Rationale

This unit titled Earth, Moon, and Sun is designed for third grade. This unit will focus

on the Earth, Moon and Sun as individual lessons, as well as how they interact with each other.

This unit involves multiple activities and creates a hands-on environment for students to gain

knowledge on the Earth, Moon, and Sun. This unit specifically includes moon phases, the Earths

rotation, and the suns illumination.

Students will experience and participate in many activities that will create knowledge on

the topic of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. First, students will experience activities that display why

the moon has phases. The students will also become aware of information about the moon that

they may not be aware of, along with expressing prior knowledge that their brains already

contain. Next, the students will learn about the Earths layers. They will use hands-on activities to

demonstrate their newly learned knowledge. The suns illumination is another topic that will be

covered in this unit. The students will learn about how the suns illumination causes the moon

phases, and why we need it on Earth. This will be taught through instruction and literature, along

with activities. As a closure, the students will learn about how the Earth, Sun, and Moon interact

with each other through literature, activities, and modeling.

According the Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards, S3.D.3.1.2 Describe the

predictable patterns of change that occur over time in the observable shape of the Moon,

Standard - 3.3.3.B1 Relate the rotation of the earth and day/night, to the apparent movement of

the sun, moon, and stars across the sky. Describe the changes that occur in the observable shape

of the moon over the course of a month. In doing this, students will be creating art, posters, and

charts that get their brain flowing. They will also be completing activities and group work, along

with reading literature.

 When the unit is complete the students will have a dense knowledge about the Earth,

Moon, and Sun. They will know the moon phases and why they occur. They will also know what

Earths layers are, what the moons surface is like, and the different parts of the sun and why we

need it. On the other hand, the students will learn about the suns illumination and how it affects

the moon, and Earth. The importance of understanding the Earth, Moon, and Sun will forever

help students understand the connection that they have, and why we need all three to survive.