Developmental Lesson Plan

Teacher Candidate: Amber Shook Date: N/A

Group Size: 20 Allotted Time: about 50 minutes Grade Level: 3

Subject or Topic: Earth’s Atmosphere

Common Core/PA Standard(s):

Standard - 3.3.4.B1 Describe the earth’s place in the solar system that includes the
sun (a star), planets, and many moons.

Learning Targets/Objectives:
The students will be able to recite the layers of the atmosphere along with basic
information/characteris about them by completing activities.

Assessment Approaches: Evidence:

1. Exit Ticket 1. Answering questions about the
Earth’s atmosphere and the layers in
it.

Assessment Scale:
Exit Ticket
6 correct Excellent
4-5 correct Proficient
2-3 correct Basic
0-1 correct Poor

Subject Matter/Content:
Prerequisites:
Key Vocabulary:

Content/Facts:

Introduction/Activating/Launch Strategies:
● Hello my little scientists today we will be learning about something very exciting
today. If you take a look around the room it might give you a hint to what place we
are visiting today! When you have an idea of where we may be please raise your
 hand!
● Have students take a look around the room and then raise their hands when they
have a guess. Call on a couple of students to hear their guesses.
● What great guesses you guys have! We are going to learn about the planet Earth
today!
● Before we begin I am going to read a quick book called The Layers of Earth’s
Atmosphere by Elizabeth Borngraber
● Read the book and answer the question within the book

Development/Teaching Approaches
● Everyone get on your listening ears because we are going to watch a very important
video that will introduce us to the planet Earth! I will also be handing out a worksheet
where you guys can take notes during the video on what you learned.
● Hand out the guided notes worksheet and then turn on the video.
https://youtu.be/IDhapt7nw4A
● Go over the guided notes worksheet with the students
● Little scientist if you remember from the video, it talked about how the Earth’s
atmosphere and how it covers the Earth like a blanket. Well we are going to take a
deeper look into it by watching a quick video that discusses it and the layers in it. I am
going to give you a worksheet in which you will fill out information about each of the
layers while watching the video.
● Hand out the worksheet and then play video https://youtu.be/0OYRTlrV-jY
● Hopefully you all were paying attention and took good notes but if you didn’t don’t
worry because we will be discussing each of the layers and what everyone put for
each.Also I will be putting up a anchor chart that I will fill in along the way so that you
guys can reference back to it or if you miss something you can copy it down.
● Put up the anchor chart and go through it with the students filling in the information
that they put down from the video in addition to anything they forgot from the video.
● “Great job little scientists! You guys have learned a lot about the atmosphere and now
we are going to create our own! I am going to split you guys into groups of four and
each group will receive a cup, and five containers with different liquids and materials
in it.” “Also each of you will be getting an inquiry sheet that you will use to take notes
about what you observe throughout each step and what you think will happen.”
● Put the students groups and hand out the supplies and materials
● Okay little scientist I want you to first put in the dirt which will represent the Earth but
make sure you pack it down so it won’t go anywhere. Next you will be using the
honey which is labeled which represents the troposphere in front of you but before
you do that I want you to write down a prediction on your data sheet explaining
whether or not you think the honey will mix with the dirt and once we add the other
materials do you think they will all mix together?”
● Give the students time to write their predictions.
● “Okay! Now once you guys have made your prediction you can put the honey in the
cup and then draw on your data sheet what you see!” Give the students time to draw
what they see/observe.
 ● “Great! Now let’s move on and add the second material which is corn syrup which will
represent the stratosphere.” ( Give students time to put it in and draw what they see)
● “Once you have that in you and your observation drawn you will do the same with
the green dish soap which is representing the mesosphere.” (Give students time to
put it in and draw what they see)
● “You guys are doing such a great job, now go ahead and add in the third
material/liquid which is water with red food dye in it that represents the
thermosphere.” (Give students time to put it in and draw what they see happening)
● “We are finally on our last step and the material is vegetable oil and this is
representing the Exosphere.” (Give the students time to pour in the liquid and draw
what they see happening)
● “Now that we have all the materials in the cup, I want you to answer the last question
on your data sheet which asks if your prediction is right or wrong. (Give students time
to write and answer)
● “If you take a look at your cups you will see that the materials have formed layers just
like it is in the atmosphere. This gives us a look at what the layers might look since we
can’t physically see them in person. Just like these materials don’t mix together nor
do the layers of the atmosphere they are all separate from one another.”
● Instruct the students to clean up
● “Little scientist you did an amazing job with that experiment and learned about layers
of Earth! Now I am going to put your knowledge to the test by handing out an exit
ticket that you all will complete.” “Once you guys are all done with it please place it
face down so I know you're done and that way I can come collect it.”
● Hand out exit tickets and give the students time to complete it.
Closure/Summarizing Strategies:
You guys did such an amazing job today and I am so proud of you guys! Tomorrow we will be
learning about another important part of Earth which is the layers of the Earth’s crust!

Accommodations/Differentiation:

Materials/Resources:
● plastic cup
● corn syrup
● water
● red food coloring
● green dish soap
● honey
● dirt
● Data collection worksheet
● Guided notes about Earth
● Note worksheet about the layers of the atmosphere
● Exit ticket
Reflective Response:
Report of Student Learning Target/Objectives Proficiency Levels

Remediation Plan (if applicable)

Personal Reflection Questions

Additional reflection/thoughts
http://homeschool.rebeccareid.com/atmosphere-layers/

Example of anchor chart (what it would possibly look like)

https://pin.it/7KUD1SO
 Exit Ticket

Name:

Label the layers of the atmosphere

1
.
2
.

3
.

4
.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. In which layer does weather occur?
6. In which layer is the ozone found?