Inner Planets Vs. Outer Planets
This lesson contains affiliate links to products I have used and personally recommend. At no cost to you, I make a commission for purchases made through the links or advertisements. These commissions help to pay for the costs of the site and enable it to remain free for anyone who wants to use it.
Objectives:
-
The students will learn about the inner planets and the outer planets of the Solar System.
-
The students will be able to name the inner planets of the Solar System.
-
The students will be able to define the term “terrestrial”.
-
The students will be able to name the outer planets of the Solar System.
-
The students will be able to describe the characteristics of the inner planets.
-
The students will be able to describe the characteristics of the outer planets.
Questions that encompasses the objective:
-
Think about Earth. What is Earth made up of?
-
Are all of the planets similar to the Earth?
Prepare the Learner: Activating Prior Knowledge.
How will students prior knowledge be activated?
Warm up by asking students:
-
What do you know about the planets?
-
What do you know about inner planets?
-
What do you know about the outer planets?
Common Core State Standards:
-
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1
-
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1 B
-
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.4
-
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2
-
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2
-
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2 B
-
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1
-
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.4
Materials and Free Resources to Download for this Lesson:
-
Introductory Activity: “Inner or Outer”?:
-
Video: “Geology of Solar Terrestrial Planets- Video Learning- WizScience.com”
-
“Solar System” Science Journal (Student Copy)
-
Pages 35-37: Inner Planets
-
Page 38-40: Outer Planets
-
-
“What Planet am I On?” activity
-
“What Planet am I On?” Worksheet (Can be used as assessment)
**When the unit is over, download the final assessment for all of the lessons on space for free.
Input:
What is the most important content in this lesson?
To reach this lesson’s objective, students need to understand:
-
The differences between the inner planets and the outer planets.
-
The names of the inner planets and outer planets.
-
The characteristics of the inner and outer planets.
How will the learning of this content be facilitated?
Prior to the start of class, the teacher should draw two columns on the board. One column should be labeled “Inner Planets” and the other column should be labeled “Outer Planets”. The “Planet” cards should be cut out (laminated if desired) and set aside.
-
The teacher should begin class by playing the game “Inner or Outer?” The teacher should hold up one of the cards and ask the students to determine if the planet is an inner planet or an outer planet.
**Because the students haven’t learned about the inner and outer planets, do not correct errors made (i.e., if the students determine Pluto is an inner planet). Keep the planets in the correct column and return to the activity once the information has been presented**
-
After the introductory activity game is done, the teacher will begin presenting the information on the Solar System. If it is possible, project each page of the teacher’s copy of the “All About the Solar System” Science Journal worksheet onto the board using a projector or put into a PowerPoint document and project. The teacher’s copy of the journal has certain words/phrases that are bolded red and highlighted. It is important the teacher explain to the students those words/phrases are to be highlighted in their (students) journal. For this lesson, the teacher should review these pages:
-
Pages 35-37: Inner Planets
** These pages review the characteristics of the inner planets and which planets are considered inner. Show the video: “Geology of Solar Terrestrial Planets- Video Learning- WizScience.com”
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG12Z4h99Ws)**
-
Page 38-40: Outer Planets
**These pages review the characteristics of the outer planets and which planets are considered outer. Show the video: “The Outer Planets- Video Learning- WizScience.com”
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPfIoDBHLHo)**
-
After the game, the students will participate in the activity “What Planet am I On?” The students can work alone or in groups (no more than 3 per group). Give each student a “What Planet am I On?” worksheet. On desks throughout the room, there will be sheets that give clues as to what the planet is. Each desk will also have a “Rocket Ship” card. Each “Rocket Ship” card is a different color. The students will write the name of the rocket ship in the first column on their worksheet. The students will read through the clues and then write the name of the planet in the column next to the corresponding rocket ship. Allow the students about 20 minutes to complete the activity.
**The planet cards follow the lesson plan. The cards are in the same order of the planets**
Closure
-
The teacher should review the vocabulary words with the students.
-
The teacher should revisit the “Inner or Outer?” activity and then go over the “What Planet Am I On?” activity. This can be used as a formative or summative assessment.
Time/Application
3-5 minutes
Guided Introduction
Review the class/ agenda with the students:
-
Introductory Activity/Game: “Inner or Outer?”
-
Discussion: Science Journal (Pages 35-40)
-
Activity: “What Planet am I On?”
-
Discussion of Activity
10 minutes
Introductory Activity: “Inner or Outer?”
-
Draw two columns on the board.
-
Show the students a planet picture and ask the students which column it belongs in.
-
If the students make errors, leave them; revisit the activity at the end of class.
20 Minutes
Inner Planets | Outer Planets
-
Instruct the students to open to page 35 in their science journals.
-
Project each page of the science journal onto the board either through a projector or PowerPoint presentation.
-
The teacher copy has bolded red and highlighted words. The students will highlight those words in their science journal.
-
Begin presenting the information. The pages that will be presented include: pages 35-40.
-
After presenting the information on “Inner Planets”, show this video: “Geology of Solar Terrestrial Planets- Video Learning- WizScience.com”
-
After presenting the information on “Outer Planets”, show this video: “The Outer Planets- Video Learning- WizScience.com”
20 Minutes
Activity: “What Planet am I On?”
-
The students can either work individually or in groups (no more than 3 per group)
-
Give each student a “What Planet am I On?” worksheet
-
On desks throughout the room, there will be cards (4 per “planet”) that give clues as to what the planet is. Each desk will also have a “Rocket Ship” card. Each “Rocket Ship” card is a different color.
-
The students will write the name of the rocket ship in the first column on their worksheet. The students will read through the clues and then write the name of the planet in the column next to the corresponding rocket ship.
-
Allow the students about 20 minutes to complete the activity.
-
Reconvene and review when the students are finished.
Closure/Assessment
10 minutes
-
For closure, the teacher should review the vocabulary words with the students.
-
The teacher should revisit the “Inner or Outer?” activity
-
Then go over the “What Planet Am I On?” activity. This can be used as a formative or summative assessment.
Individualized Instruction/Scaffolding
English Language Learners will be supported in this lesson through data-based heterogeneous grouping, verbal and written repetition of new vocabulary words, and multiple representation of vocabulary words through printed images and video.