Grade 5 : Standard 6 - The Universe

Conceptual Strand 6

The cosmos is vast and explored well enough to know its basic structure and operational principles.

Guiding Question 6

What big ideas guide human understanding about the origin and structure of the universe, Earth’s place in the cosmos, and observable motions and patterns in the sky?
Grade Level Expectations Checks for Understanding State Performance Indicators

GLE 0507.6.1 Compare planets based on their known characteristics.

GLE 0507.6.2 Recognize that charts can be used to locate and identify star patterns.

0507.6.1 Develop a chart that communicates the major characteristics of each planet.

0507.6.2 Use images of the night sky to identify different seasonal star patterns.

0507.6.3 Research a star pattern using a chart.

 

SPI 0507.6.1 Distinguish among the planets according to their known characteristics such as appearance, location, composition, and apparent motion.

SPI 0507.6.2 Select information from a complex data representation to draw conclusions about the planets.

SPI 0507.6.3 Identify methods methods and tools for identifying star patterns.

 

Day 1 - Ordering the Planets - Distinguish among the planets according to specific characteristics.

  1. Workbook p 15 "Put the Planets in Order." Color each planet the correct color. Cut out the planets and glue on construction paper in the correct order.

  2. (Students have a worksheet to help them remember the correct sequence of the planets.)

    To Remember the Correct Planet Order --

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.

 

Mercury  Venus  Earth  Mars Jupiter  Saturn  Uranus  Neptune  Pluto

  1. Make a model to show the relative distances of the planets from the sun.

Mercury 1"
Venus 1.5"
Earth 2"
Mars 3"
Jupiter 11.5"
Saturn 19"
Uranus 38"
Neptune 60"
Pluto 79"

 

Day 2 - Distinguish among the planets according to specific characteristics.

  1. Workbook p. 37-41 Make a mini book "The Planets" (5 pages cut in half to make a 10 page booklet) and read and discuss.

  2. Watch The Inner Planets stopping video after learning about each planet to fill in three facts about each one. Worksheets to do this are on pages 42-45. Students may look back at "The Planets" booklet if they have trouble.

  3. Review the Order of the Planets. (Students put on planet "necklaces". These are in a Ziploc in the back of the notebook. Have students arrange themselves in a line in the correct order. Example, if a student  is wearing Mars he must get between the two people wearing Earth and Jupiter.)

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.

 

Mercury  Venus  Earth  Mars Jupiter  Saturn  Uranus  Neptune  Pluto

  1. Worksheet Order the planets.

  2. Label the Solar System Worksheet (Students have an answer key and a page with blanks to fill in.)

Day 3  - Distinguish among the planets according to specific characteristics.

  1. Watch The Outer Planets stopping video after learning about each planet to fill in three facts about each one. Worksheets to do this are on  pages 46-50.

  2. Review the Order of the Planets.

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.

 

Mercury  Venus  Earth  Mars Jupiter  Saturn  Uranus  Neptune  Pluto

  1. Make paper model of the planets. (See instructions at the back of this notebook. An example is in a Ziploc bag, and the colored pages of the planets are in the students' binders.)

  2. Sample Question

Day 4

 

Students worked in cooperative learning groups. The task was to create a chart with characteristics of each of the main planets. Students then created questions about the planets. Finally the information was presented to the class.

 


 

 

Sample Questions

 

Day 5 Constellations

Day 6 Constellations

Unit Test

 

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