2010Astronomy

=Fifth Grade Unit 2: Astronomy=

Writing 2.4 Write persuasive letters or compositions:

 * State a clear position in support of a proposal.
 * Support a position with relevant evidence.
 * Follow a simple organizational pattern.
 * Address reader concerns.

Earth Science Standards
5. The solar system consists of planets and other bodies that orbit the Sun in predictable paths. As a basis for understanding this concept: > a. Students know the Sun, an average star, is the central and largest body in the solar system and is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. > b. Students know the solar system includes the planet Earth, the Moon, the Sun, eight other planets and their satellites, and smaller objects, such as asteroids and comets. > c. Students know the path of a planet around the Sun is due to the gravitational attraction between the Sun and the planet.

Critical questions to ask while teaching:

 * 1) Does the Sun go around the Earth, or does the Earth go around the Sun?
 * 2) Why is this (heliocentrism) important?

What they will understand at the end of the unit:

 * 1) Our Earth is part of a complex system of planets and other objects that make up the solar system, which is part of a galaxy, a super-group, and the universe.

Vocabulary Tier 2

 * 1) planet
 * 2) Earth
 * 3) system
 * 4) space
 * 5) telescope

Vocabulary Tier 3

 * 1) rotation
 * 2) revolution
 * 3) solar system:
 * 4) orbit
 * 5) heliocentric
 * 6) galaxy
 * 7) super-group
 * 8) universe
 * 9) asteroid
 * 10) comet
 * 11) unmanned space vehicle/spaceship
 * 12) manned space vehicle/spaceship
 * 13) planetary
 * 14) refraction
 * 15) reflection

Skills

 * 1) Skill 1

Materials to be used
BrainPop (Many) Radio Telescopes || rss url="http://www.diigo.com/rss/user/Mizmercer/5unit2" link="true" number="20" || PPT on Radio Telescopes ||
 * ===Videos=== || ===Links=== || ===Other Materials=== ||
 * BrainPopJr Space (4)

Formative

 * Blog posts as we watch videos and do writing

Summative
>
 * The final paragraph they write on Galileo

Learning Activities
Week One/Two: Show Galileo video
 * 1) What was his idea?
 * 2) What was the conflict with his ideas?
 * 3) What was his problem?
 * 4) How did he deal with the problem?

Writing
Lesson 1: TAK of the prompt, and T-Chart outline of “big ideas” Lesson 2: Write up big ideas Lesson 3: T-Chart: Zeroing in on “tell me more” Lesson 4: Topic sentence, and conclusions and the "Big Four" Lesson 5: Write paragraph with topic sentence, big ideas and tell me more, and conclusion