Wayne State University

College of Education
Lesson Plan
Teaching Intern: Rory MacDonald
School: Dakota High School
Grade and Subject Area: Grades 9-12; Science
Lesson Title: Exploring the Planet Venus
Time Needed for Lesson: 55 Minutes
1. Learners & Learning Environment
a. Engaging and Supporting Diverse Learners (InTASC 1, 2, 3):
Demographics: My fifth hour class contains 15 students ranging from grades nine to twelve. The
most dominant nationalities seen the the classroom are Caucasian and African American. Since it
is a self-contained cognitive impairment room, majority of the students have some kind of mild
impairment. In addition to Cognitive impairments, some of the students are also classified ADD/
ADHD, ASD and LD. All students in the classroom are English speaking and none of them are
ESL students.
Strengths of the students: Of the three science classes that I teach throughout the typical day, I
would venture to say that this class is my highest functioning and most independent.
Needs of the students: Many of the students struggle with paying attention due to ADD/ADHD
or just distractions around the classroom

b. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) (InTASC 1, 2):

Near the end of the lesson, students will be asked to pair up into groups of two and then use the
classroom computers for research. They will look up 5 interesting facts about the planet Venus.
This will be used to start the next days science lesson.
Within the classroom, I have created a large scale model of the solar system along the wall. This
way students can actually see that Venus is the second planet from the sun rather than just being
told, or reading about it. Throughout this Solar System Unit, we will also be creating a 3D model
of the Solar System. Both of these practices, as well as the daily worksheet packet and video
about the individual planet, ensures that both the left and right bring learners will be able to focus
and participate in classroom discussion.
c. Materials and Digital Tools Needed (InTASC 7, 8):
1.
SMART Board
2.
Youtube
a.
Rap Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHAqT4hXnMw)

b.
3.
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Video about Venus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UciCLg8g_4Y).

The Planets of Our Solar System packet: Page 2 (Venus).
DIY 3D Planet
1 (+/-) Cup of Saw Dust
Small Sandwich Bag
2 Yellow Balloons
1 Orange Balloon

2. Outcomes & Assessment

a. State Standards and Student Outcomes Related to the Content of the Lesson (InTASC 4,
5, 6):
*These Science Standards are at a fifth grade level. This is due to the fact that the students are in
a Special Education- Cognitive Impairment Classroom.*
Science Standards:
5-ESS1-1 Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun
compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.
HS-ESS1-4 Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of
orbiting objects in the solar system.
English Language Arts Essential Elements
EESL.11-12.1 Initiate and participate in collaborative discussions. (A). Prepare for
discussions by collecting information on the topic.
EERL.11-12.7 Analyze information presented in different media on related topics to answer
questions of solve problems.
EE.L.11-12.6 Use general academic and domain specific words and phrases across
contexts.
EE.W.11-12.2 Write to share information supported by details. a. Introduce a topic clearly
and write an informative or explanatory text that conveys ideas, concepts, and information
including visual, tactual, or multimedia information as appropriate. b. Develop the topic
with relevant facts, details, or quotes.
EE.RI.9-10.2 Determine the central idea of the text and select details that relate to it;
recound the text.
EE.RI.11-12.2 Determine the central idea of a text; recount the text.
EES-ID.3 Indicate general trends on a graph or charts.
Students will be able to:
-Identify Venus (with differing accommodations by student).
-Verbally identify at least 2 facts about the planet Venus.
Students will Understand that:
-There are 8 planets in the Solar System.
-The Solar System is much larger than the model we have created.
Students will Know that:
-Venus is a Planet in the Solar System

-There are several characteristics that are specific to Venus in order to identify it.
b. Assessment and Evaluation- Evidence of Student Learning (InTASC 6):
Majority of the assessment of this lesson will be informal. Asking for student input and
participation and determining where the student lies in their knowledge of the topic throughout
the lesson. Other assessment will include the packet of worksheets that will be assessed near the
end of the unit. An evaluation will take place half way through the unit, as well as at the end of
the unit to determine what the students learned. Baseline of assessment was determined on the
first day.
3. Instructional Practice
a. Introduction- Engaging Students, Activating Prior Knowledge, and Setting Lesson Goals
(InTASC 7, 8):
1.
Starting each day the same, discussion will begin with students give a recap on what
they remember about the former planet that we learned about. In this case, it will be the
planet Mercury.
b. Instructional Procedure: Engaging Students in Actively Construction Deep
Understanding (InTASC 7, 8):
1. Once the discussion has come to a close about the planet Mercury, the same Rap Video will be
shown as the first day to give a synopsis of all the planets (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=ZHAqT4hXnMw).
2. We will then move our discussion to talking about the second planet Venus.
3. Then an informational Youtube video will be Shown about the planet Venus (https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UciCLg8g_4Y).
4. As a whole class, we will create our second planet of the Solar System, Venus, using a small
sandwich bag, sawdust, 2 yellow balloons and 1 orange balloon.
c. Closure- Students Summarize and Synthesize their Learning (InTASC 7, 8):
1. Once completing the small 3D model of Venus, students will individually work on page 2
(Venus) of their Planets of the Solar System packet.
2. Once completed, students will form groups of 2. Using the classroom computers to look up 5
facts about the planet Venus to be shared at the next class.
d. Technology Use (InTASC 7, 8):
1. During this lesson on the planet Venus, students will engage with the following technology:
-Computer
-SMART Board
4. References & Resources
Youtube
-Video about Planet Venus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UciCLg8g_4Y

-Rap Video about the planets in the solar system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=ZHAqT4hXnMw.
-DIY Planets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkiQnkG-21k
Enchanted Learning
-Solar System Packet: http://members.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/books/planets/

5. Professional Responsibility
a. Teacher Reflection
I really enjoyed teaching this lesson. The students have enjoyed learning about the solar
system and I think that Venus has the most interesting information out of all the planets. It is
definitely a lesson that I plan to use in the future either at the 5th grade or the special ed high
school level. There are major differences between the students in hours 4, 5 and 6. 4th hour is
very low functioning and have little interest in just about any topic being taught. However hours
5 and 6 are very interested and much higher functioning.
One thing that I will be doing in the future that I did not do for this lesson is keeping a
written record of assessment within the room during the lesson. This would mean writing down
how the students are doing throughout the lesson, including their interaction with one another, as
well as how much of the information they are actually retaining throughout.
In my 5th hour, where the students are not as interested and are far lower functioning, I
will use stations of computers, coloring and answering questions. This will keep them on task
during the entire lesson, while keeping their interest at its peak.