008SP

LESSON PLAN DAY #2:

Name: Amanda Dlugi
Content Area: Astronomy: Introduction to the Solar System: The Size and Scale Continued, and The
Composition of Planets
Date: 03/20/13
Grade Level: 10th-12th

Goal(s):
National Science Education Content Standards:
Earth and Space Science: Content Standard D:
- As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of energy in
the earth system, geochemical cycles, origin and evolution of the earth system, origin and evolution
of the universe.
- As a result of their activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop an understanding of the
structure of the Earth system, Earths history, and Earth in the solar system.

Pre-assess:

Objective(s)::

Assessment:

1. Students will be able to complete their size and scale models of the solar system in
order to be able to determine the difference in size between each planet, and the
distance of the planet from each other and the Sun.
2. Students will be able to compare the composition and structure of each planet to one
another.
Informal:

2008SP

A DNA: Do Now Activity, will be used in order to determine if the students

were able to grasp the concepts intended from the previous day.
The students will be asked to answer questions #1-5 on the handout, Solar
System Scale Follow-Up Questions. This will determine if components of the
previous days objectives were met. These objectives will also be carried on into
todays lesson.

Throughout the duration of this lesson, I will record the progress of students
individually throughout the day by make abbreviations of students names on a
post-it note and recording the following:
- tallying next to their name if they make a comment or answer
- a question mark if they ask a question
- a check mark if they behaved inappropriately and discipline was issued
A DNA, Do Now Activity, warm-up exercise will be issued in order to preassess the understanding levels of the students on the topic of size and scale of the
planets in the solar system. This will be the handout Solar System Scale Follow
Up Questions
The Composition and Structure of Our Planets activity handout includes a
critical thinking question pertaining to a major concept that students must grasp
on this topic.

Formal: After learning and introduction to the solar system over three days, students will
be administered a paper and pencil assessment to determine if the students were able to
grasp an understanding of concepts pertaining to some of the basic concepts of the solar
system such as size and scale of the planets from the Sun and compared to Earth, and the
composition and conditions of each planet.

Materials Needed:

Totaltime
timeneeded:
needed:
Total

Post-it notes
Folders for each student for the course of three days ~20 Manila Folders
Receipt paper rolls (approximately 4m each roll)
Power Point created by Amanda Dlugi
Projector and document camera
Name Cards with students names on them for participation
Projection screen
~20 printed copies of The Composition and Structure of Our Planets handout
~20 printed copies of Solar System Scale Follow up Questions handout
Chalk Board
Writing utensils
20 I-pads/ laptops
Molding Clay (approximately 15lbs)
Internet access
___

90 minutes total:
15-20 minutes: DNA warm-up exercise
30 minutes: Allow students to pick up where they left off yesterday to complete their size and scale

models.
10 minutes: Review some of the main concepts that the students should have grasped from the activity

in the remaining follow up questions, as well as a review of a pneumonic the students can use to
remember the different sizes of the planets in order from smallest to largest..
20-25 minutes: Students will be instructed to begin research on the composition of the planets.
5 minutes: (See closure.)
Procedures:
Procedures:
(Include time allotments)
Introduction:
15-20 minutes: DNA warm-up exercise
Steps for instruction:

25 minutes: Allow students to pick up where they left off yesterday to complete their size and scale

2008SP

models.
10 minutes: Review some of the main concepts that the students should have grasped from the activity

in the remaining follow up questions, as well as a review of a pneumonic the students can use to
remember the different sizes of the planets in order from smallest to largest.
30 minutes: Students will be instructed to begin research on the composition of the planets. Depending
on how far students get, time for work time in class tomorrow will be determined.

Strategies for students requiring additional assistance:

Strategies for students requiring additional assistance:

If recommended by my cooperating teacher, I will be sure make adjustments to this lesson plan as
needed in order to accommodate the learners in his classroom. For example, to accommodate the needs
of students that have a difficulty in reading/seeing, I will be sure to read each question posted out loud to

the class, as well as provided a printed copy of the questions to the students.
To meet the needs of those who have difficulty understanding the material, I will be monitoring student
understanding throughout the solar system scale activity, so I will be able to address any individual
questions of students, as well as monitor participation. I will also ask for the assistance of my
cooperating teacher to complete these actions effectively so that all students receive the attention they
need. Also, for students that need more practice the material, with the permission of my cooperating
teacher, I will instruct students to come to his room after class on the day of my lesson or also during his
preparation period/ over lunch the following day with any questions that they may have. Because four
students were absent the previous day, I will be sure to do a brief review of what the students have
missed from class, while the other students complete a warm-up exercise that will be assessing their

understanding on these concepts.

For students that understand the information clearly and are ready to move on, I will be sure to instruct
them to assist classmates that appear to be struggling with the material, and also continue their own
practice with the material. Also, I will be sure to talk to Mr. Coffey about any additional assignments or
tasks that can be provided to these learners.

Closure:
5 minutes: Students will be told to take their folders home with them to review their resources because
we will be taking a small quiz on what we have learned so far the following day, so it would be best to
come to class prepare with the major concepts we have been learning the past two days. Depending on
how far students get by the end of the hour, students will also be informed that they will have time in
class to work on their composition activity.

