Best of the Solar System

This lesson plan is an all inclusive set of lessons to teach planets and their characteristics. The lesson plan provides a timeline to follow and step by step instructions to complete each section's activities. This link is for a lesson plan that directly relates to the GLE. The images provided allow students to do their own observations and inquiry into the planets' appeances. The students record their observations on tables to compare various planets. All the materials are provided within the links of the lesson plan.

Weblink address (URL):

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives:

Students will:

Understand that planetary images contain valuable information, but require interpretation, which is somewhat uncertain.
Be able to recognize each planet or moon by its unique and identifiable features.
Understand that scientists summarize findings to look for patterns in groups like planets and moons.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level:

Applying

Extension suggestions:

In Part II - The Researcher’s Description students indicate additional kinds of information they would like to learn about particular planets and features. Students could conduct library or on-line research to gather this information. Findings could be submitted in written form or delivered in presentations to the class.
Additional research topics for a report or presentation:
- Summarize current knowledge about one of the planets
- Compare our Moon to another planet’s moon (satellite)
- Compare impact craters to volcanic craters
- Investigate volcanism on two or more planets
- Investigate the origin and meanings of the name of the planets

Helpful Hints

Materials:

Computers wired for Internet access, with one computer for every two-three students.
Student journals or notebook paper for each student.
Student worksheets and questionnaires (provided in this lesson - printable as HTML or PDF formatted files).

References

Contributors:

Jennifer Hassell

Originator:

Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation