M333

This is a fun way to learn about the solar system
Materials List:
• At least 4 Styrofoam Balls
• Wooden Dowel Rods for each Styrofoam Ball off of the center
• Paint
• Paint Brush
• Any other personal item

Step 1:

Steps:
1. Get the materials
2. Think of a theme
3. Start Painting your “sun”
4. Let your “sun” dry and start painting planet 1
5. Let planet 1 dry and start painting planet 2
6. Let planet 2 dry and start painting planet 3
7. Continue this for all your planets.
8. Insert the dowel rods into each planet and connect them to the sun.

Step 2:

Tips and Tricks

If sharpie markers can be used to decorate the planets it could be neater for the details.
Give plenty of time for drying 
If the students want writing on their planets have them write on it in pencil first.

Step 3:

Brett Roesner
M333-Jones
Visual Thinking and Curriculum Integration
Content Standards:
SCI.5.2.1 2010
Recognize that our earth is part of the solar system in which the sun, an average star, is the central and largest body. Observe that our solar system includes the sun, moon, seven other planets and their moons, and many other smaller objects like asteroids and comets.
VA.5.6.2 2008
Utilize new interests, current events, or personal experiences as subject matter in artwork.
Learning Objectives:
SCI.5.2.1 2010
• Students will learn that the sun is the central and largest body.
• Students will learn that our solar system includes the sun, moon, seven other planets and their moons.
• Students will learn about asteroids and comets.
• Students will learn that earth is part of a solar system.

VA.5.6.2 2008
• Students will utilize new interests, current events, or personal experiences in creating their own solar system.
• Students learn about the sun by including one or something similar into their own solar system.
• Students will understand about the different planets by creating their own.
• Students will learn about the moon by creating their own.

Description of the Core Content Lesson:
Describe the Core Content lesson:
The teacher will introduce the lesson by having the students read a poem or short text about the solar system. The teacher will then show a video over the solar system to spark the students’ interest. The teacher will then teach about the sun by giving the students facts about the sun, using a picture to do so. The teacher will then teach about the planets in our solar system starting with the one closes to the sun, and going in order, using a picture of each planet and facts about each one. The teacher will do the same steps for comets and asteroids. After the sun and each planet is taught and discussed the class will put the solar system in order on a chalkboard or somewhere easily to see. The teacher will then introduce a song about the solar system for the students to sing and remember. The teacher will then show a more complex video to the students to see if they can recognize more items. The teacher will provide a short worksheet over the solar system. 

Explain what you will teach:
I will teach the solar system including the sun, moon, the planets and the components of the planets, asteroids, comets. I will teach that the sun is in the center, an average star and the largest body in the solar system.

Steps for how you will introduce the lesson:
The teacher will tell the students that they will be starting a big lesson and a project at the end of the lesson. The teacher will have the students read a poem or short text about the solar system. The teacher and students will talk about the interesting parts of the text.

Resources:
A computer and projector, poem or text over the solar system, pictures of each part of the solar system, chalkboard or place to hang pictures, short worksheet.

Description of Visual Activity:


Hands on visual activity:
Students will create their own solar system by choosing a new interest, current events or personal experiences out of Styrofoam Balls and pipe cleaners. The students will have to decorate each Styrofoam Ball to fit their theme. The students will need at least five balls, one big one as the center (sun) and three other “planets”.

Materials List:
• At least 4 Styrofoam Balls
• Wooden Dowel Rods for each Styrofoam Ball off of the center
• Paint
• Paint Brush
• Any other personal item

      Steps:
1. Get the materials
2. Think of a theme
3. Start Painting your “sun”
4. Let your “sun” dry and start painting planet 1
5. Let planet 1 dry and start painting planet 2
6. Let planet 2 dry and start painting planet 3
7. Continue this for all your planets.
8. Insert the dowel rods into each planet and connect them to the sun.
Takes about an hour to complete.

Integration Rational:

This activity connects with the core content because by building their own solar system they will develop deeper meaning about the real one. This activity is an instructional strategy because the students are reinforcing what they learned earlier and incorporate it into their own solar system.  It also reinforces the core content because they have to build their solar system with the same type of things that the real solar system has. The students have to know what each part is to include it.  This activity will also develop the students’ neatness abilities.

Rubric

                                      6           4            2            0
Correct Information   
Neatness   
Quality of Work   
Attention to Detail   
Effort/Execution