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6th Grade Astronomy and Space Science Chapter 1-3 Unit Plan
6th Grade Astronomy and Space Science Chapter 1-3 Unit Plan
Unit Name:
Domain
Unit Description:
Length:
Students will engage in learning about astronomy and space through handson inquiry, interactive science books, and online learning supplements.
14 weeks
Indicate number of
weeks
Enduring
Understandings:
Transferable insights
that transcend beyond
the specifics of the unit.
Essential
Questions:
Common Core
Standards
Refer to CCSS
Connection to
Critical Areas
Refer to CCSS
Science
Practices:
Make a connection to at
least one Science
practice in the unit
Performance
Assessments
(D) Diagnostic
(F) Formative
(S) Summative
%
READING STANDARDS - CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly
as well as inferences drawn from the text.
%
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.2 Determine a central idea of a text
and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of
the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
%
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.3 Analyze in detail how a key
individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a
text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
observe, infer, predict, classify, make models, calculate, create
data tables, communicate, develop hypothesis, interpret data,
draw conclusions, pose questions, critique scientific explanations,
demonstrate consumer literacy, define, identify, name, review,
list, describe, explain, sequence, interpret; diagrams photos,
maps, tables, read graphs, relate diagrams and photos, apply
concepts, solve problems, make generalizations, make judgements,
relate text and visuals, summarize, relate cause and effect,
compare and contrast, estimate, relate evidence and explanation,
design a solution
Chapter 1
Moon, Satellite, Planet, Meteors, Comet, Star, Constellation, Astronomer, Star Chart,
Polaris, Apparent Motion, Seasonal Changes, Axis, Rotation, Revolution, Calendars,
Solstice, Northern and Southern Hemispheres, Equinox, Force, Gravity, Law of
Universal Gravitation, Mass, Weight, Inertia, Newtons First Law of Motion, Phases,
Eclipse, Solar Eclipse, Umbra, penumbra, Lunar Eclipse, TIdes, Spring Tide, Neap
Tide, Maria, Craters, Meteoroids
Chapter 2
Rocket, Thrust, Velocity, Fuel, Orbital Velocity, Escape Velocity, Multistage Rocket,
Space Race, Satellite, Artificial Satellite, Apollo Program, Moonquakes, Space
Shuttles, Space Station, International Space Station, Space Probe, Rovers, Vacuum,
Microgravity, Space Spinoff, Consumer products, new materials, medical devices,
Remote Sensing, Geostationary Orbit
Chapter 3
Geocentric, Ptolemys Model, Heliocentric Model, Copernicus, Brahe and Kepler,
Galileo, Solar System, Astronomical Unit, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Dwarf Planets, Planets, Gravity, Planetesimals, Inner
planets, Outer planets, Core, Nuclear Fusion, Radiation Zone, Convection Zone,
Photosphere, Chromosphere, Corona, Solar Wind, Sunspots, Prominences, Solar
Flares, Solar Wind, Terrestrial Planets, Inner Planets, Mercury, Venus, Greenhouse
Effect, Earth, Mars, Gas Giants, Ring, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Asteroid
Belt, Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud, Dwarf Planet, Comet, Coma, Nucleus, Asteroid,
Meteoroid, Meteor, Meteorite
Dayrell
The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
The Moon by Seymour Simon
One Giant Leap by Robert Burleigh
Moon Shot: The Flight of Apollo 11
On Earth by G Brian Karas
The Sun by Seymour Simon
Sun, Moon, and Earth by Robin Heath (Poems?)
Resources:
Websites
pearsonsuccessnet.com
The Childrens University of Manchester: The Earth and
Beyond
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/
earthandbeyond/soonmoonearth/
Learning Activities
Activities students will complete during the unit that will lead to desired
outcomes
Week 1:
Diagnostic
Assessment and
Chapter
Introduction
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Part 1 Assessments
Week 6:
Week 7:
Week 8:
Week 9:
Assessment Part
Two
Week 10:
Topic: 3.1- Models of the Solar System 3.2- Introducing the Solar System
Goals/Skills: Reading - Sequence and Identifying Supporting Evidence
Inquiry - Draw Conclusions and Communicate
Activity: My Planet Diary, Apply it Activity, Inquiry Activity
Week 11:
Week 12:
Topic: 3.5- The Outer Planets 3.6- Small Solar System Objects
Goals/Skills: Reading - Outline and Summarize
Inquiry - Make Models, Relate text and Visuals, Compare and Contrast
Activity: My Planet Diary, Apply it Activity, Inquiry Activity
Week 13:
Week 14:
Assessment Part 3
Topic: Assessment
Accommodations/
Modifications
____Highlighted texts
_____Team/Col Teaching
Essential Question:
How do the Earth, Sun, and the Moon interact?
