Space Science ~ Lesson Plan
Our Solar System
1.) Computer Skills
- Navigation, Typing, Saving
2.) Science Knowledge
- Space, Gravity, Planets, Technology, Earth Science
3.) Research Skills
- Looking for information in: Books, Internet, Magazines
4.) Vocabulary and Glossary Skills
- Using Online and Book Dictionaries, Technology Terms
5.) CRITICAL THINKING
- Open-ended Questions, Inference, Cause-and-Effect
6.) Comprehension and Writing
- Mini-Quizzes, Diagrams, Personal Glossary
7.) Group Teamwork
- Cooperation, Role-Playing, Project Presentations
Activate Background Knowledge ~ PRE QUIZ
• Give written Pre Quiz with easy questions
• Explain and Discuss background
knowledge of the students
• Start explaining some of the science terms
• Ask “Big Question” for first time: Which
planet would you want to visit?
PRE QUIZ ~ Activate your knowledge!
For lower levels, divide up the quiz in JIG-SAW style, give printed copies to
groups of 3, then students share results
Think about describing words: HOT, COLD, ARID, WATERY, GAS
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What do you know about our Sun?
Mercury is closest to the Sun; Do you think it’s hot there?
Earth is the third planet from the Sun. How long is our trip around
the sun? (Hint: how long is one year?)
Jupiter is our biggest planet; Does it have the heaviest gravity?
What do you think gravity is?
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun; What do you think the
rings are made of?
Uranus is the seventh planet; If it has no land, what is it made of?
Next slides are Mini-Lecture #1
~ Introduction ~
• Show slides to class and read
• The Solar System is where we live
• Earth is in our Solar System
• Discuss any questions and ideas with a
partner, then join the class discussion
Mini-Lecture given first time as power point presentation with 10 slides
Our Sun
• Our Sun is in the middle
of our Solar System
• It gives light and heat
• Solar Power uses the
“free energy” from the
Sun: solar means sun
• It is a medium-small
star (it looks big because it’s
close to us)
Mercury
• Mercury is the closest
planet to the Sun
• It has a short orbit of 88
days
• Temperature is very hot
because Sun is so close
The FIRST Planet
Venus
• Venus is the second
planet from the Sun
• Has thick poisonous
gas clouds
• “Glows in the dark”
because it is so hot
• Called “The Evening
Star” – it can be seen
near our Moon on most
nights
Stars twinkle when you look at them
and planets do not – they glow
Earth – Our Home Planet
•Earth is the third planet from
the Sun; one orbit = 365 days
•Oceans cover about 2/3 of
Earth’s surface
•One-third is land, desert and
mountains
•Our atmosphere of “air”
keeps Earth TEMPERATE –
not too hot nor too cold
Mars
–
the Fourth Planet
•Called “The Red Planet” because
it is mostly made of IRON DUST
which looks red from rust
•Mars is arid [dry]
•It is very rocky and like a desert
•Extreme temperatures – hot in
light, cold in dark
•Mars has “canals” caused by
water erosion that look very, very
old – some water is frozen in the
polar ice caps
Jupiter ~ The Gas Giant
• Jupiter is the fifth planet
from our Sun
• Jupiter is the largest
planet in solar system
• It has the heaviest
gravity of all planets
• The giant “eye” in south
is a giant storm
Jupiter has 63 moons
z
Saturn z
• Saturn is the sixth planet
• It has RINGS made of
frozen rocks and dust
• Saturn is very cold
• It is made of gas and
liquid
• Saturn is the second
largest planet
Beautiful Saturn
s Uranus s
• Uranus is the seventh
planet from our Sun
• Uranus has no solid land
• It is made of very cold
liquid and gas
• Uranus has 27 moons
Neptune
• Neptune is the eighth
planet from our Sun
• Neptune is made of very
cold liquid and gas
• It has dramatic storms and
wild weather
• Neptune has 13 moons
f
Pluto e
• Pluto is the ninth planet
• Pluto is a frozen ball of
gas and liquid
• It is really small – so
small that it is no longer
called a planet
-- I included Pluto
because I still like it
and think it’s a cool
planet
NAME ____________________________________________
DATE _______________________
TRUE / FALSE QUIZ
T / F
1. Earth is the largest planet in our solar system.
T / F
2. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.
