Title: Solar System Math

Grade: 2nd
Content being taught: Space
Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn how to do one and two-step math problems,
while also learning different facts about the solar system and the planets within it.
Objectives/Goals:
Students in the second grade will be able to solve six math problems, after learning how to do
one and two-step problems with 80% efficiency.
Standards:
Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction- 2.0A.A.1 Use addition and
subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding
to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions,
e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the
problem.1

Introduction:
Ask the students what they know about the planets
After, explain to them the concept of one and two-step word problems
Procedure:
1. Introduce the students to the topic of one and two-step word problems
2. Explain how a one and two-step word problem is structured and works
3. Model how to complete a one step word problem
4. Model how to complete a two-step word problem
5. With the students, complete a one-step problem
6. With the students complete a two-step word problem
7. Answer any questions that the students may have
8. Explain to them that they will be working on a worksheet that has one and two-step word
problems individually. If they have any questions, ask their neighbors first and then come to the
teacher
Individual Practice:
The students will be asked to complete a worksheet of six word problems that are either one or
two steps. Students will need to figure out the order in which to solve the problem to get the
correct answer.
Assessment:
The assessment is the worksheet that the students will work on during the individual work time.
They need to get at least 80% right in order to move onto the next content.

Modifications/Adaptations:
For students who are struggling to complete the task, there is the option of the use of a
calculator and the option of more time if they need it. There is also the option of adjusting the
percent the student needs to get correct and/or giving the student a different set of questions
that have less problems and/or are only one step.
Resources:
http://www.planetfacts.net/Mercury-Facts.html
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0909527.html
http://www.edhelper.com/SolarSystem1.htm
http://www.ldonline.org/article/6202/
https://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/standards-curriculum/iowa-core/mathematics/grade2/operations-algebraic-thinking

Solar System Math Problems

1. Mercury is the closest

planet to the sun. it has a
diameter of 3,031 miles.
Earth has a diameter of 7,926
miles. What is the difference
between Earths and
Mercurys diameters?

2. Mars rotation around the

sun is 687 days and Venus
rotation around the sun is 225
days. How many days all
together would it take for
Mars and Venus to rotate
around the sun?

3. Uranus rotation of its axis

is 17 hours. Jupiters is 9
hours and 55 minutes. How
many hours would it take
both Uranus and Jupiter to
rotate around the axises?
What would that be in days?

4. Saturn has 30 known

satellites. Uranus has 27
known satellites. How many
more does Saturn have than
Uranus?

5. Neptune has 4 rings.

Jupiter has 4 rings as well.
How many rings do they have
together? Uranus has 11
rings. How many rings in all
do you have if you add
Uranus rings to the total of
Neptunes and Jupiters?

6. Saturn has 46 moons and

Neptune has 13 moons. How
many moons do they have
together? Uranus has 27
moons. How many more
moons does Saturn and
Neptune have put together
than Uranus?

Title: Solar System Reading

Grade: 2nd
Content being taught: Space
Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is for students to read informational text about two different subjects,
in this case asteroids and comets, and compare and contrast the main points and details about
both subjects while learning about the solar systems.
Objectives/Goals:
Students will be able to read informational text on the two subjects, asteroids and comets, and
recognize the similarities and differences between the two by putting at least 3 facts in each part
of the Venn Diagram.
Standards:
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas- RI.2.9. Compare and contrast the most important points
presented by two texts on the same topic.

Introduction:
Do a K-W-L chart
ask the students what they already know about asteroids and comets
ask the students what they want to know about asteroids and comets
at the end of the lesson, ask the students what they learned about asteroids and comets
Procedure:
1. Explain to the students that today they will be reading two informational texts about asteroids
and comets
2. Model how to read and highlight important facts within an informational text
3. Model/start how to write that information into a Venn Diagram
4. With the students, fill out the rest of the example Venn Diagram
5. Ask the students if they have any questions about the informational text or filling out a Venn
Diagram
6. Hand out the two informational texts to the students, along with a Venn Diagram worksheet.
Individual Practice:
Students will read the informational text on asteroids and comets and will compare and contrast
the two. Students will then complete a venn diagram to structure what they learned from the
readings.
Assessment:
The assessment for this lesson is the Venn Diagram. The students need to put at least 3 facts in
each part of the Venn Diagram in order to show that they read the text and understood what
they were reading.

Modifications/Adaptations:
For the students having trouble completing this task, the teacher can provide him/her with a
magnifier to assist with the reading. There is also the option of reading the informational text
online so that the student is able to magnify it if needed. Another option is to have the
informational texts pre-recorded and have it ready if a student needs to hear it read out loud or
the teacher can read it out loud in person to the student.
Resources:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/comets.htm
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/asteroid.htm

Title: Solar System Science

Grade: 2nd
Content being taught: Space
Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is for students to discover what makes the seasons change and the
consequences of the changing of the seasons has on the days outcome.
Objectives/Goals:
After reading Secrets of the Seasons: Orbiting the Sun in Our Backyard by Kathleen Weidner
Zoehfeld, the 2nd grade students will be able to create styrofoam models of the earth and the
sun, to demonstrate the tilt of the earth and how it affects the changing of the seasons.
Standards:
Understand and apply knowledge of observable information about daily and seasonal weather
conditions- Weather changes from day to day and over the seasons. The sun provides the light
and heat necessary to maintain the temperature of the earth.

