SOLAR SYSTEM

SOLAR SYSTEM
INQUIRY QUESTIONS
INVESTIGATION SUMMARY
ARIZONA SCIENCE STANDARD:
STRAND 6: EARTH SCIENCE
Moon Journals (optional)
How does the motion of the Moon and
Earth around the Sun create the phases
of the Moon?
¿Cómo crean las fases de la luna el
movimiento de la luna y de la tierra
alrededor del sol?
Introduction to the Solar System Unit
(optional)
How have humans attempted to
understand their place in the solar
system?
¿Cómo han tratado los humanos de
entender su lugar en el sistema solar?
Students will keep a Moon journal to
observe the phases of the Moon over
the next few weeks.
(5-S6-C2) Understand the processes acting on the Earth
and their interaction with the Earth systems.
PO 1. Describe how the Moon’s appearance changes
during a four-week lunar cycle.
Students review Pioneer 10 plaque.
(interstellar “message in a bottle”)
(5-S1-C1) Formulate predictions, questions, or
hypotheses based on observations. Locate appropriate
resources.
PO 2. Formulate predictions in the realm of science
based on observed cause-and-effect relationships.
Investigation 1: Part 1: Looking at the
Planets
What are the characteristics of the
planets and other celestial objects in our
solar system?
¿Cuáles son las características de los
planetas y otros objetos celestiales en
nuestro sistema solar?
Students read and collect data from
the Delta Solar System reader on the
planets and other celestial objects in
our solar system.
Investigation 1: Part 2: Rotation and
Revolution
How does the motion of a planet create
the effect of night and day?
¿Cómo crea el movimiento del planeta el
efecto de noche y día?
Students simulate the position of the
Earth in reference to the Sun for day
and night.
Science Resource Center
4/13/07
Students design a plaque to represent
their most important ideas about
Earth.
(5-S2-C1) Identify individual, cultural and technological
contributions to scientific knowledge.
PO 1. Identify how diverse people and/or cultures, past
and present, have made important contributions to
scientific innovations.
(5-S6-C3) Understand the relationships of the Earth and
other objects in the solar system.
PO 1. Identify the known planets of the solar system.
PO 2. Describe the distinguishing characteristics of the
known planets in the solar system.
(5-S1-C1) Formulate predictions, questions, or
hypotheses based on observations. Locate appropriate
resources.
PO 1. Formulate a relevant question through
observations that can be tested by an investigation.
(5-S6-C2) Understand the processes acting on the Earth
and their interaction with the Earth systems.
PO 2. Describe how Earth’s rotation results in day and
night at any particular location.
PO 3. Distinguish between revolution and rotation.
ASSESSMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Class developed rubric
Students will record
observations in
science notebooks.
Each student develops
a chart according to a
class developed rubric.
Class developed rubric
SOLAR SYSTEM
INQUIRY QUESTIONS
Investigation 2: The Moon
How does the motion of the Moon and
Earth around the Sun create the phases
of the Moon?
¿Cómo crea la fases de la luna el
movimiento de la luna y la tierra
alrededor de la luna?
Investigation 3: Part 1: Objects in the
Sky (optional)
What are the characteristics of the other
celestial objects in our solar system?
¿Cuáles son las características de los
otros objetos celestiales en nuestro
sistema solar?
Investigation 3: Part 2: Gravity
How does the force of gravity affect
objects?
¿Cómo afecta la fuerza de la gravedad a
los objetos?
Investigation 3: Part 3: Celestial
Motion
Why do some celestial objects appear to
move in a way that is different from their
real motion?
¿Porqué parece que algunos objetos
celestiales se mueven en forma diferente
de su movimiento verdadero?
Investigation 4: Space Exploration
Research
What efforts have humans made to
explore space?
¿Que esfuerzos han hecho los humanos
para explorar el espacio?
Science Resource Center
4/13/07
INVESTIGATION SUMMARY
ARIZONA SCIENCE STANDARD:
STRAND 6: EARTH SCIENCE
ASSESSMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Students understand through a
simulation what causes the phases of
the Moon.
(5-S6-C2) Understand the processes acting on the Earth
and their interaction with the Earth systems.
PO 1. Describe how the Moon’s appearance changes
during a four-week lunar cycle.
Student notebook page
“Moon Phases Posttest”
Students will read about other
celestial objects in the Delta Science
readers, take notes and discuss
findings. They will play “Solar
System Bingo” from their collected
data.
(5-S6-C3) Understand the relationships of the Earth and
other objects in the solar system.
PO 3. Describe various objects in the sky (e.g.,
asteroids, comets, stars, meteors/shooting stars).
Teacher observation
and review of student
notebooks.
Students will understand that the
force of gravity between objects
depends on mass. They will relate the
force of gravity between a planet and
a person to the force of gravity
between the sun and other objects in
the solar system.
Students will learn the difference
between real and apparent motion.
(5-S6-C2) Understand the processes acting on the Earth
and their interaction with the Earth systems.
PO 4. Describe the role of gravity as an attractive force
between celestial objects.
Student letter
(5-S6-C3) Understand the relationships of the Earth and
other objects in the solar system.
PO 4. Describe the change in position and motion of
the following objects in the sky over time:
• real motion – Moon, planets
• apparent motion (due to the motion of the Earth) –
Sun, Moon, stars
Explanatory response
to writing prompt.
Students will research efforts to
explore space and write a letter to the
Hall of Recognition on the importance
of their chosen event.
(5-S6-C3) Understand the relationships of the Earth and
other objects in the solar system.
PO 6. Describe efforts to explore space (e.g., Apollo
missions, space shuttles, Hubble space telescope, space
probes).
Research and student
letter to Hall of
Recognition