MultiMedia Tools

Lesson Idea Name: Solar System

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 4
Content Standard Addressed:

S4E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to compare and contrast the physical attributes of stars
and planets.

d. Evaluate strengths and limitations of models of our solar system in describing relative size, order,
appearance and composition of planets and the sun. (Clarification statement: Composition of planets is limited
to rocky vs. gaseous.)

Technology Standard Addressed:

Knowledge Constructors: Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct
knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and
others.

Selected Technology Tool:

☒ Movie (list application): iMovie
☐ Audio (list application):
☐ Other: (list)
URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qupz33kh31cz8y1/1080p.mov?dl=0

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☐ Remembering ☐ Understanding ☐ Applying ☐ Analyzing ☒ Evaluating ☒ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level): (Select the best level)

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☒ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Students have the opportunity for hands on learning with this lesson.
Students become active as they physically model the distance each planet is from the sun. Students have the
opportunity to use multiple means of representing their learning. Students will work in groups constructed by
the teacher to support low level learners.

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Lesson idea implementation: Teacher will play the solar system video for the class during the introduction.
Teacher will point out the size of the solar system in the video. Teacher will talk about how poorly the images
in the video demonstrates the distance between the sun and the planets. Teacher will show the class a yellow
marble. Teacher will ask:

What part of our solar system could this marble could represent? The sun

If the sun was only the size of a ping pong ball, how big do you think the earth would be? Class will guess
sizes, the correct answer is it would be about the size of a period.

If the sun was only the size of this marble and the earth was the size of a period, how far away would the
earth be from the sun? Teacher will let students guess. Correct answer 4 feet away.

Teacher explain earth is 149570000Km away from the sun! So if we scaled down the size of the sun
and the earth we would also size down the size of the distance between the two. Class will go outside to
construct a to scale model of the solar system on the playground.

Murcery- 1ft
Venus- 3 ft
Earth- 4ft
Mars- 6ft
Jupiter 23 ft
Saturn 42 ft
Uranus 85 ft
Neptune 134 ft
Pluto 177ft

Then the class will come back inside and be put into groups. Each group will look at a different model of
the solar system. Students will measure the size of the sun and the distance between each planet. Students
will use http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ to input the measurement of the sun in their
model and then compare the distances they measured on the models to the proper to scale measurement.
Students will analyze different solar system models and critique their ability to relate the scale size of the
solar system.
This lesson will be extended to a conversation about the limitations models have on expressing the
physical attributes of the planets as well. Students will write a response that evaluates strengths and
limitations of models of our solar system in describing relative size, order, appearance and composition of
planets and the sun. Students can create a video, write a paper, or create a presentation to show their learning.

Importance of technology: In this lesson students use technology to see an introduction to our solar system.
Then they use technology to calculate appropriate scale models for the solar system and to create their
evidence of learning.
Inspiration (optional):
https://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2007/materials/solar_pizza.pdf

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/

Internet Safety and Student Privacy: In this lesson students safely use technology. None of the programs they
will use online will require a log in or for any exchange of information.

Spring 2018_SJB
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Reflective Practice: I absolutely love this lesson idea. It could be adapted to in many ways that would deepen
learning for the students. I love the students are able to experience the scale size of the solar system so they are
able to evaluate models based on a conceptual understanding of the relative size of the solar system. I think
students will enjoy getting to go outside and be creative. If the school’s hallway is long enough the students
could even create a scale model of the solar system going down the length of the hallway!

Spring 2018_SJB