Planetary Science
Week 1
Unit 1: Size and Scale of the Solar System
Day1:
Target: I can create a distance model of the solar system.
Individual Activity: Pocket Solar System
Resources: Scale modeling of the Solar System ppt
Formative Assessment: Check Analysis item on worksheet
Day 2:
Target: I can create diameter models of the Earth and Moon
Pair Activity: Play Dough scale model
Resources: Scale modeling of the Solar System ppt
(Slide 4: link to Size and perspective webpage)
Formative Assessment: Observe size scales and Analysis
Day 3:
Target: I can create diameter models of the Earth, Moon and Mars
Pair Activity: Play Dough scale model
Formative Assessment: Observe size scale and Analysis
Day 4:
Targets:
1. I can calculate the scale diameters and distances of the planets in our solar
system from the sun.
2. I can create 2D scale diameter models of the planets in our solar system.
Pair Handout: Scaling the solar system in size and distance
Resources: Scale Modeling the Solar System ppt
Worksheet: Label the orbits of the planets in order from the Sun out to Pluto
Formative Assessment: Check math and observe relative sizes of all planets
Day 5:
Target: I can accurately place the planets from my model to represent scale distance
All GROUP Activity: Outside placing of the scale model to distance
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Planetary Science
Week 2
Unit 2: Place in the Universe
Day 1:
Targets:
1. I can calculate scale factors for scale models
2. I can calculate the scale size of objects in the solar system using a scale factor
Video: Size and Scale of Stars (from the Sun to the largest known star)
Images: Star sizes comparison
Worksheet: Sun Size part 2
Resources: Size and Scale of Objects in the Solar System ppt
Formative Assessment: Check for correct math
Day 2:
Targets:
1. I can discuss our location in our galaxy and our view of the stars in the galaxy
2. I can identify key features of our Milky Way galaxy
3. I can order the organization of complex groups of object in our universe
Video/Song: The Galaxy Song
Worksheet: Location of the Sun in our Milky Way
Concept Map: Our Location in the Universe
Formative Assessment: Check position of Sun on Milky Way map and the order of the
concept map
Resources: Size and Scale of Objects in the Solar System ppt
Day 3: Summative Assessment: Quiz 1
Day 4: BEGIN NEW UNIT: Classification of Objects in the Solar System
Target: I can organize and categorize solar system objects.
Reading: Hubble Observations of Ceres and Pluto: A Closer Look at the “Ugly Duckling” of
the Solar System
Activity: Sorting the Solar System
Homework: Reading article: Hubble Observations of Ceres and Pluto
Resources: Classifying objects in the Solar System ppt
Day 5:
Target: I can read and analyze a scientific article
Worksheet: Article Analysis
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Planetary Science
Week 3:
Unit 3: Classification of Objects in the Solar System
Day 1: RTI – Reviewed and Discussed Quiz 1/2
Day 2:
Target: I can discuss how and why the number of planets has changed throughout history
Handout: Titus Bode Law
Formative Assessment: Check responses to handout
Resources: Classification of Objects in the Solar System
Day 3:
Targets:
1. I can define the word planet.
2. I can define the word dwarf planet.
Video: Why is Pluto is no longer a Planet?
Reading: IAU Resolution B5 and B6.
Video: Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Resources: Classification of Objects in the Solar System ppt
Day 4:
Targets:
1. I can define Small Solar System Objects
2. I can define Asteroids
3. I can classify solar system objects by using the correct definitions of Solar System
objects as defined by the International Astronomical Union
Handout: Ceres and Pluto
Resources: Classifications of Objects in the Solar System ppt
Day 5: RTI – Quiz 1/2 Retake (30 minutes)
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Planetary Science
Week 4
Unit 3: Classification of objects in the Solar System
Day 1:
Target:
1. I can class
Reading:
Formative Assessment:
Resources:
Day 2: Used the Ipads for researching Ceres, Vesta, Earth and Pluto
Target:
Day 3:
Targets:
Video:
Reading:
Video:
Resources:
Day 4:
Targets
Allen Stern: Why Pluto should be a planet
Scientific Debate
Day 5:
Summative Assessment Quiz 3: Classification of objects in the Solar System
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Planetary Science
Week 5
Unit 4: Ancient to Modern Astronomy
Day 1:
Target:
1. I can describe the Ptolemaic and Aristolean geocentric models of the Universe and
their use of epicycles.
2. I can describe the celestial sphere.
3. I can describe the observations that were difficult to be accounted for in a model of
the universe
Reading:
Formative Assessment:
Resources: Ancient to Modern Astronomy ppt.
Day 2:
Target:
1. I can describe Copernicus’ heliocentric model of the Universe and provide details on
why his model was incorrect.
