School: Shalimar Elementary School

Grade Level: 3-5

Subject: Multi Areas

Length: Six Weeks
 
 

Broad Goal: To utilize multimedia resources to learn about the planets, the sun, the moon, space exploration, and space travel.

Learner Outcomes: 

The students will be able to:

Gather information about the planets, the moon, and the sun.

Create a table organizing the planetary information.

Select a planet to explore and design a newsletter using the planetary information informing the class about the planet.

Collect information about the sun and its features.

Collect information about the moon and its surface.

Compile a timeline of events and lunar explorations.

Create a visual presentation about space and space exploration

Use space figures to create a design.

Design and construct a space shuttle with a name and logo

Conduct experiments and activities in the space shuttle. 

Research an astronaut and write a question to him/her using the World Wide Web.

Learn about differences in gravitational pull and revolutions of other planets by calculating his/her weight on the planets.

Create a “Space Collage” using the newspaper and the Internet for news about space and space exploration.

Write a story about life in space.

View movies about the sun, moon, and planets and record his/her thoughts.

Plan a trip to the Naval Space Museum in Pensacola, Florida.

Materials:

The students will complete the activities using the: station cards and materials at the computers, the Internet, the CD-ROMs about space, the Geo Safari/space activity pack, world map, books, CD encyclopedias, Microsoft software programs, TV/VCR with videos, calculators, art & space shuttle materials.

Sunshine State Standards 

Language Arts:

Reading: Standard 1; Standard 2 

Writing: Standard 1; Standard 2

Listening, Viewing, and Speaking

Standard 1;Standard 2;Standard 3

Language: Standard 1; Standard 2

Literature: Standard 1; Standard 2

Mathematics:

Number Sense, Concepts, and Operations:

Standard 1; Standard 2;

Measurement: Standard 2

Geometry and Spatial Sense: Standard 1; Standard 2

Data Analysis and Probability: Standard 1

Science:

Earth & Space:

Standard 1; Standard 2

Nature of Science:

Standard 1; Standard 2; Standard 3

Social Studies:

Time, Continuity, and Change (History)

Standard 1

People Places, and Environments (Geography)

Standard 1 

CD-ROMs for the Computer

Solar System by World Book

CounterTop Software Redmond, WA

        Journey to the Planets

        The Amazing Universe

        The Grand Cosmos

        Apollo 13

        History of the Universe

Solar System & History of Spaceflight by Finley Holiday Film Corp.

Through the Eye of the Hubble by Second Nature Software, Inc.

Compton’s Encyclopedia

Microsoft Software: PowerPoint, Works, and Word

The Student Writing Center by the Learning Company

Video: 

The Planets by Patrick Stewart

How Do They Build A Spaceship

Astronomy 101

Geo Safari

Space Exploration

Introductory Activities:

Before beginning the unit the students should become familiar with the computers, the Internet, the Geo Safari, the TV/VCR, and be able to use the Microsoft software programs and The Student Writing Center software.

Group Activities:

Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students. Provide each student in the group with a folder with the activities. Go over the Station Activities with the students. Provide each student with the cooperative and group rubric, which will be used as one of the assessment, tools. Discuss the rubric with the class.

Station Activities:

Station 1: Reading/Research

Task: Read each book to find the answer to the questions for each Activity

Sheet.

Planet Earth/Inside and Out

  The Solar System

  Floating In Space

  The Moon

       Solar System

    Materials: Books, Activity Sheet for each book, 

Time to Complete: 6 weeks

Station 2: Computer/Research

Task: Read from the Internet or CD Software or CD encyclopedia to research the planet, sun, or moon.

Materials: Compton Encyclopedia, World Wide Web sites, CD software Solar System & Journey to the Planets

Time: six weeks

Station 3: Math Station

Task: Use the calculator with the activity sheet to find his/her weight on each planet.Use the Space Shuttle puzzle to create a "Space Shuttle." 

Materials: calculator, activity sheet, puzzles

Time: six weeks

Station 4: Computer Station/Internet

Task: Using the Internet, find the answers to the questions on the activity sheets titled:" Moon" and the "Space Figures" and "Astronauts”. Site addresses on each sheet. 

Materials: Computer with Internet, Activity Sheets with site addresses

Time: six weeks

Station 5: Class Space Shuttle

Task: Construct a Space Shuttle and complete activities in the shuttle

Materials:PVC pipes, white plastic, duct tape, packing foam chips, construction paper, carpenter's tools, space shuttle activity sheets

Time: six weeks

Station 6: Art

Task: Create and build his/her space shuttle or a moon base giving it a name with logo

Materials: Paint, boxes all sizes, tubes, tin foil, paper plates and cups, plastic wrap, construction paper, markers, crayons, felt, cloth, wallpaper, glue gun with glue sticks, glue, masking tape

Time: six weeks

Station 7: TV/VCR/Video

Task: View the videos. as a group, discuss and write the answers to the questions on the activity sheet.

Materials: TV/VCR/Videos: Planets and Astronomy 101

Station 8:   Internet/Research

Task: Use the Internet sites and research and view the video clips, graphic, and photos of the solar system, space shuttle, the moon, and the sun.

Materials:  Computer/Internet connection with World Wide Web sites 

Time: six weeks

Station 9: Computer/Word Processing

Task: Use one of the publishing software to complete the writing activities at the station

Materials:  Computer/Writing assignments

Time: six weeks

Station 10: Computer/PowerPoint

Task: Use all the information researched to create a class slide presentation.

Materials: All station activities completed with activities

Time: one week

Station 11: Geo Safari

Task: Use the Geo Safari  Cards to answer the questions relating to each card.

Write the answers on each sheet.

Materials:  Geo Safari, Exploring Space cards, and science folder

Time: six weeks

Culminating Activities:

Space Shuttle will be open for parents and guests

Class presentation-using PowerPoint

Group sharing projects and station activities

Share his/her space shuttle or moon base art activity

Assessments:

The station activities will be evaluated on the cooperative and group rubric. Group Folders will be evaluated on the student’s participation, cooperative learning, group process, problem solving, and the use of the multimedia tools to complete the activities and projects.

© 2002 Martha Bush
 

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