Lesson Plan (Direct Instruction)

Teachers: Lauren Thomas Subject: 7th Grade Science

Common Core State Standards:

Strand 6 (Earth and Space Science); Concept 3 (Earth in the Solar System); PO5 Identify the
following major constellations visible (seasonally) from the Northern Hemisphere:
Orion
Ursa Major (Great Bear)
Cygnus
Scorpius
Cassiopeia
Objective (Explicit):
By the end of this lesson, students will recognize five major constellations by duplicating their
shapes using spaghetti and miniature marshmallows, and by locating them with the use of the
SkyView app.
Evidence of Mastery (Measurable):
Include a copy of the lesson assessment.
Provide exemplar student responses with the level of detail you expect to see.
Assign value to each portion of the response
80% of students will build a minimum of two constellation models with the use of dry spaghetti
and miniature marshmallows.

Sub-objectives, SWBAT (Sequenced from basic to complex):

How will you review past learning and make connections to previous lessons?
What skills and content are needed to ultimately master this lesson objective?
How is this objective relevant to students, their lives, and/or the real world?
SWBAT duplicate the shapes of the five major constellations by modeling them with spaghetti
and mini marshmallows
SWBAT use their knowledge of the location of each constellation by identifying them with the
SkyView star-gazing application.
Key vocabulary: Constellation, hemisphere, Materials: Projector, PowerPoint, spaghetti,
magnitude. mini marshmallows, SkyView app, notebooks,
pencils.
Opening (state objectives, connect to previous learning, and make relevant to real life)
How will you activate student interest?
How will you connect to past learning?
How will you present the objective in an engaging and student-friendly way?
How will you communicate its importance and make the content relevant to your students?
I will open the lesson by first, stating the objective. Then, I will ask the students
if any of them know where they lie on the Zodiac calendar. I will then explain that
each Zodiac is actually attributed to a certain constellation, and then show a
short video explaining how this is so. From there, I will review the objective and
ask the students to write it in their notes (objective will be posted on the
PowerPoint and on the board). Then, I will introduce the powerpoint by telling
the students that the constellations are something they look at almost every day
without realizing it, and then the lesson will begin.
Instructional Input

Teacher Will: Student Will:

How will you model/explain/demonstrate all What will students be doing to actively capture and
knowledge/skills required of the objective? process the new material?
What types of visuals will you use? How will students be engaged?
How will you address misunderstandings or
common student errors?
How will you check for understanding?
How will you explain and model behavioral
expectations?
 Is there enough detail in this section so that
another person could teach it?

- I will guide the students through a - Students will take notes on a hand-out
PowerPoint, where I will introduce along with the PowerPoint
constellations, and specifically, the presentation, and sketch the shapes of
five major constellations listed each constellation.
above. The locations and myths - Students will participate by answering
behind each constellation will be questions throughout the presentation.
included. (10-15 minutes)
- Visuals will include actual
photographs of each constellation,
as well as a basic connect-the-
dots-style shape of each for the
students to duplicate on a note-
taking handout
- Possible student errors may be
difficulties with accurately
sketching each constellation
shape.
- Checking for Understanding will
include small, engaging questions
such as can anyone point out the
big dipper in Ursa Major?

Co-Teaching Strategy
Which co-teaching approach will you use to maximize student achievement?

The co-teaching approach used will be the one teach, one support approach. Co-teacher will circulate
the room with me to make sure students are on task and actively participating.
Differentiation Strategy
What accommodations/modifications will you include for specific students?
Do you anticipate any students who will need an additional challenge?

