English Language Learners – Planets
Exploring Our Solar System #1
Norma Cartagena, Jessica Truppi, Tiffany Viall
Objective:
Students will:
- Learn the origins or our solar system
- Learn the order of the nine planets
- Learn about the inner and outer planets
- Identify surface features of each planet
Essential Learnings:
1.1 use properties to identify, describe, and categorize substances, materials, and objects
1.4 recognize the components, structure, and organization of systems and the interconnections within and among them.
ESL Standards:
2.1 use English to interact in the classroom
2.2 use English to obtain, process, construct, and provide subject matter information in spoken and written form.
2.3 use appropriate learning strategies to construct and apply academic knowledge.
Materials:
- 4 X 6 sheet of butcher paper
- Black marker
- Tape to hang butcher paper
Procedure:
- KWL chart, use the sheet of butcher paper. Divide the sheet into three separate columns. Head each column with the following titles: What I Know, What I Want to Know, and What I Learned. Start activity by asking students “What do you know about our solar system?” List all the information they give you. Then ask them “What would you like to know about our solar system?” List those ideas under the second column. The third column will be filled throughout the unit, as students learn new things. *See 1a
- Then teacher will demonstrate how scientist believe our solar system began. “The young solar system was a lot like the start of a game of pool, with lots of balls flying all over the place, smacking into each other. It looked something like this: (show them with some marbles, how planets ran into each other) Ask the students “How did our solar system begin?” Let students give you ideas. There is no single correct answer all we have are guesses supported by proof which is called a theory.
- There are nine planets of the solar system they are the inner and outer planets. The inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. We are now going to learn the order of the planets: I want nine volunteers. Each of you will hold the name of a planet. I want you to show the order of the planets my lining up from the closest to the farthest from the sun. I will be the sun. Once the students are in order show them a quick way to remember the order of the planets: M,V,E,M,J,S,U,N,P (My Very Eager Mother Just Saved Us Nine Pennies).
- Writing Activity, Hand each student a worksheet to fill out. They will use a variety of reference books to fill in the information. The class will have 5 stations to go to in the classroom. The stations are as follows: Picture books about the solar system, Computer with list of bilingual web sites on the solar system, photographs/illustrations of the planets, Encyclopedia and other informational book station, and Computer station with Encarta. *See 2a
- As a conclusion the class discusses what were the most interesting, informative, or surprising things they found about the planets. They write a summary.
Assessment:
Teacher observation and communication with the students, completion of worksheet, and participation of students. The summary write up will also be taken into account.
Making Models of the Planets #5
Objective:
Students will:
- Construct models of planets, asteroids, comets, meteors, stars, and other heavenly bodies.
- Arrange their models in the classroom to display for visitors
Essential Learnings:
1.6 construct and use models to predict, test, and understand scientific phenomena.
4.3 use effective communication strategies and tools to prepare and present scientific information.
ESL Standards:
2.2 use English to obtain, process, construct, and provide subject matter information in spoken and written form.
Materials:
- A round balloon for each student
- Newspapers (to cover tables and for papier mache)
- Scissors
- Liquid Starch
- Tissue Paper in various colors
- Thin wire
- Paper clips
- Tempera paints
- Paint brushes
- Cups for water
- Pails or large bowls
Procedure:
- 1. Each student should have picked a planet or other heavenly body to create a model of. The scale of the planets will have been determined previously.
- Have the students tear strips of newspaper for their models. Get all other materials ready.
- Clear tables off and cover with newspapers. Students can wear old shirts so they won’t get dirty.
- Inflate to the predetermined size and knot. Dip the newspaper strips in the starch one by one and apply five full layers.
- Let the balloons dry over night.
- Once the balloons are dry snip of the knot in the balloon. Then run a thin wire through one end and bring it out the other. (This is where you will hand the model from)
- Begin painting model with paints or decorating your model with tissue paper.
- Allow the models to dry overnight if they have been painted.
Assessment:
Each child will be assessed through a rubric that was designed before they began the construction of their model.
Worksheet
Data Recording Sheet for “Planets”
Name _________________
Please record the names of the features of each inner and outer planet
Planet Features Interesting Facts