The Solar System
| Teacher:
Robert S. Ramsey
Anderson Middle School  |
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Introduction
As a complementary exploration to a traditional classroom unit of the solar system your students will test their knowledge about the many characteristics of the solar system. They will reinforce their knowledge about the planets and how they differ from one another. They will learn about asteroids and meteoroids, and the risk to Earth from cosmic impacts and finally discover how their age and weight would be different on the other planets.
Subject: Physical Science
Topic: The Solar System
Grade Level: Eighth
Student Lesson URL: http://ctap295.ctaponline.org/~ramsey/index.html
Standards
Addressed
Eighth Grade
Science: Focus on Physical Science
Earth in the
Solar System
Standard # 4
Students will know:
e. the
appearance, general composition, relative position and size, and
motion of objects in the solar system, including planets, planetary
satellites, comets, and asteroids.
Investigation
and Experimentation
Standard # 9
Students will:
f. apply some mathematical relationships to determine one quantity given
the
other two.
Instructional
Objectives
Students will:
1. List the names of the planets in the order they orbit the sun.
2. Describe different ways in which the inner and outer planets are different
from each other.
3. Explain the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse.
4. Explain why comets, asteroids, and meteoroids are important to the study
of the formation of the solar system.
5. Describe the risk to life on earth from cosmic impacts.
Student
Activities
Over the course of this exploration students will investigate our solar system. Students will explore the nine planets, the moons, and the small bodies in the solar system. Activities students will take part in will be conducted on pre assessed interactive web sites.
Introductory
Activity
Students will go to the Solar
System Trading Cards web site
and answer questions about the sun and the planets, moons, comets, and
asteroids in our solar system. Students will keep track of their results
to be
turned in for credit.
Enabling
Activity(ies)
Students
choose two of the following sites to explore and turn in data sheets for
the chosen sites.
The planets of our solar system are all unique. In this activity students
will
read a summary about each planet, and view a fact page about each one.
Answer questions and view photos from various spacecraft and telescopes.
Travel to The
Planets web site and challenge your ability to learn more
about the solar system.
Test your Planet
Knowledge of the planets and the solar system
with this interactive web site.
As a way to assess students ability to apply mathematics to science they
will explore Your
Weight and Age on Other Planets. This should be an eye
opening activity that students find enlightening.
Meteorites, Asteroids, what's the difference? What is the likelihood that
Earth could be hit by one of these Great
Balls of Fire? Check out the
fireballs that have hit Earth and meet a scientist who tracks them. Students
read the article about Tom Gehrels and then explore the activities on the
site.
Have students reinforce their knowledge about Lunar
Eclipses and how an orbiting satelite can be
effected by the eclipse.
Students explore a site from the Exploratorium to learn various aspects about Solar Eclipses.
Culminating
Activity
As
a final activity to evaluate students understanding of the solar system
and its contents, students will retake the pre-test from the beginning
of the
unit and put together a poster presentation of the introductory and
enabling activities from above.
Assessment
Possible Points Poster Presentation (30 points possible)
30-27 Poster layout self-explanatory, and successfully incorporates a good sensory
approach; creative and very effective use of materials and vocabulary.
26-23
Poster layout logical, concise, and easy to follow; materials and vocabulary
esed in
poster appropriate and effective.
22-19 Acceptable layout of poster; materials and vocabulary used appropriately.
18-16
Organization of layout could be improved; better use of materials and vocabulary
could have been chosen.
15-5
Layout lacks organization and is difficult to understand; poor and ineffective
use of
materials and vocabulary.
Results
After completion of the solar system unit pre and post test results will be examined and graphical
results will be produced to show growth of student knowledge.
Web
Resources & Supplementary Materials
Introductory Activity
Web site for this activity
was found from HRW Science and Technology: Physical Science Scilinks
resource.
Enabling Activity
Web sites for these activities
were found from HRW Science and Technology: Physical Science Scilinks
resources and The Exploratorium web site.
Culminating Activity
Pre and post test and poster
display materials
Anderson Middle School
1646 West Ferry St.
Anderson, CA 96007
Robert Ramsey
School e-mail: rrramsey@shastalink.k12.ca.us
Home e-mail: bugman@snowcrest.net
Last Revised: 7/17/2000