A final PowerPoint slide displaying each constellation shape will remain posted for students who may
need more time completing their sketches. Completed handouts (with the exception of the sketches) will
be provided for students with limited writing capabilities.
Guided Practice

Teacher Will: Student Will:

How will you ensure that all students have
multiple opportunities to practice new content
and skills?
What types of questions can you ask students
as you are observing them practice?
How/when will you check for understanding?
How will you provide guidance to all students
as they practice?
How will you explain and model behavioral
expectations?
Is there enough detail in this section so that
another person could facilitate this practice?
- I will demonstrate how to make a
physical model of a constellation
using the spaghetti and mini
marshmallows.
- I will ask students engaging
questions, such as Why did you
choose to re-create Cassiopeia?
How will students practice all knowledge/skills
required of the objective, with your support, such that
they continue to internalize the sub-objectives?
How will students be engaged?
How will you elicit student-to-student interaction?
How are students practicing in ways that align to
independent practice?
- Students will use their notes to assist
them in building at least two
identifiable constellations with the use
of the mini marshmallows and
spaghetti.
- Students desks will be in groups so
that they may help one another through
 What do you like most about this the activity, if needed.
constellation? - The member of each group with the
- I will explain to the students that next upcoming birthday will collect the
the marshmallows are for building supplies for their table.
their constellations, not for eating.
Once I have checked that they have
completed the activity, they may
then eat the marshmallows.
(15-20 minutes)

Co-Teaching Strategy
Which co-teaching approach will you use to maximize student achievement?

One teach, one support approach will be used. As I demonstrate the activity and answer questions, co-
teacher will circulate to aid in behavior management.
Differentiation Strategy
What accommodations/modifications will you include for specific students?
Do you anticipate any students who will need an additional challenge?
How can you utilize grouping strategies?

I will have the constellations displayed in the power-point for students to use as a guide for building their
models, if needed. Students requiring an additional challenge will be encouraged to attempt to build the
more complex constellations.

Teacher Will: Student Will:

How will you plan to coach and correct during this
practice?
How will you provide opportunities for remediation
and extension?
How will you clearly state and model academic and
behavioral expectations?
Did you provide enough detail so that another
person could facilitate the practice?
How will students independently practice the knowledge
and skills required by the objective?
How will students be engaged?
How are students are practicing in ways that align to
assessment?
How are students using self-assessment to guide their
own learning?
How are you supporting students giving feedback to one
another?

- I will introduce the SkyView app - Students will download the SkyView
and demonstrate its basic level of app and use their knowledge of
Independent Practice

usage constellations and their general

- I will explain that the students are
to use their smartphones and the
SkyView app to locate the six major
constellations.
- I will students as they locate the
constellations to check
understanding.
(10-15 minutes, or remaining class
time)
locations to pinpoint each of the six
major constellations.
- Students may use any possible extra
time to locate other major
constellations, such as their Zodiac
constellation.

Co-Teaching Strategy
Which co-teaching approach will you use to maximize student achievement?

Co-teacher and I will monitor student behavior and participation, while I will be readily available to assist
students with questions or use of the SkyView app.
Differentiation Strategy
What accommodations/modifications will you include for specific students?
Do you anticipate any students who will need an additional challenge?

Students who do not have smartphones may work with a fellow student. Students in need of an additional
challenge may use their SkyView app to explore other objects (planets, satellites, etc.)
 Closing/Student Reflection/Real-life connections:
How will students summarize and state the significance of what they learned?
Why will students be engaged?
I will close by reminding the students that constellations are something that
they look directly at almost every day, and now they can show off their
knowledge of the night sky by pointing out the constellations and telling the
stories behind them.

The following pages contain the note-taking worksheets that I created for this lesson. The first is the
standard note-taking sheet, and the second is the accommodated version.

Constellations
Objective:_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
________________________________

They divide the sky Borders are made

The Basics into:______________ up of the
. ______________
stars.

Constellation Draw it! Where can you

see it?
 (Front)
Constellation Draw it! Where can you
see it?
 (Back)

Constellations
Objective:_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
________________________________

Borders are
The Basics They divide the sky made up of the
into:_Regions_. _brightest_
stars.

Constellation Draw it! Where can you

see it?
Orion [The Southwest
hunter] sky.

Ursa Major
Northern
[Great
sky.
Bear]

(Front)
Constellation Draw it! Where can you
see it?

Mid-
Cygnus summer,
right above
you.
 Along the
Scorpius southern
horizon.

During the
Cassiopeia fall, in the
northeast
sky.

(Back)