Guiding Questions:
What can you see in the night sky?
How do objects in the sky appear to move?
How does the Earth move?
What causes seasons?
What determines gravity?
What keeps objects in orbit?
What causes the moons phases?
What are Eclipses?
What are tides?
What is the moon like?
Standards
Illinois Science Standards
Page 30: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/ils/science/pdf/descriptor_6-12.pdf
Common Core State Standards
Assessments
(D) Diagnostic- Pre assessment
Read Aloud with Children's Science book to check students prior knowledge and current
understanding
Word Sort- to get students introduces or review academic language
(F) Formative
Quizzes- 6 total (1 per chapter)
Discussions
Worksheets/ Workbook Pages
activities in the interactive science workbook
Review and Reinforce
Enrich
Note Checks
Constellation Project
Callender Stations Summary
Solstice and Equinox Graphic Organizer
Webquest
Phases of the Moon Activity
Jeopardy
(S) Summative
Exam
Performance Assessment
The Tides- students use tennis, golf, and ping pong ball to show how the moon's movement
affects the tides on earth (shown with clay)
Texts/Resources
Website with sources http://www.librarypoint.org/earth_moon_sun
Word Detective Vocab Sheet: https://wvde.state.wv.us/strategybank/WordDetective.html
Books
Interactive Science Astronomy and Space Science
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky- Elphinstone Dayrell
The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
The Moon by Seymour Simon
One Giant Leap by Robert Burleigh
Moon Shot: The Flight of Apollo 11
On Earth by G Brian Karas
The Sun by Seymour Simon
Sun, Moon, and Earth by Robin Heath (Poems?)
Websites
Lunar and Planetary Institute
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/resources/stars_galaxies/stars.shtml
PBS- Your Sky Tonight
http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/explore-the-sky/your-sky-tonight.html
Legends of the night Sky: Orion Educators Guide- Constellation Research Project
http://www.spitzinc.com/pdfs/educ_guide_orion.pdf
Today I Found Out- Evolution of Modern Calendar Article
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/09/the-evolution-of-the-modern-day-calendar/
Evolution of Calendars
http://www.moonsighting.com/evolution.html
Mayan calendar
Egyptian Calendar
Hebrew
Egyptian
Greek
Chinese
Babylonia
Interactive Websites
The Childrens University of Manchester: The Earth and Beyond
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/earthandbeyond/soonmoo
nearth/
Videos
1 min constellation video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0-erXr0394
Star and Constellation Stories (first 1:15 and last 20 seconds)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg1-HFqt-6M
Short History of our Modern Calendar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzprsR2SvrQ
Unit: Exploring Space (Weeks 6-10)
Enduring Understandings:
Rockets have become much more complex since their invention.
Rockets require fuel.
Politics have had a strong impact on space exploration.
Space shuttles are used to bring supplies and people into space.
Probes send information from the solar system to space.
Conditions in space are different than conditions on Earth.
Space programs have developed many products we use everyday.
Satellites communicate information and collect weather data.
Essential Question:
How does exploring space benefit people on Earth?
Guiding Questions:
How were rockets developed?
How does a rocket work?
What is the main advantage of a multistage rocket?
What was the space race?
How are space shuttles and space stations used?
how are space probes used?
What are conditions like in space?
How has space technology benefited people?
What are some uses of satellites orbiting earth?
Performance Assessment:
Diagnostic
Vocab Activity
Activating Prior Knowledge
Formative
Quizzes- 3
Discussions
Workbook Pages
Worksheets
Review and Reinforce
Lesson Summary
Enrich
Notebook Checks
Rocket Timeline
Space Race Explanatory Writing Piece
Space Station and Probe Activity
Written Piece: How has space travel helped you?
