Lesson+Plan+page

 Lesson Plan for the week of: April 25th-29th, 2011 = Title: Earth and Space in time = = Subject: Science = = Author: Laura Busch = = Grade Level: Third Grade =

** Overview: ** This week’s lesson presented will introduce space. Students will acknowledge that the Sun is a star and the distance between the Earth and the Sun (even though we are the closest) is vast. Students will also comprehend the moon and its phases, the order of the planets, facts on each planet, why the Sun is so important, and much more. With hands-on experiments and group work students will remember and understand the concepts presented this week. **Objectives:** **The students will use the computer, library resources, and facts learned in class in order to comprehend and understand:**

= Materials Needed: Classroom computers with PowerPoint, Internet access, and Word, a projector, clickers for the students to use, school library, flashlights, batteries, lasers, Styrofoam balls, paint, globe, plant for the room, three bowls, sand, marble, rock, paper, and maybe a telescope. = = Activities and Procedures: = = Day 1: We will begin by reading a story about the stars and the Sun. The students will comprehend that the Sun is a star and not a planet and about the distance away stars are from Earth. After reading this story I will have students stand at different spots in the room (all at different distances) and shine their light on the audience. This will help students understand why some stars shine brighter (the distance) by applying the situation to real life. I will do this with the lights off and on to show why we only see stars at night time (besides the Sun). A laser may be used to show smaller stars. The students will also learn about the moon and its phases and do a worksheet to test their understanding of the topic. After this the students will work in groups and create their own PowerPoint presentation about what they learned about stars and the Sun. They will be given the option to make a short trip to the library to rent a book about the Sun or stars. After 30-45 minutes they will present their few slides of information. (Put a plant in the classroom this day and on keep it inside with no water and show kids how plants need the Sun). =
 * The distance of Stars and what the Sun is
 * How the Sun’s energy/light creates the galaxies, Solar System, Earth
 * The importance of the Sun
 * The order of the Solar System
 * The Law of Gravity
 * The objects unseen with the naked eye (need telescope)

**Day 2:** The Sun emits energy in the form of light. Discuss gravity and the formations of galaxies, including our own Milky Way Galaxy, stars, the Solar System, and Earth. Run around and play a quick game to emit energy and show them that we do the same thing but in a different form. We will watch a video discussing gravity and how Earth would be without it. They will drop items and see that because of gravity they fall to the ground, and also we will learn our weights on the other planets. After understanding the Law of Gravity each student will take a turn dropping a rock, marble, or wadded piece of paper into a bowl of sand. They will notice that certain objects fall faster and leave bigger "craters". We will than learn about the other planets and do a worksheet asking the order of the planets and what they look like. Students will than work in groups with provided Styrofoam balls and begin to make a replica of the Solar System (starting with painting their own planet). Each group will be assigned a specific planet to research and they will have to use Microsoft Word and describe the planet as best as they can. Five groups and two groups will present today.

**Day 3:** Students will learn how close the Sun is to Earth. We are the closest planet to the Sun take students outside to see how the warmth feels and how close we are. (Talk about sunscreen and sunglasses). Learn how the Earth rotates and the Sun shines on other planets with the use of a globe and the flashlight. Also understand the time differences around the world and how they relate to the Sun. Have two more groups present their projects on their planets and then paint the remaining Styrofoam balls. Then individually each student will write a rough draft essay on what the Earth would be like without the Sun.

**Day 4:** Students will finish their rough drafts and 10 minutes into class be taken to the computer lab to type them up and print them. After that finish up the Styrofoam planets and present them to the class. Introduce the vocabulary words on gravity for the test tomorrow. Then present a slide show where students answer questions on their own sheet of paper about the different sizes of objects and gravity.

**Day 5**: I will have a PowerPoint with questions listed for them to answer with their personal clickers about everything learned throughout the week. This will not be a grade but considered participation. We will have a vocabulary test and all of the Styrofoam projects and essays are due. Talk about how many stars and hidden things exist in space. Introduce the use of telescopes and if possible bring in one the students can use. Have students in the same groups add a slide to their PowerPoint on the things they think are hidden in space and can only be seen with telescopes. After this individually (while playing calm music) they will write one page about what they learned this week and what their favorite part was. = Assessment: =

= Standards: = = SC.3.E.5.1: Sun is a star = = SC.3.E.5.2: Sun emits energy forming galaxies and the Solar System = = SC.3.E.5.3: Sun is closest to the earth = = SC.3.E.5.4: Law of Gravity = = SC.3.E.5.5: Stars are seen through telescopes = = = = = = __ Blooms Taxonomy Levels: __ =
 * Participation || 25 points ||
 * PowerPoint || 15 points ||
 * Planets worksheet || 5 points ||
 * Styrofoam project || 10 points ||
 * Planet assignment on Word || 10 points ||
 * Essays on Earth without Sun || 10 points ||
 * Questions on gravity || 5 points ||
 * Vocabulary test || 5 points ||
 * Additional slide for PowerPoint || 10 points ||
 * Overview paper || 5 points ||
 * Total Points || __/100 ||

This lesson plan addresses the comprehension level because all of this information is relatively new to the students and they have to understand and comprehend what they are learning in order to do the projects and worksheets assigned. In their essays they have to explain and describe planets and same with on their PowerPoint’s. They cannot do that if they have not comprehended the material.

It also addresses the knowledge level because of the assignments asked of the students they need to gain knowledge for the essays they will write because they will not be able to use other sources. When a student is asked to write about something without being able to read from a book or website that is coming from their prior knowledge and remembrance. The activities done cause the students to have to repeat the things they have learned with causes them to remember and know the material.

Another level accomplished is application because the students have to apply what they are learning into their assignments. They will illustrate the phases they learned by drawing them on a worksheet, apply their knowledge to the projects done, and also they apply what they know to their essays.

This lesson touches on synthesis by having the students combine all of this information to write down their thoughts. Their essays are their own opinions which are similar to songs/poems because they come from their own minds.

Analysis is incorporated when the students are asked to make models of the planets and also summarize the characteristics of a specific planet. They must be able to compare and differentiate the planets from one another in order to do this.

The last level of Blooms Taxonomy is Evaluation which is included in this lesson plan because students have to make conclusions when working together in groups to decide what information to add to their PowerPoint slides and summaries of their planet.