The Night SkyThe Night Sky

Topics: Moon, Stars, PlanetsTopics: Moon, Stars, Planets Grade: 5thGrade: 5th Scope: Solar System & Scope: Solar System &

UniverseUniverse Using Benchmark: Describe Using Benchmark: Describe

and explain common and explain common observations of the night sky.observations of the night sky.

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

What is in the night sky?What is in the night sky? What are some objects in the night What are some objects in the night

sky that affect Earth? sky that affect Earth? Is there more in the night sky then Is there more in the night sky then

what you see?what you see? Do objects in the night sky change Do objects in the night sky change

from night to night or over time?from night to night or over time?

Pre-AssessmentPre-Assessment

Pre-Assessment:Pre-Assessment: Have the students write down in their Have the students write down in their

space journals what the class knows space journals what the class knows about what’s in the night sky and what about what’s in the night sky and what they know about the night sky.they know about the night sky.

Have them draw a picture of what they Have them draw a picture of what they believe the night sky looks like.believe the night sky looks like.

Read, Read, Complete Book of the Night SkyComplete Book of the Night Sky Collect journals so you can see what Collect journals so you can see what

misconceptions the class has and you misconceptions the class has and you can tailor your teaching around that.can tailor your teaching around that.

Purpose:Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to learn The purpose of this activity is to learn and understand the phases of the moon. The and understand the phases of the moon. The students will create a model of the Earth, Sun, students will create a model of the Earth, Sun, and Moon motion and look at different and Moon motion and look at different

perspectives to understand the Moon phases.perspectives to understand the Moon phases.

Phases of the Phases of the MoonMoon

Phases of the MoonPhases of the Moon This lesson taught students about…You guessed it! This lesson taught students about…You guessed it!

The Phases of the MoonThe Phases of the Moon.. ENGAGEDENGAGED students by having them draw pictures of the moon. students by having them draw pictures of the moon.

Students Students EXPLOREDEXPLORED by demonstrating the moon phases by demonstrating the moon phases themselves with a ball and flashlight.themselves with a ball and flashlight.

EXPLAINEDEXPLAINED by drawing and labeling moon phases on by drawing and labeling moon phases on whiteboard.whiteboard.

Students Students ELABORATEDELABORATED when they drew the phases of the when they drew the phases of the moon on black paper, with chalk, with only the names of the moon on black paper, with chalk, with only the names of the

phases given to them.phases given to them.

Students were Students were EVALUATEDEVALUATED by the chalk drawings and space by the chalk drawings and space journal entries.journal entries.

Properties of the MoonProperties of the Moon

In this lesson, students will become more In this lesson, students will become more familiar with the familiar with the Properties of the MoonProperties of the Moon..

ENGAGESENGAGES students with a K-W-L chart about what they students with a K-W-L chart about what they know about the moon.know about the moon.

Students Students EXPLOREEXPLORE by visually seeing the properties by visually seeing the properties applied to the moon vs. Earth.applied to the moon vs. Earth.

Lesson is Lesson is EXPLAINEDEXPLAINED by filling out the rest of the K-W-L by filling out the rest of the K-W-L chart.chart.

Students will Students will ELABORATEELABORATE by creating their own moon by creating their own moon and Earth and drawing the properties onto themand Earth and drawing the properties onto them

Students are Students are EVALUATEDEVALUATED by the drawing and entry into by the drawing and entry into their space journal.their space journal.

Craters on the MoonCraters on the Moon

PurposePurpose: The purpose of this : The purpose of this activity is for students to activity is for students to understand some important understand some important features of the Moon’s surface features of the Moon’s surface and to understand how the and to understand how the Moon might have received its Moon might have received its craters. Students will reenact craters. Students will reenact craters being made in the craters being made in the Moon’s surface and measure Moon’s surface and measure their sizes and depth to their sizes and depth to

understand this better.understand this better.

StarsStars

In the In the first lessonfirst lesson on stars, the students learn on stars, the students learn about the life cycle of a star. The first activity about the life cycle of a star. The first activity has the students creating a timeline of star’s has the students creating a timeline of star’s life by only using pictures. After completing life by only using pictures. After completing this the class discusses what the real life cycle this the class discusses what the real life cycle of a star is. of a star is.

In the In the second lessonsecond lesson on stars, the students on stars, the students visit a website that teaches them about the visit a website that teaches them about the color and size of stars.color and size of stars.

Finding Finding ConstellationsConstellations

Students will discover and Students will discover and locate stars and locate stars and constellations in the night constellations in the night sky using the Star Finder.sky using the Star Finder.

Students will identify the Students will identify the major constellations.major constellations.

Students will explore the Students will explore the constellations of the constellations of the current month using the current month using the Star Finder.Star Finder.

Exploring the PlanetsExploring the Planets

Students will be introduced Students will be introduced to the earth’s moon and to the earth’s moon and the eight other planets in the eight other planets in our solar system.our solar system.

Students will be broken up Students will be broken up into eight groups to plan into eight groups to plan an exploratory mission to an exploratory mission to their assigned planet.their assigned planet.

Students will research the Students will research the physical features, the physical features, the ability to sustain life, and ability to sustain life, and the flight plan of their the flight plan of their planet.planet.

Post-AssessmentPost-Assessment

In groups of 3 or 4, the students will be In groups of 3 or 4, the students will be taken into the Star Lab and asked taken into the Star Lab and asked questions about the night sky. They will questions about the night sky. They will identify major constellations and stars. identify major constellations and stars. They will also discuss the phases of the They will also discuss the phases of the moon and be able to point them out and moon and be able to point them out and name them.name them.

Back in class, they will write a one page Back in class, they will write a one page paper about what they have learned paper about what they have learned during this unit. They can use their space during this unit. They can use their space journals as a reference. journals as a reference.