Summative
Written Exam
Performance Assessment
Key Terms/Ideas:
Lesson 1- The Science of Rockets
Rocket, Thrust, Velocity, Fuel, Orbital Velocity, Escape Velocity, Multistage Rocket
Lesson 2- History of Space Exploration
Space Race, Satellite, Artificial Satellite, Apollo Program, Moonquakes, Space Shuttles, Space
Station, International Space Station, Space Probe, Rovers,
Lesson 3- Using Space Science on Earth
Vacuum, Microgravity, Space Spinoff, Consumer products, new materials, medical devices,
Remote Sensing, Geostationary Orbit,
Text Resources:
Unit: The Solar System (Weeks 9-12)
Enduring Understandings:
There have been a few different models of how they solar system moves.
The solar system is made up of the sun, planet, and smaller objects
The sun is made up of different layers, and has a variety of characteristics.
The inner planets and outer planets have different characteristics.
Essential Questions:
Why are objects in the solar system different from each other?
Guiding Questions:
What was the Geometric Model?
How did the Heliocentric Model Develop?
What makes up the solar system?
How did the solar system form?
What is the structure of the sun?
What features can you see on the sun?
What do inner planets have in common?
What are the characteristics of the Inner Planets?
What do the Outer planets have in common?
What are the characteristics of each outer planet?
How do scientists classify small objects in the solar system?
Performance Assessment:
Diagnostic
Vocabulary Activity
Videos
Chapter Introduction
Formative
Quizzes- 6
Discussion
Workbooks
Assess Your Understanding
Apply It!
Worksheets
Notebook Checks
Models of the UNiverse Activity
Solar System Activity
Sun Activity
Inner and Outer Planets Activity
Small Objects Activity
Summative
Written Exam
Performance Assessment
Key Terms/ Ideas:
Lesson 1- Models of the Solar System
Geocentric, Ptolemys Model, Heliocentric Model, Copernicus, Brahe and Kepler, Galileo
Lesson 2- Introducing the Solar System
Solar System, Astronomical Unit, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune, Dwarf Planets, Planets, Gravity, Planetesimals, Inner planets, Outer planets
Lesson 3- The Sun
Core, Nuclear Fusion, Radiation Zone, Convection Zone, Photosphere, Chromosphere, Corona,
Solar Wind, Sunspots, Prominences, Solar Flares, Solar Wind
Lesson 4- The Inner Planets
Terrestrial Planets, Inner Planets, Mercury, Venus, Greenhouse Effect, Earth, Mars,
Lesson 5- The Outer Planets
Gas Giants, Ring, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune,
Lesson 6- Small Solar System Objects
Asteroid Belt, Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud, Dwarf Planet, Comet, Coma, Nucleus, Asteroid,
Meteoroid, Meteor, Meteorite,
Text Resources:
Week
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Week 1:
Introduction
to chapter
and
beginning
Lesson 1
Engage with
a Childrens
Book
Continue
constellation
project
(possibly
present in
small groups)
Review and
Reinforce
Worksheets
Present
Constellation
Projects
Enrich
Worksheets
Lesson 1
Quiz
Word
Matching:
Satellite,
Planet,
Meteor,
Comet, Star,
Constellation,
Notes p. 4-7
Start
Constellation
HW: Read
and do
activities p.89
HW: Start
Reading
Lesson 2
p.10-13 and
Axis,
Rotation,
Revolution,
Orbit,
Calendar,
Solstice,
Equinox
Project
activities
HW:
Constellation
Project
HW:
Separate
terms in
groups so
that all
students
complete
about 3 word
detective
sheets`
Week 2:
Lesson 2
Calendar
Stations with
written
responses
about the
evolution of
the calendar
p.14-17 and
activities
What causes
Seasons?
Notes p.1417
Lesson 2
Quiz
Vocabulary
Activity with
Lessons 3-4
Terms: Force,
Gravity, Law
of Universal
Gravitation,
Mass,
Weight,
Inertia,
Newton's
First Law of
Motion,
Phase,
Eclipse, Solar
Eclipse,
umbra,
penumbra,
lunar eclipse
Phases of the
Moon activity
(Oreo Dollar
Tree
Cookies?)
Notes p. 2527
Review and
Reinforce
Worksheet
HW: Finish
Phase Lab
HW: Enrich
Worksheet
Solstice and
Equinox
Graphic
Organizer?
HW: Review
and
Reinforce
possibly
Enrich
Week 3:
Lesson 3 and
Starting
Lesson 4
Read and
Take notes
Lesson 3 p.
18-21 and
activities
HW: Review
and
Reinforce;
Prepare for
Notebook
Lesson 3
Quiz
Free Time to
check notes
and add
vocab or
terms or in
case we fall
behind
Once
students
have notes
checked they
start a
webquest
HW: Start
Lesson 4 p.
22-24 and
activities
Week 4:
Finish lesson
4 Begin
Lesson 5
Check
HW: GET
ALL NOTES!
GRADED the
next day
Lesson 4
Quiz
Notes on
Tides p. 2831
Vocab: Tide,
Spring Tide,
Neap Tide,
Maria, Crater,
Meteoroid
HW: Review
and
Reinforce
Enrich
Worksheet
Lesson 5
Quiz
HW: Start
Lesson 6 p.
32-35
Notes on
Lesson 6
p.32-35
HW: Review
and
Reinforce
Lesson 6
Quiz
HW: Start
thinking
about The
Tides model
Read p. 2831
HW: Finish
Reading p.
28-31 and
complete
activities
Week 5:
Chapter 1
Assessment
Students
work on their
The Tides
models
Students
finish The
Tides
HW: Chapter models and
1 Study
Galley Walk
Guide in book finished
p.36-39
product
Chapter 1
Exam
Notes p. 4647
Timeline
Research
Activity
Notes p.4859
Read p.50-51
and notes in
class
Enrich
Worksheet
Lesson 1
Quiz
Rocket Lab?
or activity
HW: Read
and Activities
p.48-49
HW: Review
and
Reinforce
Notes on p.
52-56
Notes p. 5761
Enrich
Worksheet
Notes p. 6263
Notes p. 6467
Space Race
Video?
Space
Shuttle and
Probe activity
Lesson 2
Quiz
Conditions in
Space
Activity?
Review and
Reinforce
HW: Keep
working on
model
Week 6:
Start Chapter
2- Lesson 1
Intro to
Chapter
Activity
Vocabulary
Activity
HW: Read
and Activities
p. 46-47
Week 7:
Lesson 2
HW: Read
Jeopardy
Game
HW: Read
HW:
HW: Enrich
and Activities
p. 57-61
HW: Review
and
Reinforce
and Activities
p.62-63
HW: Read
and Activities
p. 64- 67
Week 8:
Lesson 3 and
Chapter 2
Assessment
Lesson 3
Quiz
Go over
study guide
Jeopardy
Chapter 2
Test
Finish
Chapter
Project
HW: Study
Guide p. 6871
Chapter
Project
Week 9:
Start Chapter
3 Lesson 1
and Lesson 2
Lesson 1
Quiz
Notes p. 8687
Lesson 2
Quiz
Read and
Notes p. 8285
Review and
Reinforce
Worksheet
HW: Read
and activities
p. 88-91
HW: p. 86-87
HW: Enrich
Notes p. 8892
Enrich
Group notes
and
presentations
of inner
planets- p.96101
Week 10:
Lesson 3 and
Lesson 4
HW: Read
and Activities
p.92-93
Week 11:
Lesson 5
Week 12:
Chapter 3
Assessment
Outer planet
stations
Chapter 3
Assessment
Sun Activity/
Video
HW: Review
and
Reinforce
HW: Study
for Exam and
work on
Chapter
Project
Lesson 3
Quiz
HW: Read
and Activities
p. 94-95
HW: Review
and
Reinforce
Review and
Reinforce
Lesson 5
Quiz
Notes p. 110115
Enrich
HW: Read
and Activities
p. 110-115
Small objects
in the solar
system
activity
Review
Chapters 1-3
Review
Chapters 1-3
Chapters 1-3
Assessment
Enrich
Lesson 4
Quiz
HW: read and
activities p.
102-103
Review
Game for
Chapter 3
Chapters 1-3
Assessment