#1834. The solar system

Science, level: Elementary
Posted Mon Jul 3 07:38:32 PDT 2000 by Jackie (jzz26@hotmail.com).

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania
Materials Required: Internet, Informational books, Videos, VCR and TV, Construction paper, glue, other art materials.
Activity Time: Eight 45 minute periods
Concepts Taught: The students will research the solar system to learn more about each planet.

Rationale

This is a unit on the Solar System. It lets the students learn characteristics of each planet, the sun, and
starts. The size, distance, and features of each planet will be discussed. The students will be in groups
and each group will be assigned a planet to study (Earth will be excluded). The learners will do other
activities along with the research such as making models of the planets, sun, and stars.

Objectives

After researching the nine planets of our solar system and the sun, the students will be able to describe the
in detail characteristics of the planets, sun, and starts of our solar system.

More specifically, the learner will be able to:

List the planets in correct order from the closest to the sun from furthest from the sun
Name the characteristics of each planet as asked in the worksheet
Name the characteristics of the sun as asked on the worksheet
Name the constellation of the stars as asked in the worksheet
Present their model of their planet and constellation of stars
Work in groups and cooperate with one another as a team

Lesson Activities

CLASS I

10 minutes Teacher hands out a picture of the Sun and nine planets and asks students to label
them. This allows the teacher to see if students have had prior experience with the planet.
10 minutes Teacher has students count off from 1-8. The student will work in group:

Group 1: Mercury Group 5: Saturn
Group 2: Venus Group 6: Uranus
Group 3: Mars Group 7: Neptune
Group 4: Jupiter Group 8: Pluto

25 minutes The teacher shows the students the learning centers. The teacher introduces
books, videos, and posters that will help the students gather information about the planet. Also,
the teacher will show the students the computer and a list of internet sites to visit to look for
information. Teacher will then end class.

CLASS II

5 minutes Teacher explains that the groups will have to take turns using the computer and
videos.
20 minutes Group 1 will work on the computer for 20 minutes and group 2 will watch their
video for 20 minutes. The rest of the class will look at posters and read books on their planet.
20 minutes Group 3 will work on the computer for 20 minutes and group 4 will watch their
video for 20 minutes. the rest of the class will read informational books and look at posters.
Class dismissed.

CLASS III

20 minutes Group 5 will work on the computer and Group 6 will watch a video. The rest of the
class will read informational books.
20 minutes Group 7 will work on the computer and Group 8 will watch a video. The rest of the
class will read informational books.
5 minutes The teacher will explain the project that is to go along with worksheet. Each group
will make a model of their planet using materials from the classroom and on model of a
constellation of starts. Class dismissed.

CLASS IV

20 minutes Group 2 will use the computer and group 1 will watch their video. The teacher
will hold a conference with group 5 and 6 for 10 minutes each. The other groups will continue to
work.
20 minutes Group 4 will use the computer and group 2 will watch the video. The teacher will
hold conferences with group 7 and 8 for 10 minutes each. The other groups will continue to work.
5 minutes Teacher will let groups clean up and ask if anyone has any questions. Class
dismissed

CLASS V

20 minutes Group 6 will use the computer and group 5 will watch the video. The teacher will
hold conferences with group 1 and 2 for 10 minutes each. The other groups will continue working
on worksheets and projects
20 minutes Group 8 will use the computer and group 7 will watch the video. The teacher will
hold conferences with group 3 and 4 for 10 minutes each. The other groups will continue working
on the worksheets. Class dismissed

CLASS VI

10 minutes Teacher asks student if they need to see any of the learning centers again. The
teacher will work out a schedule so that the student can visit the center one last time if needed.
Teacher also introduces a power point presentation to them that will serve as an answer key to
their questions.
35 minutes Each group will get approximately 5 minutes to use power point to check their
answers. The rest of the time can be used to finish up their model of the planet. Class dismissed.

CLASS VII

5 minutes Teacher will pass out 7 worksheets to each student. The students will be presenting
the information on the planets. The students will fill out the worksheet as the information is being
presented.
40 minutes Group 1,2,3,&4 will present their information for 10 minutes each. Class dismissed.

CLASS VIII

40 minutes Group 5, 6, 7 ,& 8 will present their information for 10 minutes or less.
For the remainder of the class will review the worksheets. The teacher will answer any questions.

The student will have 2 days to study the information and they will be given a 25 point multiple
choice test to see if they comprehended the information presented. At that time the worksheets for
each group and models will be collected.