A Galaxy Far (But Not THAT Far)

Away: Adventures through Space with

R2D2 and C3PO

Stage 1: Essential Understandings/Goals for the Unit

Essential Understanding/Goals:
EU: Studying, comparing and investigating interactions between the various aspects of
our solar system will enable us to explore the expanses of our solar community and make
predictions about its future.
Goals: Students will be able to correctly name, order, and give specific characteristics of
the eight planets, Pluto, and the Sun in our solar system and understand how these details
evidently affect life on Earth.
Essential Questions:
a) What specific characteristics describe the eight planets, Pluto, and the Sun in our solar
system? What makes each one unique?
b) Why do you believe the Sun is the center of our solar system? Why is the Sun
classified as a star and not a planet?
c) How do the rotation, gravitational pull, and position of the planets, Sun, and Pluto in
our solar system affect your life on earth?
d) Why do you believe Earth is the only planet we are able to inhibit? Do you believe
there is another planet in our solar system that we could live on? Why or why not?
f) What predictions can you make about the future of our solar system?
Objectives:
SOL 4.7: The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system.
Key concepts include:
a) the planets in the solar system;
b) the order of the planets in the solar system; and
c) the relative sizes of the planets
Background:
Students will already be familiar with the scientific process of making predictions,
experimenting, and forming conclusions. They will have also covered which tools of

measurement are to use based on what they are experimenting. Students will keep a science
journal and notebook to collect their notes, predictions, hypotheses, and thoughts while covering
the solar system, as well as any data they might find useful. They will have prior knowledge
about the procedures of the science journal and notebook from previous science units covered
this year. Students will also be familiar with the characteristics and interactions of moving
objects such as motion, friction, and kinetic energy, as well as certain characteristics that affect
changes in these three concepts. They will also have prior knowledge about life process and
living systems and what is required to sustain life, and how adaptions can be made in response to
a change in these environments.
This unit is discussing our solar system which includes the eight planets, Pluto, the Sun,
and any other objects that might orbit the Sun. Students will be keeping a science journal and
notebook in which they will be collecting any handouts, worksheets, and important data as well
as writing notes, predictions, conclusions, and drawings they might find necessary and important
about our solar system. Students should also be familiar with filling out the classroom
vocabulary chart as well as KWL charts. Students will be asked to name the eight planets, Pluto,
and the Sun in the correct order in which they orbit as well as understand key details and the
comparative sizes of each one. In an attempt to add interest and make connections within this
unit, we will be guided by our Star Wars friends, C3PO and R2D2 as we explore these important
elements and meet other Star Wars characters that might assist in making the, sometimes
complex details, easier to retain. By making predictions about elements in our solar system,
students might be able to hypothesize how the rotation, gravitational pull, and position of the
planets, Sun, and Pluto affect our lives on earth, why Earth appears to be the only planet that can
sustain life, and what they believe the future of our solar system might be based upon the data
and notes they have collected throughout the unit. This unit will be approximately 12 days long
(~two weeks and two days); the first day will be the introduction of the solar system and the last
two days will consist of presenting projects, review, and the end of unit exam.

Stage 2: Assessment/Evaluation
The end of unit assessment will be three-fold. First, students will be graded on their participation
for each lesson by the information they kept track of and wrote down in their science notebook
and journal; this also includes how well these elements were organized. Second, students will be
graded on a final project that will be a group as well as a class project. They will be graded on
how well they worked together, the organization/neatness, and the amount of effort that was put
into the project. Third, they will be given an end of unit exam that will consist of the important
elements that were taught throughout the unit.
Science Notebook and Journal: This will count for the first one-third of the final unit grade. The
science notebook will be a 3 ring 1-11/2 inch binder where students will keep any handouts,
worksheets, homework, and notes they are given throughout the solar system unit. All students
will be expected to keep their notebooks neat and organized. They will be given several
opportunities to do so by being given tabs to separate each section, time in class to reorganize if
needed, and given all needed materials in the same order as the planets. This will make it easier
to go back and refer to information as well as to study for quizzes, tests, and prepare for their end
of unit project. The science journal will also be part of the science notebook. The science journal
will be a spiral notebook with three holes so it can stay with the science notebook and avoid
getting lost. Students will also be expected to keep their journals as neat as possible and keep
their writing in the same order as the planet alignment (students will be given the opportunity to
label their journals the same way as their notebooks). In their science journals, students will be
expected to write predictions, hypotheses, any experiments they might do, conclusions, notes
from the teachers, videos, PowerPoints, peers, computers, books, etc., any handouts that are
required to be cut and glued in their journals, and drawings they might make about the solar
system. See an example of a page from the science journal (typed up) and a handout from the
science journal attached (A & B).
Final Project: The final project will consist of two parts and will count for the second one-third
of the final unit grade. The first part will require students to get into groups of two or three. For
the first part of the project, students will be randomly assigned (each group picks a piece of paper
out of a hat) to a certain component of the solar system. They will be required to find and collect
as much information and specific details about their selected solar system component and create
a presentation to show the class their findings. The second part will require the group to create a
large-sized, 2-D model of their solar system component (on paper). They will work on this in the
classroom, with their group, to create the model. They will be graded on how well they work
together, the neatness/organization, and the amount of effort that was put into both parts of the
project. This will also act as a type of review for the unit exam. See attached (C, D, & E).
Test: The unit test will be consisted of short answer, multiple choice, matching, short answer and
a section where they can make their own predictions. See attached for unit test (F).

