Mount Aloysius College

Education Department
Lesson Plan Format

I. Heading

Lesson Title: The Solar System

Teacher Name: Ms. Sprankle
Date Lesson is Taught: N/A
Subject/Discipline: Science- The Solar System
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Number of Students: N/A
Allocated Instructional Time: 45 Minutes
Multiple Intelligences Addressed: Visual-Spatial Intelligence, Logical Mathematical Intelligence,
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence, Interpersonal Intelligence, Intrapersonal Intelligence
Pennsylvania Common Core Standards or Early Learning Standards: 3.3.B1

II. Rationale and Background (Danielson 1b: Demonstrating Knowledge of Students)

Students should already be familiar with outer space and know the planet we consume is
Earth, that Earth has a single moon, there are stars in the sky mostly seen only at night, and
the Sun which we get our energy and daylight from is also a star in the middle of our solar
system. Students may also be familiar with other planets in our solar system.
The purpose of this lesson is to have students learn about the solar system and the placement
of planet Earth, Sun, Moon, other planets and about the whole solar system in general.
Students will watch videos to show the placement and some facts about each of the planets.
Students become familiar with Earth our home planet and our it is much different than other
planets. Students will learn that stars are balls of gas and the only star in our system is the Sun
and how our solar system was created.
III. Lesson Objectives (Danielson 1c: Setting Instructional Objectives)

The learner will be able to identify the planets and the location of each around the sun. The
learner will also address the reasons Earth is our home planet and why we cannot survive on
any other planet in our system due to Earth having specific life necessities and other planets
not being suitable for life. The learner will learn about the creation of the solar system and
theories of how everything became to exist.

IV. Materials (Danielson 1d: Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources)

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 Teacher Materials:
StoryBots Outer Space Music - https://youtu.be/Vb2ZXRh74WU
Introduction to the Solar System - https://youtu.be/TKM0P3XlMNA
Solar System 101 - https://youtu.be/libKVRa01L8
Solar System PowerPoint
Planet Research Worksheet & Planet Travel Brochure-
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Planet-Research-Pack-371166

Student Materials:
Coloring Supplies
Laptop

V. Procedures (Danielson 1a: Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy) (Danielson

1e: Designing Coherent Instruction) (Danielson 3a: Communicating with Students) (3b Using
Questioning and Discussion Techniques) (Danielson 3c Engaging Students in Learning)

A. Introduction, Motivation, and Setting the Stage

To introduce the lesson to the kids background music will be played as the children get into
their ready positions to learn. The question “What is a planet?” will be posted on the board
for each student to give their best guessed answer and we will have a short discussion
before we start the lesson so each student can try and guess the answer. Teacher will
allow a few answers then give the students a few minutes to discuss with peers to come up
with a better definition. The object is to have the children engage in a question and then
use each other and prior knowledge they have learned to come up with one definition.

B. Lesson Body

After having a short discussion in the introduction about What is a planet? the teacher
will continue into the lesson by showing the first video Introduction to the Solar System.
Once the video is completed ask the students if they have any questions and then as
the students the first round of questions listed below to check for comprehension. Then
begin with the first few slides of the PowerPoint on the smartboard and go over the
material that was covered in the first video.

First round of questions to ask the students:

What were the names of the scientists mentioned in the video?
What is the solar system named after?
How many Earths fit Jupiter’s diameter?

Next the teacher will show the second video Solar System 101. After the video ends
again the teacher will ask students if they have any questions and ask the students the
second round of questions to check for comprehension. Again, discuss the rest of the
PowerPoint slides about the planets.

Second round of questions:

How old is our Solar System roughly?
What is our Galaxy called?
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 How many planets are there?
What 2 categories are the planets split up into and define why?
Again, ask the question “What is a planet?” and see if the students come up with a
different definition. Have a discussion on any questions the students may have about the material just
learned. Lastly ask the questions “Do you think there is other life sustaining planets in other galaxies?
Why do you think mars was once frozen and now very dry?
Once all the material is covered the students will be asked to complete the Research a
Planet Worksheet. Students may work in pairs and must use laptops or informational
books to fill out the worksheet to turn in for points.

C. Simplification and Extensions (Strategies for Differentiated Instruction) (Danielson 3e:

Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness)

1. For a gifted child, have them work on another assignment with the If time activity they
would be able to take it a step further and create a poster board with pictures and facts
on why we should travel to this planet. The goal is to have them get creative and think
out of the box on idea or ways to travel somewhere else other than Earth.
2. For a child who is deaf, include words with every picture and all questions will be a slide
included on the PowerPoint and teacher would type or write in student answers on the
board for the child to see. Also, if possible an interpreter would be in the classroom to
help with communication.
3. For ELL students, include their native language in the PowerPoint as well so they could
see their own language with English. Also make sure the pictures are labeled. When it
came to discussing the facts about the planets, have the children say the planet in their
own language and then again in English a few times to become familiar with the word in
both.

D. Closure/Conclusion

During this time, the questions of “Did you enjoy the lesson and What did you find most
interesting?” would be asked to the class. This will be time for one last discussion to have
students ask any questions and have them answered also for teacher to see if the students
enjoyed the lesson or what could be changed if taught in future years. Students can talk
among peers and create a class wide discussion on their thoughts and opinions about or
solar system and space.

E. “If-Time Activity” (Danielson 3e: Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness)

Students will work on the second worksheet a Planet Travel Brochure. They will take
information from the first worksheet and use it to pick a planet they would like to create
a travel brochure on. If students finish up with both and still have extra time they are
allowed to turn the worksheet into a slides.

VI. Communicating with Families/Homework Assignment/Independent Practice (Danielson 4c:

Communicating with Families)

To communicate with families, students will take home their worksheets to share and talk
about the lesson we discussed. There will also be a list with video’s and website’s that
correspond to the lesson and students will take home and if they have time they can look over

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 some of the other videos and websites to learn more. This will be the homework assignment
but there is nothing required to come back to class next day.

VII. Evaluation

A. Student Assessment (Danielson 1f: Designing Student Assessment) (Danielson 3d: Using
Assessment in Instruction)

Students will be assessed by the worksheets that are completed in class the day of lesson.
Once finished with discussions and lesson the students will submit the worksheets in the
grading bin for a few points mostly participation and to make sure they actually did some
research. Bonus will be giving to those who would like to take home the assignment of the
Travel Brochure and create a PowerPoint slide show.

At the end of the week there will be a short quiz to test the student’s comprehension. The test
will just ask questions such as what the planets names are, the order they fall around the sun,
what are Terrestrial vs Jovian planets.

B. Reflective Practice/Self-Evaluation (To be completed after the lesson is taught) (Danielson

4a: Reflecting on Teaching)

Reflect on your teaching experience and answer these questions:

1. What were two strengths of the lesson?

2. What are two areas of the lesson that need improvement?
3. What would I do differently if I were to reteach this lesson?
4. What biases, if any, existed in the materials, activities, language, or interactions with
children?
5. Did anything surprise me?

Be sure to attach all resources such as handouts and teacher-created materials.