SOLAR
SYSTEM
Exploring our planets...a fun journey to space!
ANALYZE LEARNERS
There are forty (40) learners in the class, of which twenty five are males and fifteen females ranging from ages 11 -12 years old.
The learner context is characterized by slow and fast learners of the same socio-cultural background.
The learners are generally enthused to discover new things as they enjoying activities that pull on their abilities to be creative. The learners have basic knowledge of the solar system to the extent to which it applies to their lives, noting that they live on .
The learners all fit into the three major learning styles (VAK). All the boys in the class fit well into the visual and kinesthetic categories while only half of the total males can be categorized as auditory learners.
To establish the learner’s prior knowledge of the lesson, the teacher will say a word, “sky” to which the students will each say any random word that is related to each one mentioned.
STATE OBJECTIVES
The learners will recognize, determine, and explain the solar system and its components.
1: Describe the composition of the solar system
2: Name the planets that makes up the solar system
3: Arrange the planets in their order of distance from the sum
4: Explain the characteristics of the planets within the solar system
The learners will be able to recognize, determine, and explain the components of the solar system by exploring its composition, naming the planets and explaining how they differ from each other.
SELECT MEDIA, MATERIALS & METHODS
Each learner will be required to take a full size cartridge paper to the class and markers will be provided by the teacher. The teacher will also make available, computers with speakers.
Learners will be placed in groups of eight, having a total of five groups. Each group will be assigned one of each: PLANETS, SUN, MOON, COMETS, and ASTEROIDS.
Teacher will introduce the activity to the class and assign each group their role.
Learners will then visit a WebQuest to acquire instructions on the learning activities of this topic. From the WebQuest, learners will be introduced to a photo story, videos and songs about the solar system, in the form of a link to a website.
Learners will need their notebooks and pens/pencils to record information.
UTILIZE MEDIA, MATERIALS & METHODS
Learners, within their groups, will explore the website and learn songs, watch videos about their assigned component of the solar system.
A WebQuest will be utilized to describe the task to be completed by the learners. Each group will be assigned a computer with internet access to complete the WebQuest activity.
Teacher will use the jigsaw learning strategy to the class and have at least one participant from each group to join another group to share what they have discovered.
Learners will, together in their groups, create a chart on the cartridge papers to share what they have discovered about each of their assigned component of the solar system.
Learners will do a complete Discovery Education’s Phases of the solar system exploration and list the planets from the hottest to the coldest then write in their notebooks in response to a reading prompt from the teacher.
The facilitator will make available, an interactive webpage to give students the opportunity to reinforce learning through games and songs and online assessments
Learners will place all of their learning activities into your Science Class folder
REQUIRE LEARNER PARTICIPATION
At the start of class, the teacher will allow students to watch and listen to the Solar System Song as an introduction to the lesson on the Solar System.
Teacher will then introduce students to a fun activity which will help them to discover the composition of the solar system:
On our journey to the universe, we will have five groups. You will travel in groups of eight to explore the different composites of the solar system. Each group will have a Head Astronaut (Group Leader).
Group One: The Head Astronaut will lead his team to identify the planets on the solar system. Be sure to identify the inner and outer planets. Take note of their characteristics. Go to the Solar System class website - it has a lot of information there.
Group Two: The Head Astronaut will lead his team to finding out about moons in the solar system. Be sure to take notes of the amount of moons on each planet and the total amount in the solar system. Go to the Solar System class website - it has a lot of information there.
Group Three: The Head Astronaut will lead her team to finding out about the asteroids in the solar system. Make sure you take notes of the amount of asteroids that are there. Go to the Solar System class website - it has a lot of information there.
Group Four: The Head Astronaut will lead her team to finding out about the comets in solar system. Be sure to make note of the amount. Go to the Solar System class website - it has a lot of information there.
Group Five: The Head Astronaut will lead his team to finding out about the sun in the solar system. Go to the Solar System class website - it has a lot of information there.
Upon return from your trips, we will do what is called a Jigsaw method of learning. Members from each group will filter into the other groups to share their discovery and what they have learnt.
In your new groups, you will create a chart with three columns: K-W-L. Add facts about what you know about the solar system in the “K” column. Then add questions that you have or things that you would like to know about the origin in the “W” column. You will add what you learn to the “L” column.
Learners will create a chart with three columns: K-W-L. Add facts about what they know about the solar system in the “K” column; add questions that they have or things that they would like to know about the origin in the “W” column; add what you learn to the “L” column.
Learners will be given the task to investigate the different composites of the solar system. Each student will note the characteristics of each.
Learners will then think about everything they have learnt about the solar system and write a response to the following prompt to be read by the teacher: “Imagine that you moved to the other side of the Earth. Would you see the same phases of the Earth that your friends would see in Georgia? Why or why not? Use the facts that you have learned throughout this WebQuest to support your thoughts.
Learners will do a complete Discovery Education’s Phases of the solar system exploration and list the planets from the hottest to the coldest.
Learners will place all of their learning activities into your Science Class folder
Learners will continue to explore the class interactive webpage to give students the opportunity to reinforce learning through games and songs and online assessments.
EVALUATE & REVISE
Through an inquiry learning strategy, students will learn facts about the solar system in a collaborative environment where visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners will get the opportunity to see the whole make up of the solar system, listen to songs and narratives of the system and make models, play games and have fun learning.
The integration of a WebQuest media will excite the exploratory minds of the learners who will use their imaginations to visualize the solar system and explore the planets and their features on their imaginary trip to space. Learners will be able to identify the planets through assimilation of a photo story and watch videos to see the arrangement of the solar system in order of their distance from the sun. Finally, learners will be able to interface with this lesson via technology integration which will make provisions for interactive learning activities such as games, videos, online tests and songs.
Learners will be encouraged to visit the learning center of the website as a means of positive reinforcement of the varying aspects of the solar system which are enhanced through songs and games and lots of fun videos to watch.
Through an active learning strategy, learners will share their least liked adventure in this lesson. Learners will also be able to enlighten the class about the planet that they wish to visit by stating their reasons for the planet of choice and tell the class what is so exciting about that planet.
USUING THE ASSURE MODEL, THE LESSON WILL BE GUIDED AS PLANNED:
