By: Mia Biller

Essential Question: Could we live on another planet? Unit Questions: How does each planets distance from the sun contribute to its characteristics? Is there life on other planets? How do we know so much about the solar system and how has technology aided in our discoveries? What role does the Earth have in our universe? Is the universe changing?

CFQs

CFQs
Content Questions: How many stars are in our solar system? What are the planets are in our universe and

what are their relative locations? How are the inner and outer planets alike and different? What are the differences between a star, a planet, and a moon? What are the differences between revolution, rotation, and orbit? Why is the sun the center of the universe?

Standards
RLA.O.3.1.14: use reading skills and strategies to understand a variety of information resources to support literacy learning (e.g., written directions, captions, electronic resources, labels, informational text).
RLA.S.3.2: Students will apply writing skills and strategies to

communicate effectively for different purposes by:

Using the writing process Applying grammatical and mechanical properties in writing and Selecting and evaluating information for research purposes.

SC.O.3.2.19: describe the similarities and differences among the

planets SC.O.3.3.02: use models as representations of real things SS.3.G.6: use a map scale to determine the distance between two given points

21st Century Skills

Collaborating with peers
Critical thinking and problem solving skills when comparing their chosen planet to other planets

Initiative and self-direction skills as they will work with a partner or small group
Information and media literacy as they will

search for information on the web and create a power point to teach their class about their planet

21st Century CSOs

21C.O.3-4.1.LS3 Student, cognizant of audience and

purpose, articulates thoughts and ideas accurately and effectively through oral, written or multimedia communications. 21C.O.3-4.1.TT7 Student creates a presentation of at least four to six slides. Student inserts slides and chooses backgrounds, fonts, and slide layouts. Student understands and uses different formats for viewing (e.g., slide sorter menu, slide show menu, normal view).

Unit Objectives
Students will be able to name and describe characteristics of

all eight planets and compare and contrast planets Students will become familiar with the relative sizes of each of the planets Students will be able to explain that the planets orbit around the sun, which is located in the center of the solar system Students will be able to list the order of the planets from the sun and will understand the differences between inner and outer planets Students will understand the difference between model and scale model and will be able to create both

Technology Used
Videos
Smartboard PowerPoint

Scale Website http://htwins.net/scale/

Wiki http://biller13.wikispaces.com/-

/Planet%20Presentation/Blue/ Calculation Website http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/

Assessments
Weather worksheet
Venn Diagram PowerPoint with Presentation Pre/Post Assessment Scale model