SETON HILL UNIVERSITY

Lesson Plan Template

TOPIC
Name
Subject
Grade Level
Date/Duration
Big Ideas
Essential
Questions
PA/Common
Core/Standards

Objective

DETAILS
Melanie Trzeciak
Science
4th Grade
October 24th-November 4th
There are eight planets in our solar system, all
revolving the sun.
Why do the planets revolve around the sun?
What is a solar system?

All 4th grade students will be able to diagram our solar

system and journal about what a solar system is, in
small groups, with 85% accuracy. The writing will be
based on a rubric, and although this activity is
completed in small groups each student will fill out his
or her own paper.

The students will be formatively assessed by their

completion of a solar system diagram and their writing
journal based off of the solar system.
The information in this lesson will be one the
summative assessment for the end unit.

Bloom's
Taxonomy
Webb's Depth of
Knowledge
(DOK)
Formative &
Summative
Assessment
Evidence

ISTE Standards
for Students
Framework for
21st Century
Learning
Accommodation
s, Modifications

Eligible Content - S4.D.3.1.1 Describe motions of the Sun Earth - Moon system
Standard - 3.3.4.B1
Identify planets in our solar system and their basic
characteristics.
Describe the earths place in the solar system that includes
the sun (star), planets, and many moons.
Recognize that the universe contains many billions of
galaxies and that each galaxy contains many billions of
stars.

Space School- The Solar System

http://www.teachertube.com/video/space-school-the-solarsystem-118735
Space-Planets
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/science/lesson/planets/

There will be different levels of understanding that I will

gauge in my rubric for the writing for the journals and
the diagram of the solar system. The levels will be
based on a scale of average, below average, or above
average.
All discussions will be held at tables rather than on the
floor.
Pre-selected groups will help students work towards a
greater understanding of the material.

CK

Adam may record his journal entry on his iPad if he is

experiencing chronic pain on the day of the
assignment, he will also be given extra time if needed.

SUPERVISING
TEACHERS
SIGNATURE

Seton Hill University Lesson Plan Template Step-by-Step

Procedures
RATIONALE for
the Learning
Plan
Introduction

Explicit
Instructions

Lesson
Procedure

CK
Activating Prior Knowledge
Has anyone ever head the saying My very energetic
mother just served us nachos?
Has anyone every head that aliens are from Mars? What
is Mars? Where is Mars?
Hook/Lead-In/Anticipatory Set
Read the students My Place in Space by Robin and Sally
Hirst to introduce them to the idea of the solar system.
Big Idea Statement
The sun is the center of our solar system, that has eight
planets and many moons.
Essential Questions Statement
What is a solar system and why do planets revolve
around the sun?
Objective Statement
All 4th grade students will be able to diagram our solar
system and journal about what a solar system is, in
small groups, with 85% accuracy.
Transition
Talk and demonstrate gravity. Show the students a globe
and ask them why we dont fall off of the Earth? Ask the
students why all objects fall down? Ask students why
them come back to the ground when ever they jump?
Discuss gravity in space.
Key Vocabulary
Solar System
Planet
Revolve
Rotate
Orbit
Moon
Dwarf Planet
Gravity
Force
PreAssessment of Students
Have the students diagram and label what they think

our solar system looks like and what is in it.

Modeling of the Concept
Have the students read designated pages in the 4th
grade test book, then view the video
http://www.teachertube.com/video/space-school-thesolar-system-118735 to reinforce the knowledge.
Guiding the Practice
Show the students many models of our solar system
while removing certain parts, such as a planet or the sun
and see if they can recognize what is missing.
Providing the Independent Practice
Students will independently visit http://www.elearningforkids.org/science/lesson/planets/ and go
through each module to practice their new knowledge
on space.
Transition
Have two sets of our solar system and give each student
an object in the solar system. Have them act out what
regularly happens in our solar system.
Reading
Computers and/or iPads
Materials
Labels of the names in the objects in the solar system
Technology
for transtions
Equipment
students My Place in Space by Robin and Sally Hirst and Earth and
Supplies
Space- by Anita Ganeri, John Malam, Clare Oliver, and Adam Hibbert

Lab sheets
Evaluation of
Formal Evaluation
the
Have the students diagram and label out solar system
Learning/Master
on a lab sheet
y of the
Have students journal about what a solar system is and
Concept
how it works on a lab sheet
Informal Evaluation
Monitor progress on independent online web test with a
rubric.
Have a check list for the students understanding of
missing parts in the solar system.
Closure
Summary & Review of the Learning
Ask the students if they have anymore questions about their
place in space and follow up with reading some of the
questions from the book Earth and Space- by Anita Ganeri, John
Malam, Clare Oliver, and Adam Hibbert, a question and answer book.
Homework/Assignments
Finish diagram or journal if not finished
Teacher
I think the students would have understood the material
Self-reflection
better with more hands on lesson, where they are able
to manipulate what they are learning about.
I wish I would have chosen more concert ways to track
the students progress because all of these assessment

strategies are highly hands on and require a lot of

individual attention on each of the students.