Amy Gaughan, Eric Guyette, Jay Bradley
Unit Topic or Theme: Our Solar System
Grade: Third
Lesson Topic or Theme: The Eight Planets
Lesson Objectives: (The student will be able to ....)
 List the eight planets
 Write at least one fact about each planet
Instructional Technique:
Depending on the number of computers in the classroom, students will either work by themselves or
in pairs. As they navigate through the solar system game they will complete a worksheet so that the
teacher will be able to ensure there is learning occurring and they are reading through the links for
each planet.
Instructional Materials:
 planets worksheet (see below)
 pencils
 Captain Ultra Solar System game (website)
Bibliography:
 www.kidsastronomy.com
 www.windows.ucar.edu
 www.homepages.wmich.edu
 www.aerospaceguide.net
 www.en.wikipedia.org
Theoretical Perspective:
It is important for students to learn about the planets in our solar system because new discoveries are
being made everyday. Our students are the future. It is quite possible that the next astronaut is in
your classroom. More importantly, the planets should be taught because it is part of our lives.
Students should have a greater understanding of our planet, earth, and what is around it so that they
too will be able to understand new discoveries. If there were no knowledge about any other planets
other than earth it would be impossible for new discoveries to be made.
ISTE Standards: 7.4,5
Curriculum Frameworks:
Science and Technology/Engineering: Earth and Space Science
The Earth in the Solar System:
Recognize the earth is part of a system called the “solar system” that includes the sun (a star),
planets, and many moons. The earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system.
Procedure:
Introductory Activity
The teacher will begin by first asking what the students already know about our solar system and
the planets. Next the teacher will read a book about our solar system and the planets such as Stars
and Planets by David H. Levy or The Kingfisher Young People’s Book of Space by Martin Redfern.
Step-by-step
The teacher will show an example of the website, Travel through the Solar System with Captain
Ultra and his crew. While playing the game the students will be given a worksheet and will have to
research by clicking on the provided links and completing the worksheet. (This is to ensure that the
students are reading through the information on the links.) Once the students get to the last page
where they have returned to earth they should let the teacher know so that she can check to make sure
they have the “You’ve returned to earth” screen showing. Also on the back of the worksheet,
students should make a tally of how many times it took them to get the right answer. Therefore if a
student does not have a good understanding of the planets, the teacher will be able to have the student
complete it again at another time.
Closure
At the end of the lesson the teacher will collect the worksheets and ask the students what they learned
from this activity. These questions could be based on the worksheet that the students completed.
Adaptations for different learners
For students that are non-native speakers it would be important for them to work with a partner so
that it is easier for them to understand. Partner or peer groups would work with struggling readers as
well. For students that have ADD or ADHD this would most likely keep their attention because it is
interactive and they will be attentive to all that is happening in the game.
Homework
Students will each be assigned a planet and have to research about it and bring in the information that
they find. They could bring anything from a newspaper article to pictures or even an excerpt from
the encyclopedia or printout from the internet. (They would not be able to use the websites that were
used in the solar system game)
Evaluation:
How/when will you determine if you have met your objectives?
The teacher will be able to monitor student understanding from the worksheet that they completed
during the lesson. This is one benchmark in meeting the objectives. The students should remember
at least three facts that they learned out of the eight planets, however students will not fully know
about each planet until probably a week into the lesson. The students would not be graded with a
letter grade for the worksheet, instead just a complete or incomplete.
Concerns or questions you have about teaching this lesson?
Depending on at what point during the unit this is taught, students’ knowledge would be different. I
think the lesson is simple enough to teach, but it is important that the students have some
understanding of the planets before they play the solar system game. So timing would be a main
concern in the lesson. Another concern might be that there is not enough time in one period to
complete the solar system game and so how might the students pick up where they left off and/or
might they be able to do this during a lab period. If the students did complete this in a lab period
another question might be: Is it beneficial to use up a lab period just to play the game?
Name:______________________________________
Date:____________________
Travel the Solar System With Captain Ultra
As you travel through space with Captain Ultra and his crew, make sure to answer each of the
following questions about the planets you visit. As well as using the information that you learned
from answering questions on your voyage, you can also use the information that you found by
searching the sites in the game.
Mercury
How many moons does this planet have?
Venus
How many days does it take this planet to orbit the sun?
Earth
What is the average temperature on this planet?
Mars
How many moons does this planet have (what are their names)?
Jupiter
How far is this planet from the sun?
Saturn
How long does it take this planet to make a complete rotation?
Uranus
How many days does it take for this planet to orbit the sun?
Neptune
What is the average temperature on this planet?