111-112 Solar System Models

Watch: Astronomy's Biggest Stars Spaced Out: A Cosmic Scene

Kagan Structure (Strategy) Give One Get One

Ask students to make a tic tac toe grid in their notes before the video.  After the video have them write 3 facts they remember then ask classmates to fill in facts (Use Kagan Structure: Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up)

In our notebooks we filled out the Cornell Notes Outline.

 

Next: District Testing *If we have extra time - Watch the Pluto Files :)

Solar System Scale Model

It was cold and rainy outside so I couldn't do the toliet paper Solar System Scale Models so I came up with Plan B....

We watched Spaced Out: Planets are Spatial

If you don't have a lot of time watch 209 Seconds That Will Make You Question Your Entire Existence....

Generation Genius: The Solar System also is a good video - although it requires a subscription.

After the video, I gave students a 61.5 cm piece of adding machine paper and asked them to make a model of the Solar System. *most models were planet order, some were size but none were distance

After comparing the different models, I then gave them directions and they flipped the paper over and did it again. 

(Adapted from: https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/sites/default/files/ScaleDistancesSolarSystem-teacher.pdf)

I had students compare their initial and final models and make observations.

Update: I made a version that students could complete at home with easy to follow directions and all the supplies that they needed (just 2 pieces of paper).

Next up: Rotation and Revolution...

109-110 Small Solar System Objects

Watch: Bill Nye Comets and Meteors or Brain Pop Comets & Brain Pop Asteroids

    

Created a Solar System Objects (comets, asteroids, dwarf planets, meteors) Foldable

Next: Models of the Solar System...

105-108 Inner and Outer Planets

Watch: Bill Nye Outer Space, Generation Genius or Brain Pop Solar System (subscription required)

Brain Pop Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)

In our notebooks we filled in the Solar System Properties Semantic Chart  

*We used our textbook and The Encyclopedia of Space (Heather Couper, Nigel Henbest)

Next: Other objects in the Solar System...

103-104 The Moon

Watch: Bill Nye Moon Generation Genius Moon & Its Phases or Brain Pop Moon (subscription required)

Do a Google Moon Scavenger Hunt

• Describe the different Apollo Missions.
• Hammer and Feather Experiment (Who, When & Where)?
• Who used a golf club and what happened?
• Who were the first and last people on the Moon?

Make a Paper Plate Model of the Moon's features

Next: Inner and Outer Planets...

Happy Valentine's Day

A sweet treat for my students...

Modified from the Periodic Table Wraps from Sci-Fi Momma on TpT.

 

101-102 Introducing the Solar System

Planets Are Spatial (Spaced Out: A Cosmic Scene)

Toilet Paper Scale Model - students modeled the distance between planets using toilet paper.  Each "square" was an AU.  They started with the Sun and used highlighters to mark each planet, then laid the model out and used it to make conclusions (compare distances between various planets).

Alternative - Use string and colored beads (lesson plan from JPL)

In our notebooks we filled in the Cornell Notes Outline

*Update: see The Scale Model post for more ideas.

Next: Features of the Moon...

97-100 The Sun

We watched Bill Nye Sun or Brain Pop Sun (subscription required) and did Cloze notes.

Made a Sun Cookie Model with sugar cookies, frosting, red and yellow sprinkles, mini chocolate chips and pull and peel Twizzlers.

Students modeled the interior, atmosphere and features of the Sun.  YUM!

Update: We needed more... so I made foldable notes that sudents could model the Sun before making the cookie and exit ticket to make sure they knew their facts. For students that finished early (and a few with allergies) I made a vocabulary puzzle.

Days 99-100 will be spent testing - paper and pencil :(

95-96 Lifecycle of Stars

For our Life Cycle of Stars Lesson: 

We watched Brain Pop Life Cycle of Stars (subscription required)

Students created Layered Foldable

Student examples

And we did a lab with 2 balloons - one we blew up half way (small/medium mass star) the other blown up all the way (large mass star).  Let the air out of the sm/med. very slowly, let the large out quickly - time both.  Compare the model to the actual lifecycle of stars.

• Large mass stars use fuel faster...
• Small/Medium mass stars use fuel slower...