The Night Sky

1. The Night Sky • Topics: Moon, Stars, Planets • Grade: 5th • Scope: Solar System & Universe • Using Benchmark: Describe and explain common observations of the night sky.

2. Essential Questions • What is in the night sky? • What are some objects in the night sky that affect Earth? • Is there more in the night sky then what you see? • Do objects in the night sky change from night to night or over time?

3. Pre-Assessment • Pre-Assessment: • Have the students write down in their space journals what the class knows about what’s in the night sky and what they know about the night sky. • Have them draw a picture of what they believe the night sky looks like. • Read, Complete Book of the Night Sky • Collect journals so you can see what misconceptions the class has and you can tailor your teaching around that.

4. Phases of the Moon • Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to learn and understand the phases of the moon. The students will create a model of the Earth, Sun, and Moon motion and look at different perspectives to understand the Moon phases.

5. Phases of the Moon • This lesson taught students about…You guessed it! The Phases of the Moon. • ENGAGED students by having them draw pictures of the moon. • Students EXPLORED by demonstrating the moon phases themselves with a ball and flashlight. • EXPLAINED by drawing and labeling moon phases on whiteboard. • Students ELABORATED when they drew the phases of the moon on black paper, with chalk, with only the names of the phases given to them. • Students were EVALUATED by the chalk drawings and space journal entries.

6. Properties of the Moon • In this lesson, students will become more familiar with the Properties of the Moon. • ENGAGES students with a K-W-L chart about what they know about the moon. • Students EXPLORE by visually seeing the properties applied to the moon vs. Earth. • Lesson is EXPLAINED by filling out the rest of the K-W-L chart. • Students will ELABORATE by creating their own moon and Earth and drawing the properties onto them • Students are EVALUATED by the drawing and entry into their space journal.

7. Craters on the Moon • Purpose: The purpose of this activity is for students to understand some important features of the Moon’s surface and to understand how the Moon might have received its craters. Students will reenact craters being made in the Moon’s surface and measure their sizes and depth to understand this better.

8. Stars • In the first lesson on stars, the students learn about the life cycle of a star. The first activity has the students creating a timeline of star’s life by only using pictures. After completing this the class discusses what the real life cycle of a star is. • In the second lesson on stars, the students visit a website that teaches them about the color and size of stars.

9. Finding Constellations • Students will discover and locate stars and constellations in the night sky using the Star Finder. • Students will identify the major constellations. • Students will explore the constellations of the current month using the Star Finder.

10. Exploring the Planets • Students will be introduced to the earth’s moon and the eight other planets in our solar system. • Students will be broken up into eight groups to plan an exploratory mission to their assigned planet. • Students will research the physical features, the ability to sustain life, and the flight plan of their planet.

11. Post-Assessment • In groups of 3 or 4, the students will be taken into the Star Lab and asked questions about the night sky. They will identify major constellations and stars. They will also discuss the phases of the moon and be able to point them out and name them. • Back in class, they will write a one page paper about what they have learned during this unit. They can use their space journals as a reference.