Candice Frazier
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§112.7. Science, Grade 5
(4)Science is a way of learning about the natural world.
Students should know how science has built a vast body of
changing and increasing knowledge described by physical,
mathematical, and conceptual models.
(8) Earth and space. The student knows that there are
recognizable patterns in the natural world and among the
Sun, Earth, and Moon system. The student is expected to:
(A) differentiate between weather and climate;
(B) explain how the Sun and the ocean interact in the
water cycle;
(C) demonstrate that Earth rotates on its axis once
approximately every 24 hours causing the day/night cycle
and the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky; and
(D) identify and compare the physical characteristics of
the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
I
will be teaching 5th graders about the solar
system. Going into this, I know that the solar
system is a challenging topic so I will do my
best to make it fun
 I will use different methods to teach them
about the solar system: Activities, Computer
learning games, and lectures.
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The four planets
closest to the sun—
Mercury, Venus,
Earth, and Mars—are
called the terrestrial
planets because they
have solid rocky
surfaces. The four
large planets beyond
the orbit of Mars—
Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, and
Neptune—are called
gas giants.
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The planet Mercury is the closest of the planets
to the Sun. Because this planet lies so close to
the Sun, and as a result somewhat near to the
Earth, it is visible to observers on Earth in the
night time sky. Because of this, Mercury has
become apart of the mythology and legend of
almost every culture throughout the history of
the Earth.
This planet is often called a morning star. This is
because Mercury shines brightly in the early
morning, just before the sun rises. It has also
been called an evening star for the same reason.
Mercury often is visible for a brief period of time
just after the Sun sets.
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The planet Venus has long been one of the most
misunderstood of all the inner planets. Like the
Earth, Venus has an atmosphere. However, this
atmosphere is far thicker than that of the Earth,
making it difficult for modern science to
penetrate.
Because we cannot see the surface of the planet
Venus visually, there is much we still do not
know about how this planet looks, and what it is
like. However, using special instruments and
probes scientists have in recent years unlocked
many of the secrets long hidden by this
mysterious world.
 Mars
excites scientists because its mild
temperament is more like the Earth's than
any of the other planets. Evidence suggests
that Mars once had rivers, streams, lakes,
and even an ocean. As Mars' atmosphere
slowly depleted into outer space the surface
water began to permanently
evaporate. Today the only water on Mars is
either frozen in the polar caps, or
underground.
 Continue
with the rest of the planets and
information about them.
 Have
students go to the website:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/fun/orbitsV3
.swf
 They will be able to build their own Solar
System there.
 Have
Students go to the website:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_syste
m.htm
 There, they will be able to click on the
different planets and it will bring up an
endless source of information about the
different planets, along with the solar system
itself.
 Games included on the website
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Supplies needed: A round
piece of cardboard about
1 ft across (the cardboard
from a frozen pizza works
well)
Lots of colors of oak tag
(or construction paper)
Scissors
Tape
String
Pencil, crayons, or
markers
A compass (for making
circles)
 Have
them write a paper about the Solar
System. They can pick one planet to
specifically write about.
 List the planets in order.
 Have a class discussion on what they learned
overall about the Solar System.
 Go over the Solar System Model they made
and the different websites that taught them
about the Solar System and discuss what they
gained from all the activities.
 http://science.nationalgeographic.com/scie
nce/space/solar-system
 http://www.kidsastronomy.com/fun/orbitsV3
.swf
 http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_syste
m.htm
 http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/a
stronomy/solarsystemmodel/