EDU 537 Lesson Plan Template Lesson Plan Two

Lesson Plan
Component
Title: Exploring the

Descriptors

The title, Exploring the Solar System relates because students learning about the

Solar System
Grade: 5
Subject: Science

solar system falls under national and state standards for fifth grade students. The
national science standard says that students will be able to recognize major common
characteristics and properties of the planets as well as can distinguish among different
objects in our solar system. Through the lesson students will have a chance to gather

Relevant
Standards:

Science Standard:
SC.5.E.5.1
Science Standard:
SC.5.E.5.2
Science Standard:
SC.5.E.5.3

facts as if they were an astronaut.

The standard SC.5.E.5 is: Earth in Space and Time.
My lesson addresses the science standard SC.5.E.1. This science standard says that
students will be able to recognize that our galaxy consist of many different parts.
Students can identify our home galaxy.
The lesson will also address science standard SC.5.E.5.2. This science standard says
the students will recognize the major common characteristics of all planets and
compare/contrast the properties of inner and outer planets. To be able to achieve this
standard, students will be able to:

Identify common characteristics of inner and outer planets

They will be able to compare and contrast inner and outer planets

Additionally, the lesson will also address science standard SC.5.E.5.3. This standard
says that students will be able to distinguish among the following objects of the Solar
System sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and identify Earths position in it
Learner
Outcomes

(CPALMS).
Throughout this unit students will take dive into the Solar System. In the first lesson,
students completed mini research projects on one of the planets and watched each

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others presentations. In the second lesson, students worked in teams of three to four to
take a more in depth look at the planets. In their teams, students completed a research
project where they researched relevant facts about all of the planets in the solar
system.
In todays lesson, students will work in teams of four students where they will act as
crew members to find out more information about the planets in our solar system and
create a video presentation with their findings. By the end of this lesson, students will
have learned specific facts about each planet that are important facts for astronaut
training. In their teams, students will have the following roles:
1. Flight Captain this student is the team leader; they will help make sure that
the project is completed and help with the team decisions.
2. Navigator this student is responsible for navigating the internet to find the
data needed.
3. Data Recorder this student is responsible for writing down the data in the
chart provided.
4. Flight Engineer this student will help the Data Recorder and the Flight
Captain, as well as coming up with ideas for the video presentation.
Students will complete a research chart (found at the end of this lesson) with the
following information for each planet including the sun.
1. Diameter
2. Temperature/Average Temperature
3. Age
4. Weight
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5. Rotation
6. Fun Fact
Once the teams have completed their charts they will make a video presentation of the
information that they have gathered. Students will present their finished videos to their
classmates.
After the presentations are finished the class will work together to create a mind map
that contains facts on all of the planets in the solar system. Students will use the new
knowledge that they gained in the lesson to create a Wordle (http://www.wordle.net)
Assessment

containing facts on a planet of their choice.

The teacher will circulate throughout the classroom while students are working in
groups to collect data and complete the data charts to observe and assist students. The
teacher will check in with students on an individual basis as well as by their flight
teams to ask them questions about what they are learning about the planets and the
Solar System. The teacher will ask students specific questions about the planets, the
Solar System, their favorite planet, and questions about the characteristics of the
planets.
Students will be asked to create a Wordle containing facts and information on a planet
of their choice and post it to the class site or blog so that other students and teachers
can read and respond to it. The teacher will have a supplemental rubric to use for the
student Wordles, as well as on the research charts that students will be completing as

Resources

groups. The rubric can be found on the last page of the lesson plan.
1. Laptops (one for each student)
2. Video cameras
3. Art supplies

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i.

Markers

ii.

Crayons

iii.

Colored pencils

iv.

White paper

v.

