Topic: Solar System ‘The Universe’

Term: Four

Year 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8

Level  1  2  3  4

Technological Areas:

 

 

q       Biotechnology                                     

q       Food Technology           

q       Materials Technology

q       Information & Communication

q       Production and Process

q       Structures and Mechanisms

q       Electronics and Control

Contexts:

 

 

q       Home

q       Personal

q       School

q       Environment

q       Recreational

q       Community

q       Energy

q       Business

q       Industrial

Links with other Curriculum areas:

 

q       English

q       Maths

q       Science

q       Social Studies

q       Health & Physical Education

q       The Arts

Essential Skills:

Communication         Information          Physical           Social and Co-operative        Numeracy    Work and Study                Problem solving           Self Management and Competitive

Resources: paper, balloons, wire, skewers, Styrofoam balls,  

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/educators/comet_orbits_cnsr.pdf drawing a scale model of solar system PDF file in folder, Celestia installer software http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/planets/index.html needs to be installed by Kane to run on laptops

Situation/Setting the Scene: The Solar System is so large it is difficult to understand the size and distance between the planets

Design Brief:

Design a scale model of the solar system that will help to explain to younger children the scale and enormity of the solar system

Specification:

Students will need to set their own specifications

Technological Knowledge and Understanding

1    2a    2b   

3    4

Assess

Learning Experiences: (examine, identify, discuss, collect, observe, compare, read, describe)

·          Look at this website http://kidsastronomy.com/space_size.htm and experience how big the universe is, discuss the distances you are experiencing

bullet Collect and read information on the celestial exploration activity website and create a fact file in Inspiration about the physical attributes of each plant and its relationship to other planets. The Celestia software will need to be installed on the Laptops for children to interact with this site. Identify what technologies are used to find this information
bullet Participate in a range of activities that will provide more information about the size of the solar system http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/activity.html 

Technological Capability
5   6a    6b

6c    6d

Assess: Collect, collate and analyse information gathered from questionnaires and other resource, identify the needs that need to be corrected (see technology and society activities). List these needs

Learning Experiences:(generate, select, develop, adapt, present, test & evaluate, draw, model, plan)

·          Collect, collate and analyse information gathered from questionnaires and other resource, identify the needs that need to be corrected (see technology and society activities). List these needs in the solar system assessment in folder

·          Draw a scale model of your planetary system

·          Design a scale model using scale below to understand the size of each actual planet in relation to the model

·          Present finished model to a junior class explaining where Earth is in relation to size and position in the solar system

 

Technology and

Society

7    8 

Assess

Learning Experiences: (impacts, cultural values, attitudes, behaviour, preferences, beliefs & values)

·          Question younger children about what they know about planets, size, shape and colour

·          Using the survey findings children will produce their model to change any misconceptions and attitudes

                 of younger children

ICT Links

Web sites, Word or Excel for graphing, Word for questionnaires
       

Arahina Karena, Jonas Widjaja, Moana Hauwai, Jacqui Sharp

 Websites

Guess the planets http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/sse_flipflop.shtml

Planets and Solar System information http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/cs_planets.shtml

solar system scale model information http://www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/solarsystem/

Enchanted Learning how to make a scale model http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/astronomy/solarsystemmodel/

Celestia Exploration activity http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/planets/index.html

Solar system activities http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/activity.html

Build a solar system http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/

Suggested scale

Mercury

Marble

Venus

Walnut

Earth

Golfball

Moon

Raisin

Mars

Acorn

Jupiter

Basketball

Saturn

Soccerball

Uranus

Softball

Neptune

Grapefruit

Pluto

bean

 

 

Assessment Rubric

 

Students Show knowledge and understanding of the following:

5

Collect, collate and analyse information gathered from questionnaires and other resource, identify the needs that need to be corrected (see technology and society activities). List these needs

 

Operating at

Level 2

Gather information and identify and discuss needs, opportunities and preferences in their local environment

 

Level 3

Gather and collate information on needs and opportunities in the local environment with reference to identified needs and opportunities

Level 4

Use quantitative (use graphs and diagrams) and qualitative methods to identify and clarify needs and opportunities