T / F
3. Saturn has beautiful rings made of ice + dust.
T / F
4. Earth has two moons
T / F
5. Jupiter is a “gas giant”.
T / F
6. Pluto can be seen from Earth.
T / F
7. Venus can be seen from Earth.
Numbers and Places of the Planets
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Give short review and lesson on numbers
Explain Cardinals and Ordinals
Match numerals and written names
Practice orally and written
Listen to teacher give place of each planet in solar
system
• Repeat planet names orally
• Individual activity:
Write SUN, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH,
SEVENTH, EIGHTH, NINTH on your paper along the left side –
write the planet names next to their place in our Solar System
Math and Spelling
Making a Glossary
• Each student will make a personal glossary of
vocabulary words and terms
• Words will be in alphabetical order
• Pairs work together to define words and check
each other’s work
• Glossary will be checked by teacher
• Students add to Glossary every class
Example of vocabulary words in a GLOSSARY
1.
ORBIT
An orbit is a path. It's the way something goes around an
object in space. An orbit is a curved path, like a circle or an oval.
The moon goes in orbit around Earth. We are in orbit right now - because
Earth is following an orbit around the sun. The International Space
Station orbits Earth.
2.
SATELLITE
An object in orbit is called a satellite.
A satellite can be natural, like the moon. It can be human-made, like the
space station. Earth is a natural satellite of the sun. All the planets are
satellites of the Sun.
note: students can add Spanish, Chinese or Cambodian translations also
Grammar Activity - Build a Sentence
Review simple Past Tense in
English.
Print activity and cut on lines.
The left side is the sentence
beginning. The right side has
the endings.
Teacher models activity and
reads aloud.
Teacher writes example
sentence on the board.
Students work in like-ability
pairs to put the sentences
together.
Students reshuffle and re-do
several times with different
partners.
Extension: students create a
conversation using sentences
and asking questions.
Mini-Lecture #2 is Graphic Diagram
• Teacher draws very large diagram on
board and answers class questions
• Graphic diagram is handed out
• Pairs study it together, answer questions
and make sentences for # 5 and # 6
• Students make own graphic diagram of
our Solar System with felt pens
1. Teacher
explains
orbits again,
how they are
oval
2. Hand out
printed
diagram
3. Students
make their
own diagram
of our Solar
System
Two Student Examples of Solar System Diagram
Mini-Lecture # 3 is printed
• Print Mini-Lecture with 6 on a page
• Students read silently, then aloud in pairs to
each other
• Internet research done at www.nasa.gov on
different planets
• They add new vocabulary to Glossary
• Students share research in pairs, then in
groups of four
Part 1
[Mini-Lecture #3 can be printed with lines for notes]
Part 2
Conversation with Solar System theme
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Conversation is printed, handed out
Students listen to conversation
Everyone reads aloud together
Pairs read conversation to each other
Switch partners and do again
Next slide has original conversation - by Chaundel Johnson 2011
Conversation Practice with Science theme
ASTRONAUT CONVERSATION
Joseph: Hello Bob, how are you?
Bobby: Hi Joseph; I’m good. How about you?
Joseph: I’m great. I have good news.
Bobby: Oh, what news do you have?
Joseph: My oldest son wants to be an astronaut.
Bobby: An as-tro-naut, what’s that?
Joseph: An astronaut is a spaceman. He goes into space.
Bobby: Oh, like the ones who went to the moon?
Joseph: Yes. They also go to the ISS.
Bobby: What is the ISS?
Joseph: ISS stands for International Space Station.
Bobby: International means lots of nations, I think.
Joseph: That’s right. About fifteen nations worked together on it.
Bobby: Does your son want to go there?
Joseph: Yeah. He wants to be a scientist on the ISS.
Bobby: Your son is seventeen years old, right?
Joseph: Yes, he graduates this spring.
Bobby: Does a scientist have to go to college?
Joseph: Yes, a scientist needs a degree from the university.
Bobby: What university will he go to?
Joseph: He’s going to UT in Austin.
Bobby: Great! I know you are very proud of him.
Joseph: Thank you. Someday he might go to Mars.
Bobby: Wow, that’s amazing!
Joseph: First step is the ISS, then a nine month trip to Mars.
Bobby: That sounds interesting.
Joseph: Yes. Scientists are studying Mars.
Bobby: What is Mars like?
Joseph: It’s very cold, dry and rocky. No air.
Bobby: Wow. How do you know that?
Joseph: Scientists sent two Rovers [go-karts] there.
Bobby: What do the Rovers do?
Joseph: The Rovers drive around and take pictures.
Bobby: That’s amazing!
Joseph: Yeah, we are learning about Mars.
Bobby: I wish good luck to your son.
Joseph: Thanks. It was good to see you.
