Brittney Guyer/CIA 326/ Fall 2013

Unit Plan
I. Descriptive Characteristics
Unit Title: The Solar System
Grade Level: Third Grade
Number of Days Required: Five Days
Time of Year Presented: Fourth Week of Semester
II. Rationale/Overview
Primary Unit Goal: To give students a knowledge and understanding of the major
planets in our solar system, what each planet features, and how they all relate to the
sun.
Justification for Time of Year: This time of year will allow students to recognize how
the solar system works together as a whole before going into more specific and
complex things found in the universe.
Importance for Unit from Childs Perspective: Learning about the solar system will
not only show them that there is more to learn about science than what is just on
the Earth, but it will also allow them to do more critical thinking in terms of how the
universe came into existence and what else could possibly be discovered in the
universe.
TN State Standards Addressed: GLE 0307.6.1 Identify and compare the major
components of the solar system.
Adaptions for Individual Learners with Exceptionalities: I will supply exceptional
students with individual copies of notes taken in class. I will also give them extra
time if needed for assessment. Simplified versions of activities will be offered to the
student as an alternative.
III. Scope and Sequence
Day 1 Theme: Overview of the Solar System
Objectives: Students will recognize and memorize the major planets of the solar
system with 85% accuracy. GLE 0307.6.1
Activities: For a pre-assessment activity, students will sketch a drawing of what
they believe the planets look like and what order they think the planets are in
compared to the sun. Next, the class will watch an educational video telling the
students about each planet and their order from the sun to the last planet.
Finally, I will use a mnemonic device to teach the students a helpful way to
remember the order of the planets.
Instructional Resources: Educational Video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5mgTBkDaCs
Assessment Used: Pre-assessment shown through drawing of the planets and
comparing them to the actual order of the planets.
Day 2 Theme: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
Objectives: Students will compare and contrast the major similarities and differences of
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars with 85% accuracy. GLE 0307.6.1
Activities: Students will be paired into four different groups that I pre-selected.
Each group will be assigned a specific planet and given a specific website to go to
in order to gather information about their planet. After the information is found,
groups will present their information to the class while the other groups take
notes. For homework, the students will complete a diagram given to them in
which they must compare and contrast the planets.
Instructional Resources: Planet website-
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Mercury
Assessment Used: Formative Assessment through homework diagram.
Day 3 Theme: Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus
Objectives: Students will describe the planets previously learned and compare
them to the final planets Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. GLE 0307.6.1
Activities: Students will view a powerpoint that I created highlighting the
important facts about the final four planets. After this, students will quiz over
information learned over the past three days.
Instructional Resources: powerpoint
Assessment Used: Formative Assessment-quiz
Day 4 Theme: Review of the Solar System
Objectives: Students will prepare for the test by reviewing the information
learned and creating a model of the solar system with 90% accuracy. GLE
0307.6.1
Activities: Using materials provided by me, the students will create each planet
and place them in order from the sun to create a model.
Instructional Resources: project material provided by teacher
Assessment Used: Informal Formative Assessment- Teacher will walk around the
room asking students specific questions while they are creating their model.
Day 5 Theme: Proven Knowledge
Objectives: Each student will prove through as examination that they have
mastered the topics learned in class.
Activities: A summative examination
Instructional Resources: Test
Assessment Used: summative assessment