EDU 537 Lesson Plan Template Lesson Plan Two

Lesson Plan
Component
Title: About the

Descriptors

The title, About the Solar System relates because students learning about the solar

Solar System
Grade: 5
Subject: Science

system falls under national and state standards for fifth grade students. The national
science standard says that students will be able to recognize major common
characteristics and properties of the planets as well as be able to distinguish among

Relevant
Standards:

Science Standard:
SC.5.E.5.2
Science Standard:
SC.5.E.5.3

different objects in our solar system.

The standard SC.5.E.5 is: Earth in Space and Time.
My lesson addresses the science standard SC.5.E.5.2. This science standard says the
students will recognize the major common characteristics of all planets and
compare/contrast the properties of inner and outer planets. In order to be able to
achieve this standard, students will be able to:

Identify common characteristics of inner and outer planets

They will be able to compare and contrast inner and outer planets

The lesson will also address science standard SC.5.E.5.3. This standard says that
students will be able to distinguish among the following objects of the Solar System
sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and identify Earths position in it
Learner
Outcomes

(CPALMS).
Throughout this unit students will take dive into the Solar System. In the last lesson,
students completed mini research projects on one of the planets and watched each
others presentations. In todays lesson, students will work in eight teams of three or
four students to take an even more in depth look at the planets and our solar system.
By the end of this lesson, students will have learned in depth facts about each planet in
the solar system including the sun. Students will complete a research chart (found at

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the end of this lesson) with the following information for each planet.
1. Number of moons
2. Surface and temperature
3. Number of rings
4. Random facts
5. Drawing a picture of each planet.
Once the teams have completed their charts they will present the information they
found to their classmates, in order to compare what the teams were able to find
through their research. The information in the chart will be typed in order to make
presentation to the class easier. Drawings of the planets will be scanned into the
computer for students to use. Students are encouraged to make a short presentation on
the information they found on the planets.
After the presentations are finished students will work individually to write a paper on
their favorite planet, using supporting details from the research they did and the notes
they took from their classmates presentations. Students will be asked to do some
additional research on their favorite planet to include in their final paper. Students will
share their papers on the class website for their classmates to see and respond to. This
Assessment

will be a way for students and teachers to create discussion with each other.
The teacher will circulate throughout the classroom during while students are working
on their research charts and their planet papers in order to observe and assist students.
The teacher will check in with students on an individual basis as well as by their
research groups to ask them questions about what they are learning about the planets
and the Solar System. The teacher will ask students specific questions about the
planets, the Solar System, their favorite planet, and questions about the characteristics

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of the planets.
Students will be asked to write a paper on their favorite planet and post it to the class
site or blog so that other students and teachers can read and respond to it. The teacher
will have a supplemental rubric to use for the student papers, as well as on the research
charts that students will be completing as groups. The rubric can be found on the last
Resources

page of the lesson plan.

1. Laptops (one for each student)
2. Video cameras
3. Art supplies
i.

Markers

ii.

Crayons

iii.

Colored pencils

iv.

White paper

v.

Colored paper

4. Library access
5. Internet access
Anticipatory Set

6. Research charts
Students will use their knowledge of the Earth, Sun, Stars, the 8 planets, and the Solar
System from the prior lesson on the planets to help them learn more about the Solar
System and the planets. In the previous days lesson, students will have researched one
planet of their choice and done a 5-minute presentation on it. Students should have
completed a mind map that compares two planets, or two types of planets and posted it
to the class website for their homework.
The teacher will begin the lesson by sharing some examples of their mind maps and

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asking students some questions about what they learned in their last science lesson.
The questions that the teacher will start off asking will be chosen from the closing
question from the previous science lesson:
1. What are the names of the planets? What order are they in?
2. Which planets are located closest to the sun?
3. Which planets are located farthest from the sun?
4. Where is the Earth located in the lineup of planets?
5. Which planets are inner planets?
6. Which planets are outer planets?
7. Do all planets have moons? Which planets have moons?
8. How many planets have rings? Which planets are they?
9. Which planet is the smallest?
10. Which planet is the largest?
11. Which planet is the hottest?
12. Which planet is the coldest?
After the teacher has reviewed the previous lesson on planets, he/she will explain the
new lesson. The teacher will use the smartboard to show students a copy of the
research chart that they will be working on, and where to find it on their computers, as
well as helpful links that students can use. After this introduction, students will be split
Procedures

into nine groups to complete their research charts.