Day 3:
Target:
1. I can describe Tycho Brahe’s major contributions to astronomy
Day 4:
Target:
1.
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
Formative Assessment:
Resources: Ancient to Modern Astronomy ppt.
Day 5:
Introduction to ellipses
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY – Scaling the distances of the Solar System
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Planetary Science
Week 6
Unit 4: Ancient to Modern Astronomy
Day1:
Target:
2. I can define and draw an ellipse.
3. I can identify the aphelion, perihelion, major axis, semimajor axis, and focal distance of
an ellipse.
4. I can calculate the eccentricity of an ellipse. (I can calculate the eccentricity of a
planets orbit)
Individual Activity: Kepler’s 1st Law Activity
Formative Assessment: Check Analysis item on worksheet
Reading: Kepler’s three laws of planetary Motion
Day 2/3:
Sophomore and Senior Testing (reviewed Kepler’s first law and worked on activity)
Day 4:
Targets:
1. I can use Kepler’s 2nd Law to describe the velocity changes in a planets orbit
around the sun.
2. I can use Kepler’s 3rd Law to calculate the period and semimajor axis of a planets
orbit around the sun
Worksheet: Kepler’s 2nd Law
Resources: Ancient to Modern Astronomy
Day 5:
Target:
1. I can use an online virtual lab to reinforce my understanding of Kepler’s laws of
planetary motion
Computer lab Activity: Planetary Orbits Virtual Lab
Formative Assessment: Lab Report
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Planetary Science
Week 7 September 24 - 28
Unit 4: Ancient to Modern Astronomy
Day1:
Target:
1. I can use Kepler’s 3rd Law of motion to calculate the period and semimajor axis of a
planets orbit.
Worksheet: Kepler’s 3rd Law
Formative Assessment: Check Analysis item on worksheet
Reading: Kepler’s three laws of planetary Motion
Day 2:
1. I can use Kepler’s 3rd Law of motion to calculate the period and semimajor axis of a
planets orbit.
Worksheet: Kepler’s 3rd Law
Formative Assessment: Check Analysis item on worksheet
Reading: Kepler’s three laws of planetary Motion
Day 3:
Targets:
1. I can describe the observation of Galileo that supported the heliocentric universe
2. I can use Kepler’s 3rd Law to calculate the period and semimajor axis of a planets
orbit around the sun
Worksheet: Kepler’s 3rd Law, Kepler’s Laws review worksheet
Quiz Review Sheet
Resources: Ancient to Modern Astronomy
Day 4: (Senior MSU Collage Fair and Story Telling Festival)
Summative Assessment: Quiz 4: Ancient to Modern Astronomy
Day 5: (Story Telling Festival)
Reading: Gravity’s Influence on the Development of the Solar System
Synopsis
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Planetary Science
Week 8 October 1 - 5
UNIT 5: FORMATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Day1: RTI



Retake Quiz 3: Classification of the objects in the Solar System
Complete and Review Quiz 4: Ancient to Modern Astronomy
Article: Gravity’s Influence on the Development of the Solar System
Day 2:
Target(s)
1. I can list the sequence of events that led to the formation of the solar system.
Video: National Geographic – The Birth of the Solar System
Video Worksheet
Formative Assessment – event sequence exit slip
Day 3:
Target(s)
1. I can demonstrate a conceptual understanding of Newton’s Law of Gravitational
Attraction.
Worksheet: Newton’s Law of Gravity
Resources:
Day 4: (Guest Speaker – Dr. Eric Jerde, MSU planetary geologist)
Target(s)
Day 5: (Guest Speaker – Dr. Eric Jerde, MSU planetary geologist)
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Planetary Science
Week 9 October 8 - 12
Unit 5: Formation of the Solar System
Day 1:
Target(s)
Day 2:
Target(s)
Formative Assessment
Day 3: Summative Assessment – Quiz 5 Formation of the Solar System
Day 4/5: Fall Break
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Planetary Science
Week 10 October 15 - 19
Unit 6: The Planets
Day 1: (Field trip to the SSC)
Day 2:
Worksheet:
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
Day 3:
Targets:
Worksheet:
Resources:
Day 4:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
Day 5:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
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Planetary Science
Week 11 October 22 - 26
Unit 6: The Planets
Day1:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
Day 2:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
Day 3:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Resources:
Day 4:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
Day 5:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
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Planetary Science
Week 12: October 29 – November 2
Unit 7: Exoplanets
Day1:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Formative
Reading:
Day 2:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Formative Assessment:
Reading:
Day 3:
Target(s)
Worksheet:
Resources:
Day 4: REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM
Day 5: FINAL EXAM
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