Traveling through Space

Anita Staudinger

Tara Hahn

DAILY LESSON PLAN

COOPERATIVE LEARNING

TEACHER INFORMATION

Title of Lesson

Traveling through Space

Topic(s)

Math process: Connections

Math product: Data Analysis

Science process: Relating

Science product: Solar System

Student Level

3rd grade

Objective(s)

Academic
The Students will distinguish differences between weight on Earth and weight on other planets by filling in a table and graphing the data.
The students will work in groups to create brochures describing a planet assigned to them. They will use data given to them to incorporate facts into their brochure. The brochure will include at least 4 facts about their planet.
Social Skills
The student will show good communication skills while in each group.

One group talking at
a time.
Everyone is participating.
Clear and easy understanding.

Students are respectfully listening.
Students are giving input one at a time.
Everyone is participating.

Materials
Information about each planet
Construction Paper
Poster Board
Markers/Crayons
Worksheet
Calculators
Prerequisite Skills
Basic knowledge of the nine planets
Multiple decimals
Use of calculator
Understands rounding to nearest whole number
Basic bar graphing skills
Note taking
Writing skills
Time Required
1 days

Group Size Roles:
Groups of 5.

TEACHING PROCEDURES

Introduction of Topic

We would introduce the topic by reviewing the nine planets. We would then explain to class we are going to be astronauts and will be traveling to each planet. We will want to find out a little more information on each planet and then how much we will weigh on each planet.

Development of the Concept

Pass out a piece of a paper with a name of a planet to everyone in the class.
Ask the question, "Would a person always weigh more on a larger planet than on a smaller planet?"
Discuss the answer
Talk with the students about the T-chart we made up for Communication Skills at the beginning of the year.
Have the students find their group using the planet name assigned to them.
Show the class the overhead of worksheet and demonstrate to them how to find weight on the other planets.
Review the use of calculators.
Review how to multiply decimals.
Review rounding to the nearest whole number.
As a class find the answer for the Earth's moon and for the Sun.
Have them discuss in their groups each person's role.
Have the materials person come to front to collect material.
We will explain that each group needs to find the weight change for their particular planet using the calculators.
Have the recorder write what they found.
Have the reporter share with the class what they found.
We will fill in the overhead and each group will complete the rest of their sheet.
We will then display and explain the example of the bar graph we made for 25lbs.
Each group will then graph the planets using the posterboard.
We will then explain the fact sheet and how to make a brochure.
After each group has filled in their spot on the bar graph they can begin to work on their brochures.
They must include four facts from the information given about their planet.
They will design the brochure on the construction paper.

Positive Interdependence

The students will interact with the other group members by reporting the information they had researched and by performing their specific group roles.

Individual Accountability

The group will critique each member on their participation in the group and if they followed through with their specific group roles.

Criteria for Success

The students will complete a worksheet and contribute to the class bar graph using collected data. They will also create a brochure using facts given to them on each planet.

Expected Behaviors

The students will practice good communication skills by speaking and listening within their group and among the other members of the class.

Monitoring

While the students are working in their groups we will be walking around the classroom offering help and guidance when needed.

Processing

On a separate sheet of paper each student needs to write down one thing they did well as a group and one thing the group needs to improve on.

Conclusion

Each group will then share their brochure with their facts on the planet. Tomorrow we will be learning about the sun, moon, and rest of the solar system.

Evaluation

We will check to see if the children met the objectives that were stated earlier in the lesson plan on both the academic and social aspects. We will have a list with every student's name on it, and simple check their name if we see of hear anything that lets us know the objectives were met.

EXTENSION

We could have the class make a mobile of the planets.

Have each group do further research on the planets.

RESOURCES

Berger, Gilda. A Tour of the Planets - Teachers Guide. Newbridge Communications, Inc. (1994). New York.

Name_______________________________

SPACE MATH

Gravity is the force that attracts an object in space to another object. Your weight on Earth is an effect of the Earth's gravity on your body. Did you know that the force of gravity is different on other planets, the sun, and the moon?

Multiply your weight by each gravity decimal factor listed in the chart below. Round the product to the nearest whole number. Your answer tells how much you would weigh on that particular world. Write your answers in the last column.

My weight on Earth is ________________ pounds.

Place

Gravity Factor

My Weight

1. Earth's moon
0.16

2. Sun
27.8

3. Mercury
0.38

4. Venus
0.91

5. Mars
0.38

6. Jupiter
2.5

7. Saturn
1.07

8. Uranus
0.93

9. Neptune
1.2

10. Pluto
0.03

After completing the chart, we will graph what we found.

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Lesson Index	Taggart's Page	TE	"published 10/06/99" irc/jr

Place	Gravity Factor	My Weight
1. Earth's moon	0.16
2. Sun	27.8
3. Mercury	0.38
4. Venus	0.91
5. Mars	0.38
6. Jupiter	2.5
7. Saturn	1.07
8. Uranus	0.93
9. Neptune	1.2
10. Pluto	0.03