Big Idea/Topic: Solar System

Thematic Unit Question/s

Grade Level 3
By: Jacqueline Guereque
Thematic Unit Planning Matrix
**Complete each column for three subject areas/content areas

Content or Essential Centers Technology Integration Assessment Student Work or product TEKS and Technology Standards:
Subject Area Questions (Activities) (Must include at least 2 and/or Rubric (What is the final product? i.e. Identify the relevant TEKS and ISTE Standard for
What do you want technology tools that Scale presentation slides, Teachers and Students
the students to you have used in this - How are you WordCloud, newsletter,
do/achieve? class for each subject going to Reflective Essay?
area) evaluate your
student’s
work
SCIENCE What is the Students will work in Students will work on Both will have a Groups will present Interactive TEKS: 3D(9) Earth and space. The student knows
Solar System? groups of 3-4 students. creating a word cloud on rubric. Multimedia Poster to class. there are recognizable objects and patterns in Earth's
Each group will be their topic. Wordcloud must Since it is digital, other solar system. The student is expected to:
assigned a specific have at least 15 students can follow along (A) construct models and explain the orbits of the
What makes a planet, the Sun or the Groups will create an words. online and the word cloud Sun, Earth, and Moon in relation to each other; and
planet, a Moon. Students will
Interactive Multimedia activity can serve as a (B) identify the order of the planets in Earth's solar
planet? conduct research on
Poster on their planet, The 15 words scavenger hunt for the others system in relation to the Sun.
www.nasa.gov.
Sun or the Moon. must be present to find the words as they
in the poster. present. ISTE Standard for Teachers:2.3 Citizen.2.3b 2.5
Students will be asked
to create an Interactive Designer
Multimedia Poster. Poster must ISTE Standard for Students:
include pictures,
1.3 Knowledge Constructor: Students critically
texts, and video.
curate a variety of resources using digital tools to
construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts
 and make meaningful learning experiences for
themselves and others.

ELAR What makes up Students will read To gather ideas and Students must Students will have 5-10 TEKS: 3(8)C Multiple genres: listening, speaking,
our Solar System? the book, “The thoughts students will include 5 facts minutes to present their reading, writing, and thinking using multiple
Solar System” by be asked to use a and one main digital storybook to the texts--literary elements. The student recognizes and
Howard K mind mapping online idea in their story class. analyzes literary elements within and across
What is the and their digital increasingly complex traditional, contemporary,
Trammel” and also tool/program.
center of our story book must classical, and diverse literary texts. The student is
Solar System?
“The Adventure in be at least 12 expected to:
Space: Diary of Students will create pages. (C) analyze plot elements, including the sequence
What makes life Spaceship their digital of events, the conflict, and the resolution; and
on Earth Crewmate” by Eric storybook. ISTE Standard for Teachers: 2.5 Designer, 2.3
sustainable? Parson and Sara Citizen 2.3b
Gibson.
ISTE Standard for Students:
Students will be 1.4 Innovative Designer Students use a variety of
asked to create technologies within a design process to identify
their own space and solve problems by creating new, useful or
adventure in the imaginative solutions.
form of a Digital
Storybook.
FINE ARTS What does space Students will create Students will create a Students will be Students will present TEKS: 3(1)A Foundations: observation and
mean to you? any piece of art on word cloud with assessed on if Powerpoint and work of art to perception. The student develops and expands visual
what space means to words that describe they explained class. literacy skills using critical thinking, imagination, and
What is a them or a personal the senses to observe and explore the world by
their art. how they made
personal story connection or story learning about, understanding, and applying the
a personal
you have about they have about elements of art, principles of design, and expressive
anything in Earth or space.
Students will create a connection to qualities. The student uses what the student sees,
space, or about powerpoint about the lessons on knows, and has experienced as sources for
the Earth? their learnings on the Earth or space examining, understanding, and creating artworks.
The student is expected to:
Solar System and their on a pass or fail (A) explore ideas from life experiences about self,
connection. basis. peers, family, school, or community and from the
imagination as sources for original works of art;
Powerpoint ISTE Standard for Teachers: 2.7 Analyst,2.7a
must be 5-7 2.5 Designer
slides. ISTE Standard for Students:
1.6 Creative Communicator: Students
communicate clearly and express themselves
creatively for a variety of purposes using the
platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media
appropriate to their goals.