ACTIVITIES
KWL Chart:
The KWL chart will be introduced in the first lesson to give the students an understanding of where they stand when it comes to information about the Solar System. This works well for the students because it helps them list what they know, what they want to know, and what they have learned (at the end of the unit). This activity aligns with all four learning goals because it will be modified throughout the entire unit. It is very important to use the KWL chart because it helps the student interact more because now they know their is something the would like to know more about the Solar System.
Technology is presented during the lesson while I demonstrate how to correctly fill out a KWL chart on the Smart Board.
Graphic Organizer: From Big Sun to Small Moon
In groups the students will use models of the Sun, Moon, and the Earth to record predictions distances between both the Sun and Earth and between the Earth and Moon. Then the students will be given the correct distances with pre-cut strings and record the measurements in the graphic organizer “From Big Sun to Small Moon.”
This activity helps the students correctly record their measurements as well as predictions of the distances between the Moon, Sun, Earth. The students will recognize the proportionate sizes of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. This activity aligns with learning goal number 1. It is introduced as the formative assessment under learning goal one. Although it aligns with learning goal number 1, it also needs to be implemented early on in the unit because each lesson works off that as a stepping stone.
Television News Cast:
In teams the students will research about the Planets using many different resources. They will use books from the library and while implementing technology by the use of many different online sources in the computer lab. After teams have enough information on the planets they will then create a TV news broadcast about one planet. The students will then present it to the class and modify their KWL charts.
This activity relates to learning goal number 2 because the students are to identify the concepts that take place with the Solar System and Earth's Systems.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE:
The students will create a timeline detailing the history of rockets and space exploration. With the use of their rulers they will make one-inch marks on their construction paper. Each inch represents a 10-year period, beginning with 1950 and ending with 2010.
This activity will be brought in as formative assessment under learning goal number 3 where students will be able to explore historical perspectives, scientific approaches, and scientific issues associated with Earth and space science. This activity works out well because the students are very interactive throughout the entire lesson while trying to make their timeline the best one. The students will then once again modify their KWL chart.
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER: PHASES OF THE MOON
In this activity partners will be given a flashlight (model Sun) and a foam ball (model Moon). One student will act as a model Earth and face the Sun holding out the Moon. Partners will position the Moon at six different locations and draw the Moon as it appears (light and dark). Students will use the graphic organizer titled “Moon Phases.”
The activity will be aligning with learning goal number 4; SWBAT determine the movement of the Earth around its axis while revolving around the sun to learn the phases of the moon in a group activity.
There is not much technology implemented throughout this activity but their is massive amounts of hands on activity. The hands on activity is vital for the 3rd grade students because their attention spans are not very long and they need to be moving around the room.
KWL Chart:
The KWL chart will be introduced in the first lesson to give the students an understanding of where they stand when it comes to information about the Solar System. This works well for the students because it helps them list what they know, what they want to know, and what they have learned (at the end of the unit). This activity aligns with all four learning goals because it will be modified throughout the entire unit. It is very important to use the KWL chart because it helps the student interact more because now they know their is something the would like to know more about the Solar System.
Technology is presented during the lesson while I demonstrate how to correctly fill out a KWL chart on the Smart Board.
Graphic Organizer: From Big Sun to Small Moon
In groups the students will use models of the Sun, Moon, and the Earth to record predictions distances between both the Sun and Earth and between the Earth and Moon. Then the students will be given the correct distances with pre-cut strings and record the measurements in the graphic organizer “From Big Sun to Small Moon.”
This activity helps the students correctly record their measurements as well as predictions of the distances between the Moon, Sun, Earth. The students will recognize the proportionate sizes of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. This activity aligns with learning goal number 1. It is introduced as the formative assessment under learning goal one. Although it aligns with learning goal number 1, it also needs to be implemented early on in the unit because each lesson works off that as a stepping stone.
Television News Cast:
In teams the students will research about the Planets using many different resources. They will use books from the library and while implementing technology by the use of many different online sources in the computer lab. After teams have enough information on the planets they will then create a TV news broadcast about one planet. The students will then present it to the class and modify their KWL charts.
This activity relates to learning goal number 2 because the students are to identify the concepts that take place with the Solar System and Earth's Systems.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE:
The students will create a timeline detailing the history of rockets and space exploration. With the use of their rulers they will make one-inch marks on their construction paper. Each inch represents a 10-year period, beginning with 1950 and ending with 2010.
This activity will be brought in as formative assessment under learning goal number 3 where students will be able to explore historical perspectives, scientific approaches, and scientific issues associated with Earth and space science. This activity works out well because the students are very interactive throughout the entire lesson while trying to make their timeline the best one. The students will then once again modify their KWL chart.
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER: PHASES OF THE MOON
In this activity partners will be given a flashlight (model Sun) and a foam ball (model Moon). One student will act as a model Earth and face the Sun holding out the Moon. Partners will position the Moon at six different locations and draw the Moon as it appears (light and dark). Students will use the graphic organizer titled “Moon Phases.”
The activity will be aligning with learning goal number 4; SWBAT determine the movement of the Earth around its axis while revolving around the sun to learn the phases of the moon in a group activity.
There is not much technology implemented throughout this activity but their is massive amounts of hands on activity. The hands on activity is vital for the 3rd grade students because their attention spans are not very long and they need to be moving around the room.
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