Science (5th Grade)
Planning and Observation Guide for Science Lesson
Jacqueline Wood & Nancy Stewart
Earth/Space Summer Science Institute
Space Science – Travel Times in the Solar System
90 Minutes – 5 E’s
1½ Classes *Indicates part of every lesson.
5 minutes
*Daily Engagement
 *Objective is stated both in
written form and orally, and
is explained/interpreted
 Relates
exploration/explanation
activities from previous
day(s) to culminating unit
performance task
 Reviews work of previous
day(s)
Questions for Planning
Dr. Scott Sinex
Fri., Jul. 10, 2009
Planning/Observation/Notes
Objective – Students will compute travel times to the moon
and planets and their age at arrival in order to identify the
location of the planets and understand the large numbers
associated with distances in the Solar System. (State Standards
Grade 5 – 2.0.D.1)
Essential Question – How does the size of the Solar System
affect travel?
Materials –
 calculator
 Lab packet (Exploration) including “Speeding Through the
Solar System” fact sheet, “Space Travel at 40,000 km per
Hour” data table, and “Speedy Get It There Company”
worksheet
 Lab packet (Elaboration) including “How Long Will It Take
to Make a Call?” worksheet, “Do You Hear Me Now?
Announcement” paper, and “Do You Hear Me Now? Time to Transmit…” worksheet
Engagement – Ask the questions: 1. What do you know about
humans traveling in space? 2. Where have humans traveled?
(Orbiting Earth, to the Space Station and the Moon) 3. How
is this different from what is shown in the movies, on
television, and in science fiction stories? (In fiction, travel is
at the speed of light and greater to cross entire galaxies in
seconds. Our travel speeds are slow.)
30 minutes
Exploration
 Cooperative/whole
class/independent groupings
 Use of equipment and
materials for conducting
investigations
 Data collection and
organization
Jacqueline Wood & Nancy Stewart
Students will work in groups of four. Each student will
receive and complete a lab packet that includes: 1. “Speeding
Through the Solar System” fact sheet, 2. “Space Travel at
40,000 km per Hour” data table to record travel times in
hours, days, months, and years at 40,000 kmph (speed of
space travel we are capable of today), and 3. “Speedy Get It
There Company” worksheet of problem solving questions to
Curriculum Framework Progress Guide- Science- Sixth Grade
Prince George’s County Public Schools
1
Use of technology for data
acquisition
 Teacher
demonstrations/modeled
behaviors
Explanation
 Concepts and vocabulary are
developed through class and
group discussions
 Teacher provides assistance in
developing concepts and skills
where students need help
 Clarification of
misconceptions
 Use of textbooks and other
print materials
Elaboration
 Application of data and
concepts from
explorations/explanations to
new or modified situations
 Independent or group
activities
 Constructed responses
analyze the data and make real world connections. Copy of
the lab packet is attached.
*Evaluation
 Journal
 Science PLUS Data and
Answer Booklet
 Section Assessments, Chapter
Projects, Chapter Tests,
Module Pre/Post Tests
 Use of performance lists and
rubrics
 Student interviews
 *Closure/review of daily
activity
Lab Sheets:
 Space Travel at 40,000 km per Hour
 Speedy Get It There Company
 How Long Will It Take to Make a Call?
 Do You Hear Me Now? - Time to Transmit…

15 minutes
30 minutes
10 minutes
Jacqueline Wood & Nancy Stewart
The students will share their analysis of the data, conclusions,
critical thinking, and connections to the real world. Any
misconceptions will be clarified and corrected.
The students will work in groups to compute the time it would
take for an announcement to reach the moon and each of the
planets. They will record their answers on the “How Long
Will It Take to Make a Call?” worksheet. Then the students
will use the “Do You Hear Me Now? Announcement” paper
to complete the “Do You Hear Me Now? - Time to
Transmit…” worksheet. They will calculate how long a set of
transmissions will take to the moon and each of the planets.
Copy of the lab packet is attached.
Student interviews during labs
Journal entry of what the student learned regarding distances
to planets in the Solar System, travel times, and message
transmissions using radio waves.
Curriculum Framework Progress Guide- Science- Sixth Grade
Prince George’s County Public Schools
2