A) Science Journal Page example (http://just4teachers.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html):

B) Science Notebook Page Examples (http://jimmie.squidoo.com/science-notebooking):

C) Final Project Prompt

The Jedi Court would like you to prove your skills about:

The Solar System

Each group will randomly select a unit of the solar system. You and your group will work together to
research as much information as possible about your selected unit. Please see attached for a list of
guiding questions, everything in red is required. Once your group feels you have found all that you
can, you will choose an option below and present the information you found to the class. Make sure
to include all required information when you present.
You need to work together to complete this project. At the end of the project, your group members
will evaluate each other on the amount of contribution each member made to the project. Make sure
you divide the responsibilities so everyone has an even amount of work to contribute.

1. Design a PowerPoint
* If you chose this option, make sure to print out a notes page for the class
2. Make a brochure
*If you choose this option, make copies of the brochure for everyone in the class
3. Make a poster
*If you choose this option, make an important notes page for your classmates
4. If you would like to create your own way of presenting, please see the Jedi Master (your
teacher) for approval

Good Luck and May the Force be with YOU!

D) Final Project Guiding Questions/Expectations

Solar System Research

Use the following chart to help guide your research for

your assigned piece of the Solar System.
Celestial Body: ________________________________________
1. Location (compared to Sun)

2. Distance from the Sun (km and miles)

3. Period of Rotation

4. Diameter/Size
5. Temperature (Celsius and Fahrenheit)
6. Surface Gravity (compared to Earth)

7. Atmosphere Composition (gases and

elements)

8. How many moons (if any)?

Names of moons.
9.

Physical description (terrestrial or

gaseous plus any other features)

10. Interesting Facts

Use the following questions as a guide as you

research the Solar System:
What Type of Information Should I Search For?
Be able to answer the following questions about
your planet, the Sun, or Pluto:
What makes this planet, star, or dwarf planet
different from others?
What makes them the same?

E) Final Project Rubric

Information

Missing

Missing 1

Missing

Missing

Missing

No

element

4 or more

informatio

elements

elements

elements

elements

presented

Project

Group Effort

Project was

Project was

Project

Project

Project

No project to

very neat,

good but

lacked

showed very

showed no

present

organized,

could have

organization

little effort

effort

and visually

used more

and visual

appealing

organization

appeal

Worked

Worked

Worked

Did not

Hardly any

Did not

very well

well with

O.K. with

work well

effort

show any

with group

other

other

with group

shown

effort

members

members

members

but
couldve
done more

Creativity

Presentation

Showed

Showed

Showed

Showed

Showed no

No project

lots of

some

little

very little

creativity

to present

creativity

creativity

creativity

creativity

Group

Group left

Group left

Group left

Group left

No project

presented

out some

out some

out a lot of

out a lot of

to present

all

informatio

informatio

informatio

informatio

informatio

n OR

n AND

n OR

n AND

n in a

lacked

lacked

showed no

showed no

mature

maturity

maturity

maturity

maturity

manner

F) Final Unit Exam

Name: _________________________
Date: _________________________
The unit test will be consisted of short answer, multiple choice, matching, short answer and a
section where they can make their own predictions. See attached for unit test (F).

