I.

Chantel Augustin

II. Purpose: To learn about planets and how they are classified using movement to better understand the
concept.

III. State Standard:

 EARTH and SPACE SCIENCE – The student will apply process skills to explore and develop an
understanding of the
structure of the earth system, earth’s history, and earth in the solar system.
Benchmark 3: The student will identify and classify stars, planets, and other solar system.

IV. Targeted Grade Level: 4th Grade

V. Materials Needed:
 Planets song
 Note cards with facts about the planets
 Sheets with all the planets and descriptors of the planets
 An orange and a grape

VI. Sources cited:

VII. Introduction:
What are some things on earth that are really big that makes you seem small in comparison?
The fact is, all of those things are actually a tiny speck compared to the entire universe. We are
going to watch a short clip to see just how small the earth is.

VIII. Organization of Lesson Plan:

1. Introduction
2. Pretend that earth is an orange and compare it to a grape (Mercury). The earth seems pretty
big. Now compare earth (the orange) to the size of the whole room (Jupiter). Earth is getting
smaller. Now compare earth to the whole building (the sun). Earth is very very tiny.
*You will need to find out what would be accurate to compare in your own classroom.
3. Since we learned that earth is a very small part of our universe we are going to look beyond
just the earth and learn about the other planets of the solar system.
4. Have students come up in threes. The first person in the group will have a sheet with a
planet’s name on it. The second person will have a picture of the planet. The third person will
have a picture that describes a characteristic of the planet and fact about the planet on the
back. The person with the fact will read it.
5. Continue to have the groups come up one by one as the groups collectively begin to form a
circle indicating the orbit around the sun. To indicate the order of the planets from closest to
the sun to the farthest away from the sun, have each group stand just slightly behind the other
while still forming the idea of a circle.
6. Play the planet song and have the students hold up their planet/name/characteristic when it is
mentioned.

IX. Use of Movement:

The students will create the planets in the solar system while using movement.

X. Adaptations for Aural/Visual/Kinesthetic Learners:

Aural: These students will get to listening to the facts being read, as well as sang in the planet
song
Visual: The sheets will all the planets and descriptors of the planets as well as the video clip will
help the visual learner.
Kinesthetic: