Lesson Plan   

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Unit Topic or Theme: Science: Solar System

Grade:  Fourth Grade

Lesson Topic or Theme:  Identifying key features of each of the eight planets in relevance to the sun

Lesson Objectives:  1. The students will be able to name the eight planets in order in relation to the sun.  2. Be able to identify planets based on major characteristics.

Instructional Technique: class discussions, group work, and individual work

Instructional Materials: Planet worksheet, eight stations with fun facts on each planet

Theoretical Perspective: This lesson is important for students to learn because everyone should have some knowledge pertaining to our solar system and at least know the order of the planets. The major characteristics of planets are also important to know so that the planets can be easily identified.

Procedure:

 Introductory Activity:  Read the Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System to the class and discuss the planets.  Have students raise their hands and share any previous knowledge thy have acquired about our Solar System. Discuss a little about each planet, and explain how the stations will be set up and what is expected of the students. They are to complete the worksheet as they travel to each station and should be able to match up the answers on the worksheet using the information provided at each station. Write on the black board a mnemonic device to help the students remember the planets in order in relation to the sun.  An example would be My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Nectarines.   

     Step-by-step  

     There will be eight stations set up with fun facts about each planet to help familiarize the children. These stations will give the students an opportunity to explore the solar system and all that is has to offer.  Put the students into groups and have them complete the worksheet using the information at the given stations.

After each group has had an opportunity to go through each station, go over the worksheet as a class and discuss answers.

       Show the class the website to help them navigate through the solar system. Have each student complete the activity on the website individually.

Closure

As a closing activity have the students get into partners and each pair of partners will represent a different planet. Have the students arrange themselves in a circle in order according to how the planets rotate around the sun. The teacher will stand in the middle of the circle and represent the sun. Have each pair of partners come up with a fact about their planet to share with the class. Go around the circle in order until each pair of partners has shared their fact about their planet with the class.

Adaptations for different learners (i.e. non-native speakers, struggling readers or math phobic learners, students with poor study skills)

The student may have trouble memorizing the facts for the planets and matching them up if they have not had any previous knowledge of the subject. The student could have trouble remembering if the planets were not covered well in previous lessons. The order of the planets could also be tricky to remember if the student mixes up the M’s in the mnemonic device, Mars and Mercury.

 Homework

Have a great weekend! Go home and tell your parents what you learned!

 Evaluation:

It will be determined if the child knows the order of the plants in relation to the sun if they are able to complete the activity using the website. The closing activity will also tell if the student knows the order based on how they arrange themselves in the circle. It will be determined if the student knows a major characteristic of the planet based on the information they share during the closing activity and also the activity on the website.

Concerns or questions you have about teaching this lesson?

We have no concerns teaching the lesson because we fully believe that our children will gain more knowledge though this lesson than they previously had. There are ample opportunities to practice in a group and individually.