Solar System Test

Section 1: Multiple Choice
1. What is the center of the Solar System?
A) Earth

B) Pluto

C) The Asteroid Belt

D) The Sun

2. About how old is our Solar System?

A) 46 years old

B) 4.6 Billion years old

C) 4,600 years old

D) 460 years old

3. What makes Earth unique?

A) It is the only planet that contains life

B) It is the only planet that is blue

C) It is the only planet with an atmosphere

D) It is the only planet with storms

4. What is characteristic about Jupiter?

A) The Great Red Spot

B) The Great Dark Spot

C) It is a dwarf planet

D) It has large rings

5. Why do scientists believe there is life on Mars?

A) There are Polar Caps B) It has seasons
C) Land masses

D) All of the above

6. What is a classification of Venus?

A) Its Great Dark Spot

B) Its Rings C) It is the hottest planet D) It is a star

7. Why is Mercury unable to heal itself?

A) Its thick crust

B) It is a gas planet

C) It is too close to the sun

D) It has been damaged too many times

8) What are classified as the inner planets?

A) Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, Mercury

B) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

C) Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth

D) Earth, Mars, Venus, Jupiter

9) What are classified as the outer planet?

A) Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, Mercury

B) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

C) Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth

D) Earth, Mars, Venus, Jupiter

10) What is the coldest planet in the Solar System?

A) Earth

B) Venus

C) Neptune D) Uranus

11) What is the name of our Solar System?

A) The Milky Way

B) Galaxy

C) Andromeda

D) Star Wars

12) How many planets are in the Solar System?

A) 9

B) 20

C) 8

D) 5

13) Which Planet is the Farthest from the Sun?

A) Pluto

B) Neptune

C) Uranus

D) Mercury

14) Which planet is the closest to the Sun?

A) Pluto

B) Neptune

C) Mercury D) Venus
Section 2: Matching
Part I: Match Each Planet with its correct name

Jupiter

Mars

Uranus

Neptune
Earth

Saturn
Venus

Mercury

Part II: Match Each Planet with its Unique Characteristic

1) Saturn

The Great Red Spot

2) Mars

Contains a living species

3) Neptune

Spins on its side

4) Jupiter

The Great Dark Spot

5) Mercury

Rings made mostly of ice

6) Earth

The hottest planet

7) Venus

Many craters

8) Uranus

The Red Planet

Section 3: Short Answer

1) What is the order of the planets in the Solar System?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
2) Why does Jupiter look the way it does?

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3) Why do the planets that are farther away take the longest time or orbit?
______________________________________________________________
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4) Why could humans not live on Venus despite it being the Sister Planet to
Earth?
______________________________________________________________
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5) What classifications make Pluto a dwarf planet and no longer part of the Solar
System?
______________________________________________________________
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6) Compare the sizes of each Planet to the Sun. Go in order!

7) Draw and Label the parts of the Sun

A) Solar Flare
F) Convection Zone

B) Radiation

C) Sun Spot D) Core

G) Photosphere

E) Radiation Zone

H) Chromosphere I) Corona

Sections 4: What are your predictions?

1) What do you believe will happen to our Solar System in the future?
______________________________________________________________
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2) Do you believe we will find anything past Pluto in our Solar System? Explain.
______________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________
3) Do you think Pluto will come back as a planet into our Solar System? Explain.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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4) What was your favorite part of the Solar System Unit?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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5) What was your favorite experiment for this unit?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________
The Inner Planets Quiz
1) Which planet is the most Cratered?
A) Mercury B) Venus

C) Earth

D) Mars

2) Which planet has unique characteristics compared to the rest of the Solar
System?
A) Venus

B) Mars

C) Mercury D) Earth

3) Why is it unique? ______________________________________________

4) Which planet is the hottest?
A) Mars

B) Venus

C) Mercury D) Earth

5) What is in the center of the Solar System?

A) The Sun B) Earth

C) Mars

C) None of the Above

6) What is the Sun classified as? _____________________________________

7) What is the name of our Solar system?
A) Andromeda

B) Star Wars

C) The Milky Way D) Starry Night

8) How old is our Solar System?

A) 4.6 Billion Years Old

B) 4,600 years old C) 46 years Old

9) What keeps us from floating away?

A) Milk

B) The Stars

C) Gravity

D) Invisible string

D) 46,000 years old

10) What is the 3rd planet from the Sun?

A) Mars

B) Venus

C) Mercury D) Earth