Introduction:
Ask students what they know about the seasons
Ask the students how they think the seasons work and what influences the changes
Procedure:
1. Read the book Secrets of the Seasons: Orbiting the Sun in our Backyard to the children.

2. The teacher will model the 4 Seasons chart and what information is to be put in it.
3. After reading the book, students will fill out a seasons chart with the information about each of
the seasons with help from the teacher.
4. When the students are done filling out the 4 seasons charts, they will get together with a
group and talk about how the earths axis plays a role in the changing of the seasons (also
explained in the book).
5. The teacher will group the students together
6. In their groups, they will create styrofoam models of the earth and the sun.
7. Once the models are completed, they will tilt the models in a way that demonstrates how it
affects the seasons.
8. After all the students have created their models, come back together and talk about what they
did and how it will help them understand the changing of the seasons.

9. After all the groups have presented, the students will watch a video that explains the
changing of the seasons and how the tilt of the earth plays a role in the seasons.
(http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/weather/seasons/preview.weml)
10. At the end of the lesson, ask the students if they have any questions
Individual Practice:
Instead of having individual practice, the students will work together with groups and create
styrofoam models of the earth and sun and then present to the class.
Assessment:
The project that the students create in their small groups will be their assessment. The project
must demonstrate that the students understand how the tilt and orbit of the Earth and Sun
results in the change of seasons.
Modifications/Adaptations:
For students who have a difficulty with this task, giving them extra time to complete the project
is one accommodation. Another accommodation for the student is changing the group size so
as to not overwhelm the student. A modification could be excluding the student from the project
and let them demonstrate what they learned in a different way, so that the teacher is still able to
see if the student knows the content or not.
Resources:
https://www.google.com/search?
q=books+about+the+seasons&oq=books+about+the+seasons&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9823j0j7
&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=91&ie=UTF8#q=books+about+the+seasons&start=40&tbm=shop&tbs=vw:l
http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/lesson-plan/seasons-activities-kids/?bp-jrtopic=seasons
http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/accommodations-education/common-modificationsaccommodations

Title: Solar System Social Studies

Grade: 2nd
Content being taught: Space
Purpose:
Students will learn about the history of a planet and will create a timeline of information (with
dates) using what they learned.
Objectives/Goals:
Students in the second grade will be able to create a timeline containing historical dates (such
as when they found out certain information) about a planet of their choosing and present to the
class their findings.
Standards:
Understand people construct knowledge of the past from multiple and various types of sourcesUnderstand timelines.

Introduction:
What are the names of the planets?
What do you know about the different planets?
Procedure:
1. Start off by talking to the students about how in history, there are specific dates that allow us
to remember what happened in the past
2. Explain to the students that they will be creating a timeline of events using the history related
to the planet of their choosing.
3. The teacher will show a timeline (not finished) that was done beforehand. (includes a date
such as the date when explorers found that Neptune has 4 rings, and more dates about
Neptune) and explain how it was done.
4. The teacher will have books in the class that have to do with the different planets. After
showing the students the unfinished timeline, together the teacher and the students can look at
books about Neptune and add in more dates to the timeline.
5. When the modeled timeline is done, the students can pick a planet that they are interested in
and start looking at the different books and write down information.
6. Once the students have their information, they can start making their timeline.
7. After all the timelines are done, the students will present them to the class.
8. Ask if there are any questions at the end of the lesson
Individual Practice:
The students individual practice is a timeline of historical dates about the planet that they were
the most interested in.

Assessment:
The students timelines will be used to assess that they understand the history of their assigned
planet and that they understand how to put events on a timeline in chronological order.
Modifications/Adaptations:
A modification for a student that is having trouble completing the timeline is allowing them to add
less events onto their timeline. An accommodation could be providing the student with a
premade timeline that they would just fill in as they went. Also, allowing the student to use a
computer to create their timeline would be an acceptable accommodation.
Resources:
Viris Practicum Experience (2nd grade classroom at Hubbell Elementary)
https://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/iowa-core/social-studies/social-studies-%C2%BBkindergarten-grade-2
http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/accommodations-education/common-modificationsaccommodations

Title: Solar System Writing

Grade: 2nd
Content being taught: Space
Purpose:
Students will write about an experience an alien from another planet might have on Earth. this
experience can take place anywhere, like a playground, restaurant, movie theater, etc.
Objectives/Goals:
After reading Two Little Aliens by Sam Lloyd, the second grade students will be able to write a
narrative about an alien coming to Earth and what their character would experience that might
be different from what the alien might experience on their home planet.
Standards:
Text Types and Purposes-W.2.3. Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event
or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use
temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.

