5th Grade Earth

Systems/Solar System

Subject: Science

Length: Six weeks

Unit Goals and Expectations

Big Idea: How do the sun and earth interact and affect each other to create earth systems? In this unit students
will develop an understanding of various earth systems. As new topics are introduced students will follow a
similar format. At first, notes will be taken from either teach instruction or videos. The following day,
students will conduct small investigations to clarify the science behind the different topics. The same concept
will be taught for multiple days in different ways to solidify the idea and reach all different learners. Following
an understanding for earth systems, students will explore the solar system using the knowledge gained.
Important Concepts/Understanding
Earth Systems
Understand that the sun is a major source of energy
Explain that seasons result from annual variation in
the intensity of sun and length of day
Demonstrate seasons, rotation, and revolution with a
model.

Solar System
Sun is the central and largest body in the solar
system
Earth is the third planet from the sun
Gravity is the force that keeps most objects in a
predictable motion

Essential Questions
Earth Systems
Solar System
What causes tides on earth?
What is a year?
What is a day?
Why do high tides occur?
At what time of the day is the shadow the shortest?
How much of the moon is lit at any given time?
Does the distance from Earth to the sun determine the What is gravity?
seasons?
What are the basic components of the solar
Tell the relationship between the suns position and
system?
day length.
What do the first four planets have in common?
Why are there longer days in the winter than in the
What does solar mean? Lunar?
summer?
Define rotation and revolution.
If the sun is in the sky longer, is there more or less
daylight?
How do the earth and sun interact to create seasons?

Student Learning Expectations: Michigan Department of Education Science Standards

Earth Systems
K-7 Standard E.ES: Develop an understanding of the warming of the Earth by the sun as the major source of energy for phenomenon on
Earth and how the suns warming relates to weather, climate, seasons, and the water cycle. Understand how human interaction and use of
natural resources affects the environment.
E.ES.M.6 Seasons- Seasons result from annual variations in the intensity of sunlight and length of day due to the tilt of the axis of the
Earth relative to the plane of its yearly orbit around the sun.
E.ES.05.61 Demonstrate and explain seasons using a model.
E.ES.05.62 Explain how the revolution of the Earth around the sun defines a year
Earth in Space and Time
K-7 Standard E.ST: Develop an understanding that the sun is the central and largest body in the solar system and that the Earth and other
objects in the sky move in regular and predictable motion around the sun. Understand that those motions explain the day, year, moon
phases, eclipses and the appearance of motion of objects across the sky. Understand that gravity is the force that keeps the planets in orbit
around the sun and governs motion in the solar system.
E.ST.M.1 Solar System The sun is the central and largest body in our solar system. Earth is the third planet from the sun in a system that
includes other planets and their moons, as well as smaller objects, such as asteroids and comets.
E.ST.05.11 Design a model of the solar system that shows the relative order and scale of the planets, dwarf planets, comets, and asteroids
to the sun.
E.ST.M.2 Solar System Motion Gravity is the force that keeps most objects in the solar system in regular and predictable motion.
E.ST.05.21 Describe the motion of planets and moons in terms of rotation on axis and orbits due to gravity.
E.ST.05.22 Explain the phases of the moon.
E.ST.05.23 Explain the apparent motion of the stars (constellations) and the sun across the sky.
E.ST.05.24 Explain lunar and solar eclipses.
E.ST.05.25 Explain the tides of oceans as they relate to the gravitational pull and orbit of the moon.
Inquiry Analysis and Communication
S.IP.05.12 Design and conduct scientific investigations.
S.IP.05.15 Construct charts and graphs from data and observations.
S.IP.05.16 Identify patterns in data.
S.IA.M.1 Inquiry includes an analysis and presentation of findings that lead to future questions, research, and investigations.
S.IA.05.11 Analyze information from data tables and graphs to answer scientific questions. S.IA.05.12 Evaluate data, claims, and personal
knowledge through collaborative science discourse.
Reflection and Social Implications
S.RS.05.15 Demonstrate scientific concepts through various illustrations, performances, models, exhibits, and activities.

