Overview

Grade Level: 4th Grade

Subject: Science

Topic of Study: Solar System

Time Allotment: 1 Week

Standards: 

   NSTA-National Science Education Content Standards


   Content Standard D:
 

   As a result of their activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop an understanding of:

• Structure of the earth system


• Earth’s history


• Earth in the solar system

Common Core Anchor Standards for English Language Arts - Grade 4-5
Writing Standards
Text Types and Purposes
3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Production and Distribution of Writing 
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others Research to Build and Present Knowledge

7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.



NETS 3-5 Performance Standards:
1. Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when necessary) efficiently and effectively. (1)

4. Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, remediate skill deficits, and facilitate learning throughout the curriculum. (3)

5. Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, Web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)



NETS 6-8 Performance Standards:
5. Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum.

6. Design, develop, publish and present products using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom.

Objective: Students will have the opportunity to learn about the planets and sun in our solar system and what impact distance from the sun, atmosphere, and other planetary features would have on the humans visiting the planet and present this information through the eyes of the first students to visit space.

Students will need to know about the order of the planets and their names as well. Prior knowledge and experience will be assessed through KWL charts so that students can openly share what they each know about the solar system already. This information will lead directly into their online research through a specific planet they're assigned to so that they can learn more about each of the planets for themselves and from each other. The content of solar system in the subject of science is perfect for this grade level since it follows the standards of the concepts that need to be taught for this age group. The objective aligns with the standards since the science standard is to learn about the solar system and the students are researching the content in order to piece it together in a presentation for their classmates to learn from. I would teach this lesson during the beginning of the second semester after winter break so that I can build a new topic to center around as a transition from learning about magnets.