Lesson Title:

Fifth Grade Solar System

Group Members:

Kathryn Hickman

Ashlie Irwin

Amanda Leisner

Paige Barrow

Common Core Outcome(s):

2.D: Astronomy

2.D.1: Identify and compare properties, location, and movement of celestial objects in our solar system.

Explore our solar system and learn the characteristics of each planet. Compare the sizes of planets and
their distances from the Sun. Observe the speeds of planetary orbits and measure how long each planet
takes to go around the Sun.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

List the planets in order from closest to the Sun to farthest away.

Classify the planets as rocky planets or gas giants.

Observe the scale of the solar system.

Describe the shape of planetary orbits.

Measure each planet's period of revolution.

Compare the sizes of the planets.

Relate the presence of an atmosphere to the size of a planet.

Cue Set:

We will begin our lesson by stating the objectives of the day. This way the students will have an idea of
what we will be doing for the day, or week. We will write the first letters of the planets in order from
the sun and have the children come up with their own saying to remember the order of the planets. We
will have a few students share. This will be a fun way to remember the order of the planets.

(example: My Very Excited Mother Just Served Us Nachos)

Best Shot:

We will now divide the students into two groups by counting off 1 and 2. In the two groups we will hand
each student a planet and they will have to put each other in order from the sun. The saying the
students made up should help them remember the order. From Here we will pair the students by the
planets they have. For example, the students holding Mars will get together, the students holding Saturn
will get together, etc. The students will then use their Ipads and books we have brought in to look for
specifics about their planet. The specifics will be the learning objectives. The students should have
around five facts.

Guided Practice:

When the students have collected their information together, we will have each group present their five
facts. At the same time we will have a prezi presentation on each planet and their characteristics.
Therefore after the Mars group has presented, we will present our Mars slide and compare our facts.
We will do this for each of the planets. The students should take notes and ask questions as we have our
group discussion.

Independent Practice:

The students gathering in groups and working together to find characteristics of their planets will be
Independent practice.

Closure:

We will have the students make an exit slip writing one thing they learned today and one thing they
have a question about or do not understand. This will help us see what we need to go into more detail
about and/or who needs extra help with our topic.