Introduction:
Read the book Two Little Aliens by Sam Lloyd

Procedure:
1. After reading the book Two Little Aliens by Sam Lloyd, discuss what the book was about.
2. Explain to the students that they will be writing a narrative (explain what that it is) about an
alien coming to our earth and experiencing something different.
3. Model to the students how to write a narrative.
4. After you write a few, work with the students to finish the narrative that you started.
5. Pass out paper that the students can use.
6. Ask the students if they have any questions

7. Give the students time to work

Individual Practice:
Individual practice that the students will do in this lesson is to write a creative narrative about an
alien coming to our planet and learning about all of the different things.
Assessment:
The stories that the students create about the Aliens experience will be used as an assessment
to check the students writing style.
Modifications/Adaptations:
For students who have trouble completing the writing task, they can use a computer to type out
their story. Another accommodation can be providing the student with a scribe to whom they
dictate the story. If the student need to work in a different environment, that can also be
relocated to a quieter place.
Resources:
http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/accommodations-education/common-modificationsaccommodations
http://www.amazon.com/Two-Little-Aliens-Sam-Lloyd/dp/1846169445/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&qid=1398815956&sr=8-1&keywords=two+little+aliens

Title: Solar System Music

Grade: 2nd
Content being taught: Space
Purpose:
Students will listen to a song about the planets and will then be asked to collaborate in their
groups and create an original song (students will be allowed to use a well known tune like Row
Your Boat).
Objectives/Goals:
After listening to the two songs Outer Space: We are the Planets by Storybots and Outer
Space: Im a star also by Storybots, students in the second grade will be able to write a song
with facts about space/the solar system to a well known tune and present it to the class.
Standards:
Uses song, speech, and movement to effectively communicate, collaborate with a group, and
produce a musical product: uses expressive speech and articulation to tell a story.

Introduction:
Ask the students what songs they are familiar with
Play the two songs that have to do with space/solar system
Procedure:
1. After listening to the two songs, explain to the students that they will be create a song in
groups to a tune that they know.
2. The teacher will model what the students will be doing. The teacher will write a song to a well
known tune that has to do with space/solar system.
3. Together, the teacher and the students will write a song.
4. The teacher will then split the students into groups and have them work together to create an
original song.
5. Ask if there are any questions.
6. Give the students work time.
7. After giving thee students time to work, have them present their songs to the class.
Individual Practice:
The individual practice that the students will do will actually be in groups. They will work with
their group to create a song that has information about space/the solar system to a tune that
they are all familiar with.
Assessment:
The song the students create and their presentation to the class will be used to assess their
understanding of the content.

Modifications/Adaptations:
An accommodation for a student could be giving the student more structure to work with, like
picking out the tune of the song for them, as well as giving them more time to complete it. Also,
a modification to the curriculum could be made so that the student is excused from the project
altogether.
Resources:
https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/General%20Music%20Iowa%20Core
%20Companion%202014-01-17.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHAqT4hXnMw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t3aXb3LpWg

Title: Solar System 21st Century Skills

Grade: 2nd
Content being taught: Space
Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson if for students to learn how to set a goal and working with another
peer to generate ideas with their assistance.
Objectives/Goals:
Students in the second grade will be able to set a goal (plan a trip to one of the planets) and
work with a peer in order to come up with things they would need to include on the trip.
Standards:
Financial Literacy-Demonstrate the ability to set goals based on wants and needs.
Employability Skills- Communicate and work appropriately with others to complete tasks

Introduction:
Ask the students if they go on road trips and where
Ask the students how they prepare to go
Procedure:
1. Start off by explaining to the students what a goal is.
2. Explain to the students that they will be setting a goal today, which will be to plan a trip to one
of the planets.
3. The teacher will model this by picking a planet (trip to Mercury) and writing down the
materials that will be needed for the trip and how they are going to get there (lets say it is
possible at this time to go to different planets and we have the transportation to do it).
4. The teacher will then ask the students if there is anything that they forgot. The teacher will
ask the students for their input on what they think that should be included.
5. Ask the students if they have any questions.
6. Assign the students to a partner and have them start working on their planet trip.
7. The students will then present their trip outline to another pair.
Individual Practice:
The individual practice will actually be done in a pair. The students will set a goal (which planet
they want to take a trip to) and together come up with an outline of what materials they will need
and how they will get there. They will also then present it to another pair, so that they are seeing
what other groups goals were.
Assessment:
The students will be assessed based on their explanation of their set goal and how they
accomplished.

Modifications/Adaptations:
If a student has trouble following directions, the teacher can make the accommodation and
provide the student with a written list of instructions to follow. If the student needs a visual, the
teacher can provide the student with a visual organizer. If needed, a modification can be made
for the student so that he/she can create an alternative project or assignment.
Resources:
http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/accommodations-education/common-modificationsaccommodations
https://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/iowa-core/21st-centuryskills/21st-century-skills-%C2%BBkindergarten-grade-2