SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY

Loretto, PA 15940

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

LESSON PLAN Format

Student Teacher Greg Johnston Grade 3

Subject Science _
Time Needed for Lesson 1 hour Lesson Concept Solar System Day 1
__

PA STANDARD(S) (Write out standards):

Standard - CC.1.4.3.B

Identify and introduce the topic.

Standard - CC.1.4.3.C

Develop the topic with facts, definitions, details, and illustrations, as appropriate.

BIG IDEAS/ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

The Solar System is a quintessential example of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts

EQ: What is the Solar System

ELIGIBLE CONTENT:

E03.C.1.2.2 Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and/or details.

OBJECTIVE(S) (Be sure to include all four parts):

After the lesson, the learner will know the planets that our solar system is composed of and their
sequential order from the Sun. As well, it will be reinforced that the Sun is in the center of it.
They will complete an activity requiring them to show said knowledge by using a chart which
provides them with millions of miles each planet is from the Sun.

MATERIALS:

 PowerPoint pertaining to Solar System

 Worksheet with planets
 Scissors
 Crayons/colored pencils
 Black construction paper
 Glue

ACTIVITIES (There are three sections here):

OPENING (Introduction, purpose, hook)

Lead a discussion…What do you know about the Solar System?

***Keep in mind the importance of reviewing terms introduced in previous lessons
Introduce first slide

 Keys: It appears as a milky band of white light, what is the name of our solar system?
 300 billion stars, of which one happens to be our sun
 Comprised of planets, stars, moons, asteroids, comets, space dust, ice
 Our galaxy is one of the hundreds of billions of galaxies in our universe
 More than one million planet earths could fit inside our sun

Introduce terms
 Planet, orbit, star, constellation, solar system

BODY (Bulleted step by step/differentiation must be included)

 The numbers we use when talking about space are so large, they are almost impossible to
imagine, take for example this chart.

Introduce Slide 3 (Planets…Distance from Sun)

 Discuss chart
 Present activity…explain that student will color (if they wish), cut, and place planets in
sequential order from closest to the Sun through farthest using the chart on slide 3

CLOSURE (Wrap up and brief summary): How will you plan to restate the lesson
objective?

As you may have noticed, our solar system is big, very big. We use numbers you will probably
not learn about for a few more years.

What is important to understand is that each and every planet plays a role in our solar system just
as each and every person in this classroom plays a role in our classes overall success.

Our solar system is made up of what?

Our solar system has planets, can you name one?
Our solar systems planets fly through space around the sun, what is that called?
Our solar system is made up of stars, what are stars made of?
Can you name a star?
With our imaginations, stars, when combined, like a dot-to-dot art project, can make pictures in
the sky, what are they called?

ACCOMMODATIONS/MODIFICATIONS:

Extra time may be needed to complete the activity

Planets could be precut for students with dexterity issues

ASSESSMENT: (How you will determine that student has mastered objectives?): Consider
formative and summative assessment measures for all levels of differentiation.
Throughout the lesson students are given opportunities to respond to the different topics
discussed, teacher will listen carefully to check for understanding. The overall success of the
lesson will be determined by whether the students can place the planets in the proper order
during the activity.

SELF-ASSESSMENT/REFLECTION: (Complete this section if you have taught this lesson to

peers or in clinical placement):

It was unexpected how knowledgeable a few students were regarding the solar system and
interested they were, collectively. I expect the group to do very well with any assessments.

Going forward introduce a KWL chart, especially to see what they may be interested in learning.
Hand out vocabulary words sheet.