Online

Science Course: 3rd Grade Stephanie Willis Texas Tech University

 Online Science Course: 3rd Grade Course Outline a. Living Things b. Lift It, Push It, Pull It c. Matter & Energy d. Astronomy i. Traveling Around the Sun 1. Earth and the Sun 2. Exploring the Moon 3. Earth, Sun, and Moon ii. The Sun and Its Planets 1. Here Comes the Sun 2. Looking at the Inner Planets 3. Looking at the Outer Planets e. Rocks & Resources f. Human Body g. Where Living Things Live Possible Instructional Strategies for Unit on Astronomy a. Create introduction to each module using Prezi (an online presentation service that creates a very visually appealing and active presentation) that students will be asked to view b. Have students visit local observatory c. Provide flash cards for related vocabulary online

 d. Explore Earth 3D Application with students via web conferencing

e. Upload links to videos and songs about the solar system on class website for students to explore f. Create 3D visual presentations using Solar System Scope g. Provide link to kidsatronomy.com on class website (astronomy related games) h. Create online quizzes that allow students to read about the individual planets and solar system and answer questions in regards to the reading. Include vocabulary questions as well. i. Create a virtual representation of the earths orbit around the sun in order to demonstrate the changing of seasons and the complete revolution of an earths year. j. Have students document in their online journal (that instructor has access to) the phases of the moon each night for a month. Have students use drawing tools to represent the phases. Have students draw a conclusion of how long it takes the moon to revolve around the earth. k. Have students perform experiment at home that will investigate how the Suns energy affects Earth. Have students document their personal data in a collaborative table posted on class website. When table is complete, synchronously discuss with class what they think can be determined by this data about how the suns energy and light affect earths temperature. Discuss whether or not they believe the results would be the same if the experiment was conducted regarding an outer planet in our solar system.

 l. Have students create their own story of the day the sun was accidentally turned off. Have students use the facts they know about the sun and how it affects living things on our planet to create a fictional story.

m. Set up asynchronous discussion using Popplet (mind-mapping tool). Provide students with a background story such as An alien fleeing from police on Mars accidentally runs his spaceship into the side of Earth, causing Earth to become even more tilted. Have students respond to what they think this would do for the seasons by replying to one of two popplets; Summer Hotter/Winter Colder or Summer Colder/Winter Warmer. In their reply, explain why.

 Reference Moyer, R., Daniel, L., Hackett, J., Baptiste, P., Stryker, P., & Vasquez, J. (2000). McGraw-Hill science (Texas ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.