Unit Assessment Evidence

Formative:
Summative:
Ideas about the day, year, and seasons BEFORE
Tennis ball rotation/revolution student modeling
chart
Earth Systems quiz
Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights graph
Sun, Moon and Earth Systems quiz
Seasons Simulation
Planet facts
Vocabulary notes
Solar System unit test
The Story Behind Our Seasons reading
Solar System slide show
Sun and Shadow Activity
The Ever-Changing Sky reading
Moon Phases Study Jam
Tides reading
Soaring Through Our Solar System reading
Gravity reading
Galaxy reading
Comets, Asteroids and Meteors reading
Constellations reading
In-class solar system magazine search

Scope and Sequence

Day 1
- Chrome book: My Ideas About
the Day, Year, Seasons Google
Doc

Day 2
- Earths Rotation and
Revolution Crash Course video
- To get an idea about where we
are heading in the unit
- Watch first, hand out video notes
for the second time watching

Day 3
- Discuss ideas record on chart
paper
- Begin Activity 71: Sunlight and
Shadows
- Read the fictional story about
shadow position (in science
book)
*Phenomenon

Day 4
- Record suns position through
the morning on the window using
white board marker
- Discuss those results with
fictional story

Day 5
- Activity 75: Sun and Shadow
Analysis
- Chrome books
* Exit Ticket: At what time of the
day is the shadow the shortest?

Day 6
- Read Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights
- Make observations about the
changes in the book as a class
discussion

Day 7
- Distribute copies of the book for
groups to record monthly data on
the book
- Students who finish early must
brainstorm the best way to show
on a graph how the amount of
day light changes as the months
change

Day 8
- Decide what type of graph to use
(line graph)
- Set up the graph as a class
- Students plot the points and draw
a conclusion using the data
*Exit Ticket: What happens to the
suns position in the sky over a
year?

Day 9
- Discuss graph conclusions
- Using globe, demonstrate earths
tilt, rotation, and revolution
- Class notes: Day vs. Night and
seasons
*A in rotation for axis
*Axis, hemisphere, orbit,
revolution, rotation, tilt

Day 10
- Activity 76: A Year Viewed from
Space
- Chrome book simulation to
reinforce teacher model of a year
- While students are doing the
activity, pull small groups to
show the model
- Point out Alaska vs. MI

Day 11
- Continue activity 76: A Year
Viewed from Space and pulling
small groups to show the model
- If students finish the activity,
they may do the Seasons
crossword
*HW: Seasons reading

Day 12
- Discuss homework
- Class notes: Why are the days
longer in the summer?
- Cut out picture to glue onto notes
- Observe picture first
- Ask clarification questions
*Where would it be summer when
we are having winter?

Day 13
- Introduce tennis ball models for
quiz
- Teacher model expectations
- Small groups practice explaining
without the model first
*What is a year? What is a day?
Why are the days longer in the
summer? Show tilt, rotate,
revolution and angle
Day 16
- Introduce moon observation extra
credit project (15 days)
- Bill Nye video
- Students write 6 facts
HW: The Ever-Changing Sky
Reading

Day 14
- Small group practice with tennis
ball
- Teacher circulate
*Distribute Crash Course video
notes for studying

Day 15
Earth Systems quiz
- While student are taking quiz,
pull individuals to demonstrate a
day, year, summer and winter
using the tennis ball

Day 17
- Discuss homework
- Moon Song
- Print lyrics with picture
- Rap as a class

Day 18
- Class notes with Phases of the
Moon PowerPoint

Day 20
- Phases of Moon Chrome book
activity with worksheet

Day 21
- Tides Study Jam
- Class Notes
*Exit Ticket: Why do high tides
occur?

Day 22
- Moon Song rap again
- Active Inspire phase interactive
- Earth Systems Kahoot

Day 23
- Sun, Earth and Moon System
Quiz

Day 24
- Introduce Solar System project
- Distribute checklist
- Students being work on Chrome
book
- Show Story Bots videos in class
if necessary
*HW: Soaring Through Our
Solar System reading

Day 25
- Review homework
- Solar System project
- Ask specific questions as they are
doing the research
*HW: Galaxy reading

Day 26
Day 27
- Solar System project
- Present projects
- Ask specific questions as they are *HW: Constellations reading
doing the research
*HW: Comets, Asteroids and
Meteors

Day 28
- We Are the Planets Story Bots
rap
- Print lyrics and discuss as a class
HW: Gravity reading

Day 29
- Partner Planet Exploration
- One partner does the inner
planets, the other does the outer
- Use Kids Astronomy

Day 30
- Finish planet exploration and
turn in

Day 31
- Scale the planets in the hallway
- Bill Nye moon video

Day 32
- Trash ball review game
- Gather notes to study from

Day 33
- Solar System Unit Test

Reflection
For my first implemented unit plan, I was impressed. The students responded very well
to my activities even though I was worried that I wasnt differentiating my lessons enough. I felt
like I retaught a lot of the tricky concepts and was very specific in my questions, which required
the students to infer rather than memorize. The student feedback from the Solar System project
was very positive. Students enjoyed the responsibility and freedom to design the slide the way
they wanted to. The most difficult part to planning the unit was thinking about what order to
teach some concepts in and how to teach them. At the beginning of student teaching I secondguessed every decision that I was making. By the end, I just went with something and retaught it
a different way if necessary.