Molloy College

Division of Education

Rachael Klahn Professor Esposito

Course: EDU 527 April 2017
Grade: 3 Topic: The Solar System Content Area: Science

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES (s) (Lesson Objective(s)*)

After watching a Brain Pop Jr. video introducing students to our solar system, students will work
in pairs. Each pair will be assigned a planet to compare and contrast Earth to using the My
Galaxy application. Students will fill out a Venn Diagram worksheet with their findings and
share with the class. For homework, students will be asked to complete a worksheet with 85%
accuracy.

NYS-CCLS / +NYS STANDARDS AND INDICATORS

ELA & Literacy Standard (CCS): Writing (W 3.8)

Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take
brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

Indicator: This will be indicated when students complete the cooperative learning
activity where they will compare and contrast Earth and an assigned planet.

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

SMART board
Brain Pop Jr. video on the Solar System
(https://jr.brainpop.com/science/space/solarsystem/)
Venn Diagram worksheets
iPads
My Galaxy app
Pencils
Solar System worksheet (struggling, average and advanced level)
Fact worksheet to accompany Solar System worksheet
 MOTIVATION (Engaging the learner(s)*)

The teacher will start the class by creating a KWL chart as a group. She will ask them to list
what they know and what they want to know about the Solar System. At the end of the lesson the
class will fill out what they learned.

DEVELOPMENTAL PROCEDURES
(including Key Questions)

The teacher will begin by having the class fill out the K and W columns of a KWL
chart on the SMART board. Students will volunteer what they know and what they want
to know. The teacher will write the answers on the chart and encourage students with
questions to fill up the chart. (What do you know about the sun, is it hot or is it cold? Do
any other planets have people living on them? Etc.)
The teacher will then show the students a Brain Pop Jr. video introducing them to the
solar system, occasionally stopping to ask questions at the appropriate points. (What is
the sun? What is in the inner solar system? What is in the outer solar system? Is Pluto a
planet?)
After the video is over the class will complete either the easy or hard quiz together as a
review depending on how well the students seem to be grasping the material.
The teacher will ask students to get into pairs for the next activity. Each pair of students
will receive and iPad and open the My Galaxy app. The teacher will assign each pair of
students a planet to compare and contrast Earth to. Students will research their planet and
Earth on the app and fill out a Venn Diagram.
Once students complete their Venn Diagrams, each pair will be asked to share one
similarity and one difference that they discovered.
After all the groups have shared, the teacher will ask the students what they learned in
order to fill the L column of the KWL chart. The chart will be printed so that each
student has a copy.
As a homework assignment, students will be asked to complete a worksheet to assess
their knowledge of the solar system. It will have a picture of the solar system with blank
spots for students to fill in with the names of the planets. Students will also be asked to
write a fact for each planet.

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES (Learning Strategies*)

Discussion
o Indicator: This will be evident when the class fills out the KWL chart as a class
and when the student pairs share information from their Venn Diagrams.
Cooperative Learning
 o Indicator: This will be evident when students work in pairs to compare and
contrast Earth and their assigned planet.
Questioning
o Indicator: This will be evident when the teacher asks the student questions while
filling out the KWL chart and during the Brain Pop Jr. video.

ADAPTATIONS (Exceptionality*)

Students with ADHD will be given preferential seating to minimize distractions. The closed
captions will be turned on during the Brain Pop Jr. video for any student with a hearing
impairment.

DIFFERENTIATION OF INSTRUCTION

Struggling students will receive a worksheet that has a word bank with the names of the
planets identifying them as an inner solar system or outer solar system planet.
Average students will receive a worksheet that has a word bank with the names of the
planets.
Advanced students will receive a worksheet with no word bank.

ASSESSMENT (artifacts* and assessment [formal & informal]*)

Students will be asked to fill out a worksheet without the use of their class notes that asks them
to fill the names of the planets in on a map of the solar system and a fact about each planet with
85% accuracy.

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE

Students will complete the worksheet for homework to assess their knowledge of the solar
system without the use of their class notes. They will label the planets on a diagram of the solar
system and write a fact in for each planet.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES: DIRECT TEACHER INTERVENTION AND ACADEMIC
ENRICHMENT

Direct Teacher Intervention: In order to reteach the objective, the teacher will complete the
worksheet with students in a small group and go over the order of the planets using the My
Galaxy app and creating an acronym to remember the order. Students will use the KWL chart to
assist them with filling in a fact for each planet.

Academic Enrichment: Students will imagine they are going on a journey to the planet they
researched with their partner and write a story about what they might find on that planet.
 REFERENCES

Brain Pop Jr. Solar system [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://jr.brainpop.com/science/space/solarsystem/

Brain Pop Jr. Talk about it: Solar system. Retrieved from
https://jr.brainpop.com/science/space/solarsystem/talkaboutit/

Santos, M. C. (2016). My Galaxy 3D (Version 3.02) [Mobile application software]. Retrieved

from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-galaxy-3d/id1005827552?mt=8

Wheat, Elsa (2012). Science exploration journal: Our solar system. Retrieved from
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Space-Exploration-Journal-236873
ADDENDUM
Earth Saturn
Jupiter Sun
Mars Uranus
Mercury Venus
Neptune
Inner Outer
Earth Jupiter
Mars Neptune
Mercury Saturn
Venus Uranus
Sun
Earth Saturn
Jupiter Sun
Mars Uranus
Mercury Venus
Neptune
 Fun Facts
Write one fact about each of the planets and the sun.

1. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________

2. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________

3. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________

4. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________

5. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________

6. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________

7. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________

8. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________
9. Name: ________________________________________________
Fact: _____________________________________________