2008SP

2008SP

LESSON PLAN DAY #3:

Name: Amanda Dlugi
Content Area: Astronomy: Introduction to the Solar System: Composition of the Planets
Date: 03/21/13
Grade Level: 10th- 12th

Goal(s):

National Science Education Content Standards:

Earth and Space Science: Content Standard D:
- As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of energy in
the earth system, geochemical cycles, origin and evolution of the earth system, origin and evolution
of the universe.
- As a result of their activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop an understanding of the
structure of the Earth system, Earths history, and Earth in the solar system.

Do Now Activity, will be used in order to determine if the students were able to
grasp the concepts intended from the previous day. Students will be asked the
following questions to pre-assess on previous topics prior to moving on to a new
topic:
1. Name the planets in the order from the sun.
2. List the planets from smallest to largest in diameter.

Pre-assess:

Objective(s)::

1. Students will be able to compare the composition and

structure of each planet to one another.
2. Students will be able to assess their understanding of basic
concepts pertaining to the solar system.

Assessment:
Informal:
Throughout the duration of this lesson, I will record the progress of students
individually throughout the day by make abbreviations of students names on a
post-it note and recording the following:
- tallying next to their name if they make a comment or answer
- a question mark if they ask a question
- a check mark if they behaved inappropriately and discipline was issued
A DNA, Do Now Activity, warm-up exercise will be issued in order to preassess the understanding levels of the students on the topic of size and scale of the
planets in the solar system. This will be the handout Solar System Scale Follow
Up Questions
The Composition and Structure of Our Planets activity handout includes a
critical thinking question pertaining to a major concept that students must grasp
on this topic. Students will be given time to work on this exercise individually,
and then we will go over this together as a class to check for an understanding of
all learners.
2008SP

Formal:
Students will be administered a paper and pencil assessment to determine if the
students were able to grasp an understanding of concepts pertaining to some of
the basic concepts of the solar system, including size of the planets in comparison
to Earth, and scale of the planets from the Sun.

Materials Needed:

Totaltime
timeneeded:
needed:
Total

Post-it notes
Folders for each student for the course of three days ~20 Manila Folders
Power Point created by Amanda Dlugi
Projector and document camera
Projection screen
~20 printed copies of The Composition and Structure of Our Planets handouts
Chalk Board
Writing utensils
20 I-pads/ laptops
Internet access
Video clip on The Formation of the Solar System provided by Brian Coffey
___

90 minutes total:
10 minutes: DNA, Do Now Activity warm-up
15-20 minutes: Allow the students to take a quiz on size and scale of the planets.
30-40 minutes: Allow the students to research the information about the composition of the planets.
Grade the quizzes to give the students direct feedback.
15 minutes: Allow the students to present their findings about the planets, look up any planets that the
students did not have a chance to go to together. Hand back quizzes, and make clarifications.
5 minutes: If time permits, watch the video clip provided by Mr. Coffey on the formation of the solar
system, end class with discussion.

Procedures:
Procedures:
(Include time allotments)
Introduction:

10 minutes: Do Now Activity, will be used in order to determine if the students were able to grasp the
concepts intended from the previous day. Students will be asked the following questions to pre-assess

on previous topics prior to moving on to a new topic:

1. Name the planets in the order from the sun.
2. List the planets from smallest to largest in diameter.
Steps for instruction:
15-20 minutes: Allow the students to take a quiz on size and scale of the planets.
2008SP

30-40 minutes: Allow the students to research the information about the composition of the planets.
15 minutes: Allow the students to present their findings about the planets, look up any planets that the
students did not have a chance to go to together. Hand back quizzes, and make clarifications.
5-10 minutes: Allow the students to present their findings about the planets, look up any planets that the
students did not have a chance to go to together.

Strategies for students requiring additional assistance:

If recommended by my cooperating teacher, I will be sure make adjustments to this lesson plan as
needed in order to accommodate the learners in his classroom. For example, to accommodate the needs
of students that have a difficulty in reading/seeing, I will be sure to read each question posted out loud to

the class, as well as provided a printed copy of the questions to the students.
To meet the needs of those who have difficulty understanding the material, I will be monitoring student
understanding throughout the web quest activity for information about the composition of the planets, so
I will be able to address any individual questions of students, as well as monitor participation. I will
also ask for the assistance of my cooperating teacher to complete these actions effectively so that all
students receive the attention they need. Also, for students that need more practice the material, with the
permission of my cooperating teacher, I will instruct students to come to his room after class on the day
of my lesson or also during his preparation period/ over lunch the following day with any questions that
they may have. Because some students have been absent either one or both previous days to this lesson,
I will be sure to discuss with my cooperating teacher about how to approach this situation so that the

learners receive all of the necessary information.

For students that understand the information clearly and are ready to move on, I will be sure to instruct
them to assist classmates that appear to be struggling with the material, and also continue their own
practice with the material. Also, I will be sure to talk to Mr. Coffey about any additional assignments or
tasks that can be provided to these learners.

Closure:
5 minutes: If time permits, watch the video clip provided by Mr. Coffey on the formation of the solar
system, end class with discussion.

2008SP