Pearlie Lam

Unit Outline
Unit Title: Exploring the Solar System
Grade: 6
Length of Unit: 3 periods a day for 4 weeks (45 minutes/period)
Subject Integration: Science and Technology, Language, Visual Art
Curriculum Expectations:
1) SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY
Strand: Understanding Earth and Space System
Overall Expectations:
o 1. assess the impact of space exploration on society and the environment
o 2. investigate characteristics of the systems of which the earth is a part and the
relationship between the earth, the sun, and the moon
o 3. demonstrate an understanding of components of the systems of which the earth
is a part, and explain the phenomena that result from the movement of different
bodies in space
Specific Expectations:
o 1.1 assess the contributions of Canadians to the exploration and scientific
understanding of space
o 1.2 evaluate the social and environmental costs and benefits of space exploration,
taking different points of view into account
o 2.1 follow established safety procedures for handling tools and materials and
observing the sun
o 2.2 use technological problem-solving skills to design, build, and test devices for
investigating the motions of different bodies in the solar system
o 2.3 use scientific inquiry/research skills to investigate scientific and technological
advances that allow humans to adapt to life in space
o 2.4 use appropriate science and technology vocabulary in oral and written
communication
o 2.5 use a variety of forms to communicate with different audiences and for a variety
of purposes
o 3.1 identify components of the solar system, including the sun, the earth, and other
planets, natural satellites, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids, and describe their
physical characteristics in qualitative terms
o 3.2 identify the bodies in space that emit light and those that reflect light
o 3.3 explain how humans meet their basic biological needs in space
o 3.4 identify the technological tools and devices needed for space exploration
o 3.5 describe the effects of the relative positions and motions of the earth, moon,
and sun
2) LANGUAGE
Strand: Oral Communication
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Pearlie Lam

Overall Expectations:
o 2. use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different
audiences for a variety of purposes
Specific Expectations:
o 2.3 communicate orally in a clear, coherent manner, using appropriate organizing
strategies and formats to link and sequence ideas and information
o 2.7 use a variety of appropriate visual aids to support or enhance oral presentations
Strand: Reading
Overall Expectations:
o 1. read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, graphic, and
informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning
o 2. recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and
demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning
Specific Expectations:
o 1.1 read a wide variety of texts from diverse cultures, including literary texts, graphic
texts and informational texts
o 1.4 demonstrate understanding of increasingly complex texts by summarizing and
explaining important ideas and citing relevant supporting details
o 2.2 identify a variety of organizational patterns in a range of texts and explain how
they help readers understand the texts
o 2.3 identify a variety of text features and explain how they help readers understand
texts
Strand: Writing
Overall Expectations:
o 1. generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended
purpose and audience
o 2. draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and graphic
forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience
Specific Expectations:
o 1.1 identify the topic, purpose, and audience for a variety of writing forms
o 1.2 generate ideas about a potential topic and identify those most appropriate for
the purpose
o 1.3 gather information to support ideas for writing, using a variety of strategies and
a range of print and electronic resources
o 1.5 identify and order main ideas and supporting details and group them into units
that could be used to develop a structured, multi-paragraph piece of writing, using a
variety of strategies
o 2.1 write longer and more complex texts using a wide range of forms
o 2.3 use some vivid and/or figurative language and innovative expressions to
enhance interest
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Pearlie Lam

3) VISUAL ART
Overall Expectations:
o D1. Creating and Presenting: apply the creative process to produce art works in a
variety of traditional two- and three-dimensional forms, as well as multimedia art
works, that communicate feelings, ideas, and understandings, using elements,
principles, and techniques of visual arts as well as current media technologies

Specific Expectations:
o D1.3 use elements of design in art works to communicate ideas, messages, and
understandings
o D1.4 use a variety of materials, tools, techniques, and technologies to determine
solutions to design challenges
Rationale:
This unit will focus on the strand of Understanding Earth and Space Systems in the Grade 6
Science and Technology Curriculum. First, students will begin by researching and learning
about the interactions of the Sun, Earth and Moon and the other components of the solar
system. Then, they will explore how astronomers have come to learn about the solar system
and how we are travelling within our solar system. Finally, students will discover how humans
are able to live and work in space, and understand the different ways in which space
exploration has impacted us in our everyday lives.
Throughout the unit, there will be various diagnostic assessments (e.g. questionnaires, KWL
charts, journal entries) to provide the teacher with an understanding of the prior knowledge and
skills the students have, as well as their strengths and specific learning needs in relation to the
expectations that will be taught. Students will be utilizing their scientific inquiry and research
skills in this unit to investigate how scientific and technological advances allow humans to
adapt to life in space. There will also many opportunities in this unit for the integration of the
Language and the Visual Art curriculum. As students will be exposed to many electronic and
print resources, they will need to practice their reading skills to comprehend, summarize and
analyze what they have read in order to develop a better understanding of the solar system.
Students will be given activities to work on their writing and communication skills by creating a
report and organizing an effective oral presentation to demonstrate their knowledge about
space exploration. Collaboration between students is also required as they will work together
to construct and use models (or other visual displays) to simulate and explain the interactions
of the major components of the solar system. To incorporate differentiated instruction and
address students diverse learning styles, the unit will consist of many hands-on activities and
a variety of teaching strategies will be used (e.g. shared reading, PowerPoint presentations,
investigations, graphic organizers, videosetc.) to reach various learners and to engage
everyone in the learning process.