Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: The Earth, Moon, and Sun Name: Tom Lux
Content Area: Earth and Space systems. Grade Level: 8th
CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):
Anchor: Ms-Ess1: Develop and use a model of the Earth, sun, moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases,
eclipses of the sun and moon, and the seasons

ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars: Patterns of the apparent motion of the sun, the moon, and stars in the sky can be observed,
described, predicted, and explained with models. (MS-ESS1-1) Earth and its solar system are part of the Milky Way galaxy, which
is one of many galaxies in the universe. (MS-ESS1-2)

ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System. The solar system consists of the sun and a collection of objects, including planets, their
moons, and asteroids that are held in orbit around the sun by its gravitational pull on them. (MS-ESS1-2),(MS-ESS1-3) This model
of the solar system can explain eclipses of the sun and the moon. Earths spin axis is fixed in direction over the short-term but
tilted relative to its orbit around the sun. The seasons are a result of that tilt and are caused by the differential intensity of
sunlight on different areas of Earth across the year. (MS-ESS1-1) The solar system appears to have formed from a disk of dust
and gas, drawn together by gravity. (MS-ESS1-2)

Big Ideas/Unit Goals:

What are the sun, moon, and earth and how do they affect each other?

What are the phases of the moon?

What is the tilt of the Earth on its axis?

How does the tilt of the earth make the four seasons?

Where did the solar system come from?

Unit Summary:

In this unit students will learn about the Earth, Moon, and Sun system. They will also be learning about the history of the solar
system and how it was created. Students will follow along a teacher guided lecture using presentation technology. This lecture
will provide an overview of the unit as well as content information about the tilt of the earth and how it creates the four season.
Students will then participate in a webercise in which they do research to answer questions on lunar phases and eclipses.
Students will also do research using websites provided by the teacher to complete a graphic organizer on the evolution and
history of the solar system. Students will also be given access to the assessments that will be used during this unit as well as
their instructions for their group presentation project. Also included in this digital lesson will be time for students to explore the
many resources and interactives provided by the teacher.

Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level:
Students will complete quickwrite
on what they know about the
Solar System. Students will share
what they have written with a
partner and also as a whole class.
Students will complete a word
search puzzle, assessing student
background knowledge.
Formative: Summative:
After listening to teacher lecture, End of lesson exam.
students will complete a K-W-L Half of the students will do a class
chart and share one item from presentation using technology on
their want to know list with the evolution of the solar system and
class. the movement of the Earth and
Students will complete a diagram Sun. The other half of the
labeling the phases of the moon students will do a presentation
and the order in which they occur. using technology on the phases of
Students will discuss in groups the moon and how the four
the tilt of the Earth and how it seasons are caused by the tilt of
creates the four seasons. Teacher the earth.
will engage with each group
monitoring discussion and
assessing understanding.
Students will complete quizlet on
topics covered.
Students will complete a graphic
organizer timeline worksheet on
the history and evolution of the
universe.

Lesson 1 (Teacher Lecture)

Student Learning Acceptable Evidence Lesson activities:
Objective: (Assessments):
Students will do a 2-3 minute quickwrite in which they list everything that
Students will know Students will comes to their mind when thinking about the topics for the unit
the names of the complete
planets of the solar quickwrite on Students will complete a short word puzzle to expose them to some of the
system and their what they vocabulary and topics that will be covered
correct order from the know about
sun. the Solar Students will listen to teacher led lecture utilizing interactive Prezi
System. presentation.
Students will know Students will
the size of the Earth share what Students will be given access to prezi presentation and explore the
and Moon. they have presentation in groups
written with a
Students will be able partner and After lecture students will complete a K-W-L chart and share something from
to identify the tilt of also as a whole their want to know section with the class.
the earth and how it class.
Teacher will put students in groups and facilitate group discussions on the
creates the four
four seasons and how the tilt of the earth causes them.
seasons. Students will
complete a
word search
puzzle,
assessing
student
background
knowledge.

Students will
complete a K-
W-L chart and
be prepared to
share with the
class.

Lesson 2 (Webercise/ iPad Lesson)

Student Learning Acceptable Evidence: Lesson Activities:
Objective:
Students will Students will participate in brief class discussion recalling knowledge from previous
Students will be able complete a lesson and further be introduced to the phases of the moon.
to predict the location diagram
of the moon and what Students will discuss with a partner what they already know about the phases of the
labeling the
moon and share with class while teacher writes their comments on the board or
phase it is in. phases of the
overhead.

Students will identify
the difference
between eclipses and
phases of the moon
Lesson 3 (Graphic Organizer)
Student Learning Acceptable Evidence:
Objective:
Students will know
that the current
accepted theory of
the formation of the
solar system is the
Nebular theory.
Students will be able
to complete a timeline
depicting the major
events of the
evolution of the solar
system.
Unit Resources:
moon and the
order in which Webercise:
they occur.
Students will Students will be given instructions by teacher for webercise activity.
take short quiz
on quizet.com Students will research information on websites provided by the teachers.
Students will use this information to complete webercise activity worksheet with a
partner.
Students will discuss their answers with another partnered group.
Students will turn in their completed webercise activity worksheet.
In groups, the students will be given a flashlight and allowed to move about the
room creating shadows with their flashlights using different objects. They will
record their findings on a worksheet which will include the summative assessment to
be done at the end of the class.
Lesson Activities:
Students will participate in class discussion on previous lesson.
(Entry Level for
Students will do a quickwrite on anything they know about the solar system and its
topic) Students
creation and evolution.
will do short
quickwrite on
Graphic organizer:
this lessons
topic. Students will be given instructions on graphic organizer activity.
Students will
fill out graphic Students will research information in their textbook and teacher provided websites.
organizer.
Students will use this information to complete their Solar System Timeline Activity
graphic organizer.
Students will turn in completed graphic organizer to teacher.
Uen.html : Rubric for group presentation

Prezi presentation: Teacher lecture Prezi presentation

Moonconnection: Information on the phases of the moon- used in webercise activity

Moonpage: Students can look up what phase the moon was in on any given date- Used in webercise activity

Nasa: Nasa article on the eclipses- used in webercise activity

HigherEd: Interactive allowing the students to manipulate the earth and moon to generate eclipses- used In webercise
activity

Nasa Moon Landing: Nasa article on the moon landing- used in webercise activity

Ducksters: Student friendly article on the space race- used in webercise activity

Universe Today: Article on the nebular hypothesis- used in graphic organizer activity

Nasa Solar System: In-depth article on solar system formation and evolution- used in graphic organizer activity

Useful Websites:

Youtube: Universe and its Stars: Short video to develop and activate background knowledge on the universe and solar
system.

Youtube: Earth and Solar System: Short video on the Earth and the solar system.

Youtube: Stars and the solar system for 8th grade: Short video aimed at 8th grade science students
Nap.edu: Site for teachers breaking down the ESS1 standard

Quizlet: relevant vocabulary flashcards activity for students

Resources Illuminated: Student friendly text on how the Earth moves through space and how that creates the seasons

National Science Teachers Association: This is a fun activity to help demonstrate scaled distances for the solar system

Astronomy: Journey to the cosmic frontier: Great link to an interactive that allows the students to see how the seasons
are created

Phet Interactive Simulations: Student interactive in which they can manipulate gravity and the position of the planets
to see can happen.

National Science Teachers Association: National Science Teacher Association website

NASA: Nasa student friendly website for 5th-8th grade.

Lunar and Planetary Resources: Teacher resource for science activities and information

Scholastic: Teacher resource for teaching science and lesson ideas

NASA Space Place: This site let students play around with a variety of games and interactives about the earth, sun and
moon.

Sci Games: This site has a wide variety of games and interactives for students to further expand their knowledge