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a
journey through the solar system
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lesson plan |
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| PREPARATION
– find resources and background information, books, Internet sites,
posters, newspaper articles, time-lines of space exploration, documentaries,
CD’s, videos. |
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1
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Brainstorm
“Solar System” vocabulary in pairs and share with class. Draw a concept map using known space words. |
Examine prior knowledge. | Questionnaire 1. What are 3 facts about the Solar System? 2. Write what you know about the Solar System. 3. The moon is….. |
Record in books for later reference. | 1,2. |
Thinking Communication |
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2
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Suggestions
for Exploratory Activities to engage students in the topic more fully. 1. Video – The Solar System, There goes a spaceship and/or Apollo 13. 2. Read non-fiction books eg. Space – the new frontier by Colin Burgess about the Apollo 11 trip to the Moon and walking on the Moon 20th July 1969. Show a newspaper front page from that date. 3. Excursion to Planetarium 4. Internet sites www.spacelink.nasa.gov http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/ |
Many other resources could support Exploratory Activities. | 2 |
Thinking Interdependence |
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3
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Students are invited to ask questions and teacher uses open-ended questioning techniques. Record questions and hypotheses that are displayed as a reference in the classroom. Click here for question starters. | Paper and textas. | 2. | Thinking Communication |
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4
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Working in groups to design and make a scale model of the solar system using polystyrene balls or paper mache. | The planets vary in both size and distance between each other. | Peer assessment of size and distance accuracy shown with models. | Information
on planets such as Planet Database. Click here for information. |
1,2. | Communication |
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5
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In
groups students role-play the relationships between the Earth, moon and
sun. Students also role-play the orbit of other planets around the sun. |
To understand the relationships of the Earth, moon and sun. | Children
discuss the light and dark parts of the moon. Children rotate and revolve appropriate with their role. |
Students can wear name tags to identify which role they are taking. | 1, 2, 6. | Communication |
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6
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Balloon
rockets. Students to construct a balloon rocket. Click here for activity sheet. |
To
support Teacher Assessment Sheet. Click here for this. |
Balloons, straws, tape, fishing line. | 1, 6. | Communication Thinking |
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7
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Working
in groups, share and discuss the value of the cost of space exploration.
A group report is shared orally with the whole class. |
The cost of space exploration goes beyond the financial. | Teacher observation of work skills, collaborative interaction and motivation | Note paper for each group. | 6. | Interdependence Thinking |
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8
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Compare prior knowledge activity with current knowledge. | Self
assessment through Student reflection sheet. Click here for this. |
6 | Communication | ||
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technology activities. These may include: Critiquing, designing and making a moon buggy, satellite or space station that displays elements needed for human survival in space. In groups designing and making an air resistant machine to drop at a slow rate and carry a fragile object (eg. An egg). In groups design, make and appraise a rocket using card. Show technological components Supporting research activities. These may include: Researching the characteristics of the planets. Using the scale model of the planets across the schoolyard, students are stationed at each planet. Invite another class to travel to each planet where they will discover some interesting facts. Compiling the history of space exploration using a time-line. Researching the various spacecraft, their purpose and value to space exploration. |
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