Colored paper

4. Library access
5. Internet access
6. Research charts
Anticipatory Set

7. Smart board
Students will use their knowledge of the Earth, Sun, Stars, the 8 planets, and the Solar
System from the prior lessons on the planets to help them learn more about the Solar
System. In the previous lessons, students will have researched the basic facts on the
planets, drawn pictures of them, compared two planets, and written a paper on their
favorite planet. Students should have completed a mind map that compares two
planets, or two types of planets and posted it to the class website for their homework.
As well as writing a paper on their favorite planet and posting it to the class website.
The teacher will begin the lesson by sharing some of the information that students
included in their papers. The teacher will present this information to the class in a
Wordle, to show students an example of tonights homework assignment.
The teacher will ask students some questions about what they learned in their last
science lesson. The questions that the teacher will start off asking will be chosen from
the closing question from the previous science lesson:
1. How many planets are there?
2. What are the names of the planets? What order are they in?

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3. What are some other objects that are found in our solar system?
4. Which planets have moons?
5. Which planets have rings?
6. Which planet is the coldest?
7. Which planet is the hottest?
8. Describe the surface of at least one planet
9. What is the order of the planets?
10. Is the sun a planet? Why or Why not?
11. Which planets are located closest to the sun?
12. Which planets are located farthest from the sun?
13. Where is the Earth located in the lineup of planets?
14. Which planets are inner planets?
15. Which planets are outer planets?
16. Do all planets have moons? Which planets have moons?
17. How many planets have rings? Which planets are they?
After the teacher, has reviewed the previous lesson on planets, he/she will explain the
new lesson. The teacher will use the smartboard to show students a copy of the data
chart that they will be working on, and where to find it on their computers, as well as
helpful links that students can use. After this introduction, students will be split into
Procedures

groups of four to complete their data charts and make a video presentation
At the beginning of the class the teacher will introduce the lesson on the smartboard
by showing students a Wordle with some of the information that students provided in
their papers about their favorite planets. The teacher will also show them the data chart
that they will be working on and where to find it on the computers. The teacher will

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ask students questions about the solar system and the planets to active their prior
knowledge and get them thinking about the topic. Before students begin working in
groups, the teacher will provide them with helpful links about the solar system.
Students will be broken up into groups of four to complete their data collection and
create a video presentation of their findings.
The teacher will circulate throughout the classroom while students are working on
their data charts. He/she will ask students guiding questions throughout the process,
especially if students look like they are struggling. Questions will be along the lines
of:
1. Which planets have you looked up so far?
2. What is the oldest planet?
3. Which planet is the coldest?
4. Which planet is the biggest?
5. How much does ________ planet weigh?
Following completion of their data charts, students will make sure all of their data is
accounted for and come up with a creative way to present the information in a video
presentation for the class to see.
Students will be provided with some helpful links to help them with their research, but
will be required to find additional resources as well.
Helpful links include:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101-videos/solar-system-sci

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm

http://www.planetsforkids.org

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http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/the_planets.htm

http://quatr.us/physics/space/mercury.htm

Students will use their research to complete a data chart on the planets and the sun.
They will use the information they find to make a video presentation to present their
finding to their classmates. Students will share their data charts on their class website
(https://www.edmodo.com) or ePortfolio, as well as sharing their video presentation.
The following programs can be used to create presentations:
http://edu.glogster.com/?ref=com - For creating digital posters
https://www.wikispaces.com - Wikis
https://prezi.com or PowerPoint For creating a presentation
https://animoto.com - For creating videos
iMovie

After students have presented their video projects and taken notes on their classmates
presentations, they will work with the teacher to create a mind map that shows all of
Closure

the planets and facts about each planet.