At the beginning of the class the teacher will introduce the lesson on the smartboard
by showing students some of the mind maps that were submitted for homework. As
well as showing them the research chart that they will be working on and where to find
in on the computers. The teacher will ask students questions about the solar system

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and the planets to active their prior knowledge and get them thinking about the topic.
Before students begin work, the teacher will provide them with helpful links about the
solar system. Students will be broken up in nine groups to complete their research
projects.
The teacher will circulate throughout the classroom while students are working on
their research charts. He/she will ask students guiding questions throughout the
process, especially if students look like they are struggling. Questions will be along
the lines of:
1. Which planets have you looked up so far?
2. Have you found out which planets have rings?
3. Which planets have moons?
4. What does ________ planet look like?
Following completion of their research charts on paper, students will type their
findings into a chart on the computer. They will also scan in their drawings of the
planets, to use in their presentation to the class. Students will be provided with some
helpful links to help them with their research, but will be required to find additional
resources as well.
Helpful links include:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101-videos/solar-system-sci

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm

http://www.planetsforkids.org

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/

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Students will use their research to complete a research chart on the planets and the sun.
They will use the information they find to make a short presentation to their
classmates on their findings. Students will share their research charts on their class
website (https://www.edmodo.com) or ePortfolio. Students can create short digital
presentations to accompany their data if they feel it is necessary. The following
programs can be used to create presentations:
http://edu.glogster.com/?ref=com - For creating digital posters
https://www.wikispaces.com - Wikis
https://prezi.com or PowerPoint For creating a presentation
https://animoto.com - For creating videos

After students have presented their research projects and taken notes on their
classmates presentations, they will write a paper describing their favorite planet.
Students will post their papers to the class website to create discussion between other
students and the teacher. The paper will be started at the end of class if there is time,
Closure

and will be completed by students individually as a homework assignment.

The teacher will close the lesson by reviewing the research chart findings with the
students and ask them if they have any questions. Once the teacher has finished
reviewing that days lesson and writing down any questions students may have, he/she
will ask students what their favorite planet is and why. The teacher will explain that
they would like students to write a paper on their favorite planet using the research
they completed in class as well as some additional research on their own. Students will
be asked to post their paper to the class website and their ePortfolio to be reviewed by
other students and the teacher. Posting their paper on the class website will encourage
further discussion between students.

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Students will receive feedback from the teacher on their paper once it has been posted
on the class website and ePortfolio. The teacher will participate in discussions with the
students online, and also provide a grade with feedback on the group presentation.
Modifications/
Accommodations

Feedback on presentations will be given to students in their groups.

For students with attention issues, the teacher will provide private work spaces to
allow for less distractibility. The teacher will allow the student some wait time when
asking them questions, and provide the student with extra time to complete
assignments.
For students who are physically unable to complete the process of typing to do
research or creating their own presentation, they will be allowed to provide verbal
answers and directions to an adult who will help them complete the project. They will
also be allowed to have assistance with typing, or anything that they are unable to do
because of physical needs. The student will have access to voice to text software to
assist them with research and typing if they are comfortable with it. These students
will be given additional time on deadlines on their assignments. The teacher will also
offer the student alternative ways of typing.
Students with communication disorders will have access to speech boards to
communicate with teachers and peers. They will be able to use these speech boards to
answer questions about planets and Solar Systems. They will be allowed to have
someone else record their project for them if they need narration done. They will
receive extra time on assignments in class and out of class.
Students with sight issues will be allowed to have someone to provide them with
descriptions of all visual information and to help them complete hands on
assignments. They will be allowed to have extended time on assignments.

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For students with hearing impairments the teacher will provide a projected copy or
individual copies of any information being read aloud so the students can read along.
The teacher will provide written directions to go along with the assignment so that the
students are able to closely follow the directions. The teacher will provide students
with the written steps that describe that days classwork. Students will be provided
with extra time to complete assignments. They will also have access to sign language
translation.
For students with learning disabilities the teacher will provide them with extra time to
complete assignments. They will be provided with a written list of everything that
needs to be completed for the assignment so that they have the chance to stay more
Higher-Order
Questions (HOT)

organized.
1. How many planets are there?
2. What are the names of the planets?
3. What are some other objects that are found in our solar system?
4. Which planets have moons?
5. Which planets have rings?
6. Which planet is the coldest?
7. Which planet is the hottest?
8. Describe the surface of at least one planet
9. What is the order of the planets?
10. Is the sun a planet? Why or Why not?

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Solar System Research Chart

How many
moons does
the planet
have?

What is the
Surface and
Temperature?

Mercury

Venus

Earth

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Does the planet

have rings?
Number of rings

Please list at
least 3 random
facts

Please draw a
picture of the
planet

Mars

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Jupiter

Sun

Paper Rubric
Paper lists the
students
favorite planet
Student used
multiple
resources for
their research
Student used
details from
their research
chart to
support their
planet
Spelling and
grammar

3
Favorite planet
is listed

0
Favorite planet
is not listed

Student used 4+
resources for
their research

Student used 3
resources for
their research

Student used 1 resource in

their research

Student used 3+
pieces of
information
from their
research chart

Student used 2
pieces of
information from
their research
chart

Student used 1 piece of

information from their
research chart

Student did
not use any
resources to
aid them in
their research
Student did
not use any
information
from their
research chart

Paper is free of
spelling and
grammar issues

Paper has minor

spelling and
grammar issues

Paper has some spelling and

grammar issues

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Paper has
major spelling
and grammar
issues

Reference List
CPALMS. (N.D.). Browse and Search Standards. Where Educators Go For Bright Ideas. Florida State
University. Retrieved November 19, 2016 from: http://www.cpalms.org/Public/search/Standard#0

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