Bobby: It was great to talk with you.
Multi-level activity
What about Mars?
Group Activity: class goes to NASA
website and does game online
• Fun activity for all levels
• What should you bring to Mars?
from NASA
~
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/mars_rocket.shtml
Show Mini-Lecture #1 again
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Printed large sheets with Mini-Lecture #1
Handed out for pairs to read
Introduced copyright basics
Asked T/F quiz questions orally
Worked on Personal Glossaries
• Introduced Spacequest for further study:
• www.celestialcodes.com/
NASA family of websites:
www.nasa.gov/
SPACEQUEST ADDRESS:
www.celestialcodes.com/webquest/spacequest_pg1_welcome.html
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To print from Spacequest without saving:
Maximise the desired lesson page.
Click on FILE up in top-left corner.
Choose PRINT from the drop-down menu, print page.
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To save a gif image file to your computer
Click on link to gif picture. Maximize the page.
Hold mouse over the image and right-click;
then on the drop-down menu, choose "Save Picture as".
You will get a tree-diagram of your files; Make a new folder in My Documents; Maybe call it
“Space” ; Scroll to your Space folder and OPEN the folder. Look at name of image and below
that, the "file type". Make sure it shows .gif as type of file. Next, make a new file name if you
don’t like my name;
Then click SAVE.
To print, open your new image file and print out.
Information at nasa.gov is available by the Freedom of Information Act – WE are the government!
Please note that you need to ask for permission to print from or use information from other websites.
I give you permission to copy and use anything from my website ~
www.celestialcodes.com/webquest/spacequest_pg1_welcome.html [Chaundel Johnson]
2 Truths and 1 Lie
• Fun Game with Solar System information:
• Teams of three make up the 3 sentences.
• Roles are Writer, Leader, Presenter.
• Writer writes sentences; Leader is high-level student/Timekeeper;
Presenter reads sentences; Leader answers yes/no questions
• Teacher helps with spelling and grammar.
• Emphasize that “It’s a secret!”
• Teams get 12 minutes to prepare
Analysis and Synthesis of Solar System Lessons in a group project
Which planet would you want to visit?
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Group activity in teams of 3 with Role-Playing [Secretary, Speaker,
Researcher]
Teams are chosen by planet (written on small slips)
Fill out chart with PROS & CONS
Make a poster with picture + caption
Write “why?” in a short paragraph of at least 3 sentences (advanced class:
add 2 more sentences)
Present chart and poster to class
Teacher note: This activity moderately bombed. Almost all of the ESL
level 2 students chose Earth as the planet they want to explore.
Changed activity to one about Earth using library books
• I gave out slips with specific questions for teams to research, complete with
page numbers in specific books; encouraged discussion of pictures.
• Research Topics: Earth’s size, orbit, seasons & weather, earthquakes
• Teams made a small poster together to present to class.
Pictures of Team Projects - ESL 2 Students
Advanced Research – ESL 3
Gave choice of 3 topics Both internet and library books were used in pairs with
poster and presentation of research when finished
What is global warming?
How does it affect our air?
How does it affect our water?
How does it affect the animals?
What can we do to stop global warming?
What does it mean to “Live Green”?
What can we do to save the Earth?
How can we save energy?
How can we save resources?
Should we recycle? Do you recycle?
Should we use solar power, wind and geothermal power?
How and why do earthquakes happen?
How can we prepare for earthquakes?
Have you ever been in an earthquake?
What is a tsunami?
Why is a tsunami so dangerous?
ESL 3 Students doing online
research
Bibliography – a college skill
Explain citing of references, books, websites: review copyright basics
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Earth, by Steven Kipp, Bridgestone Books, 1998
The Earth, by Angela Royston, Heinemann Interactive Library, 1998
Earthquakes, by Victor Gentle and Janet Perry, Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2001
Earth, Sea & Sky, by Tom Stacy, Random House, 1991
Let’s Explore Earth, by Henry Pluckrose, Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2001
Mars, by Seymour Simon, William Morrow & Co., NY, 1987
Mars – Exploring The Solar System, by Giles Sparrow, Heinemann Library, Chicago,
Il.
The Science of Seasons, by Leslie Strudwick, Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2001
The Solar System, by Howard Trammel, Children’s Press, 2010
www.arctic-mars.org/ by Haughton-Mars project
www.nasa.gov/ and all connecting websites by US Government
www.jpl.nasa.gov/ and all connecting websites by US Government
www.celestialcodes.com/ and Spacequest by Chaundel Johnson