By: Tonya McGradyBy: Tonya McGrady

This is a fourth grade class.This is a fourth grade class. The students range in age from 9-10 years The students range in age from 9-10 years

old.old. This is not intended for special needs or an This is not intended for special needs or an

honor class, just a regular fourth grade honor class, just a regular fourth grade classroom.classroom.

(SC.4.4.30) After this unit, the students will be (SC.4.4.30) After this unit, the students will be able to identify the sun as a star. able to identify the sun as a star.

(SC.4.4.31) The students will be able to describe (SC.4.4.31) The students will be able to describe the orbits of the Sun and the Moon.the orbits of the Sun and the Moon.

(SC.4.4.32) The students will be able to describe (SC.4.4.32) The students will be able to describe and explain the planets orbital paths. and explain the planets orbital paths.

(SC.4.4.26) The students will be able to locate (SC.4.4.26) The students will be able to locate and identify patterns of stars and the seasonal and identify patterns of stars and the seasonal changes. changes.

Different sized round Different sized round balloons balloons

Paint Paint Paint brushesPaint brushes Fishing line Fishing line

Newspaper stripsNewspaper strips Flour and water to Flour and water to

mix for space pastemix for space paste Paper ClipsPaper Clips Construction paperConstruction paper

InternetInternetBooksBooksPaperPaperPencilsPencils

Utilize Materials:Utilize Materials:Day 1: IntroductionDay 1: Introduction

Introduce the sun, moon, and stars using a Introduce the sun, moon, and stars using a handout.handout.

Allow the students to get online: Allow the students to get online: hotliquidmagma.comhotliquidmagma.com/space/space so they can see so they can see actual pictures of the objects in the sky.actual pictures of the objects in the sky.

Begin making the classroom planetarium. Begin making the classroom planetarium.

Day 2: SOLAR SYSTEM

-Brief overview of what we had discussed the previous day.

-Discuss the solar system and how the sun relates to all the planets, and discuss the distance between each planets and the sun. Allow the students to get online and do research on each of the nine planets.

-Continue making classroom planetarium.

Day 3: ORBITAL PATHS

-Discuss the orbital path the planets take to reach the sun.

-The students will get on the site: www.astronomy.com to actually read about each of the planets and their distance and orbital paths.

Day 4: STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

-Field trip to the museum to visit the planetarium so they can see all the different constellations and see where they’re located in space. They will also learn which stars you can see during the seasons.

Day 5: Review

-I will break the students into groups and let them give a brief presentation on what they have learned about the sky during the week to the whole class. Each group will get a different topic to talk about.

Require Learner Participation:Require Learner Participation:

Group activitiesGroup activitiesHandoutsHandoutsPuzzlesPuzzles Internet sitesInternet sitesField tripField trip

Evaluate and Revise:Evaluate and Revise:

Class Participation:Class Participation:

-Crossword Puzzles-Crossword Puzzles

-Online trivia-Online trivia

-Group projects-Group projectsHandoutsHandouts