Transcript Slide 1
The Solar System Gail Cox Paula Harper Nancy McKay Essential Question What are the characteristics of the solar system? Enduring Understandings The solar system is made of different objects, including the sun, planets, asteroids, and comets. Each of these objects has unique features. The planets can be divided into two main groups: the terrestrial (inner) planets and the gas giants (outer planets). Most asteroids are located in the asteroid belt. Comets have tails and travel in elliptical orbits around the sun. Standards Standard 4 Benchmark 3 Indicator 1 Compares and contrasts the characteristics of stars, planets, moons, comets, and asteroids Standard 4 Benchmark 3 Indicator 2 Models spatial relationships of the Earth/moon/planets/sun system to scale Background Knowledge Whiteboarding process Do activity/lab and complete required paperwork Record data in notebook Reach group consensus Record consensus data on whiteboard Present group data to class Participate in class discussion, defending group consensus, and reach class consensus Basic knowledge of the solar system (sun and planets) Basic knowledge of PowerPoint program (if that project option is chosen Definitions Scale - the relationship in size between an actual object and a model representing that object Density – how much matter is in a given space Sequence 1.Pre-test 2.What objects are in the solar system? White boarding activity 3.Spatial orientation of the solar system Assessing prior knowledge 4.Investigating planetary orbits Activity to discover orbital periods Sequence 5. How can the planets be grouped? Dividing planets into inner/outer 6. Planet Booklet/PowerPoint Student demonstration of knowledge 7. Scale model of solar system Use a roll of toilet paper to make model Sequence 8. Scale model of planet sizes Using common objects 9.Shape and sizes of asteroids Potato asteroid lab 10.Where are asteroids found? Prompt question 11.Asteroid information Sharing webpage information Sequence 12. Comets Activity involving comets tails 13. Comet Orbits Discovering elliptical orbits 14. Performance Assessment 15. Post Test