The teacher will close the lesson by reviewing the information in the data charts with
the students and creating a mind map with the students to help them visualize the data.
This will be a time when students can ask any questions they may have on what they
learned in the lesson. Once the teacher has finished reviewing that days lesson and
writing down any questions students may have, he/she will make sure students
understand how to make a Wordle and answer any questions students may have. The
teacher will explain that they would like students to pick one planet of their choice and

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create a Wordle with the information they have learn throughout the solar system unit.
Students will be asked to post their finished Wordle to the class website and their
ePortfolio to be reviewed by other students and the teacher. Posting their Wordle on
the class website will encourage further discussion between students.
Students will receive feedback from the teacher on their Wordle once it has been
posted on the class website and ePortfolio. The teacher will participate in discussions
with the students online, and provide a grade with feedback on the group presentation.
Modifications/
Accommodations

Feedback on presentations will be given to students in their groups.

For students with attention issues, the teacher will provide private work spaces to
allow for less distractibility. The teacher will allow the student some wait time when
asking them questions, and provide the student with extra time to complete
assignments.
For students who are physically unable to complete the process of typing to do
research or creating their own presentation, they will be allowed to provide verbal
answers and directions to an adult who will help them complete the project. They will
also be allowed to have assistance with typing, or anything that they are unable to do
because of physical needs. The student will have access to voice to text software to
assist them with research and typing if they are comfortable with it. These students
will be given additional time on deadlines on their assignments. The teacher will also
offer the student alternative ways of typing.
Students with communication disorders will have access to speech boards to
communicate with teachers and peers. They will be able to use these speech boards to
answer questions about planets and Solar Systems. They will be allowed to have
someone else record their project for them if they need narration done. They will

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receive extra time on assignments in class and out of class.

Students with sight issues will be allowed to have someone to provide them with
descriptions of all visual information and to help them complete hands on
assignments. They will be allowed to have extended time on assignments.
For students with hearing impairments the teacher will provide a projected copy or
individual copies of any information being read aloud so the students can read along.
The teacher will provide written directions to go along with the assignment so that the
students can closely follow the directions. The teacher will provide students with the
written steps that describe that days classwork. Students will be provided with extra
time to complete assignments. They will also have access to sign language translation.
For students with learning disabilities the teacher will provide them with extra time to
complete assignments. They will be provided with a written list of everything that
needs to be completed for the assignment so that they have the chance to stay more
Higher-Order
Questions (HOT)

organized.
1. How many planets are there?
2. What is the order of the planets?
3. Which planet is the largest?
4. Which planet is the oldest?
5. What is the youngest planet?
6. Do all planets rotate the same direction? Explain.
7. What is one fun fact about one of the planets?
8. What is the temperature of the hottest planet? Which planet is it?
9. What is the temperature of the coldest planet? Which planet is it?

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Solar System Data Chart

Team Member Names: ________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________
Space Ship Name: ______________________________________
What is the
diameter?

What is the surface

and
temperature/average
temperature?

Mercury

Venus

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What is the
planets age?

What is the
planets
weight?

What is the
planets
rotation?

Fun fact
about the
planet

Earth

Mars

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Jupiter

Sun

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Wordle Rubric
Student
includes the
name of one
planet and the
home galaxy
in their Wordle
Student used
multiple
resources to
find data for
their Wordle
Student
included
multiple
characteristics
of their planet
in their Wordle
Spelling and
grammar

3
One Planet is
clearly
presented with
the name of the
home galaxy

2
One Planet is
clearly
presented, but
name of home
galaxy is missing

1
Wordle includes multiple
planets and is confusing

0
No planet is
included

Student used 4+
resources to
gather
information

Student used 3
resources to
gather
information

Student used 1 resource to

gather information

Student
included 3+
characteristics
of their planet

Student included
2 characteristics
of their planet

Student included 1
characteristic of their planet

Student did
not use any
resources to
gather
information
Student did
not include
any
characteristics

Paper is free of
spelling and
grammar issues

Paper has minor

spelling and
grammar issues

Paper has some spelling and

grammar issues

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Paper has
major spelling
and grammar
issues

Reference List
CPALMS. (N.D.). Browse and Search Standards. Where Educators Go For Bright Ideas. Florida State
University. Retrieved November 29, 2016 from: http://www.cpalms.org/Public/search/Standard#0

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