Description

Starting with our planet, which is "just right" for life as we know it, take a journey through the solar system and outward to the stars. Guide students through an exciting exploration of the planets and beyond wrapped up in 5E lesson plans where students investigate through active learning, then discover what we know about the solar system and beyond and how we know it.

Driving Question: How do processes deep inside Earth cause the landforms and movements of Earth’s crust?

Anchor Phenomenon: How do we know about the make up and size of the universe?

ScienceFLEX® Investigative and Real-World Phenomena

• Lesson 1: Earth in Space - What are some effects of Earth’s motions and its place in space?
  • Earth moves in regular patterns that result in day and night and seasons as well as conditions that favor life as we know it.
• Lesson 2: Scale and Distance in Space - How can we understand the size of our solar system?
  • Scale models show objects in proportion but are smaller or larger than the real thing.
• Lesson 3: The Inner Planets - How do properties of the inner planets differ?
  • The inner planets have different characteristics, in part due to their varying distances from the Sun.
• Lesson 4: The Outer Planets - How do properties of the outer planets differ?
  • The outer planets have different characteristics, in part due to their varying distances from the Sun.
• Lesson 5: The Sun and Other Stars - What are stars and how do different star types compare?
  • The brightness of light from stars depends on their size and distance from Earth.
• Lesson 6: Constellations and Galaxies - What has been discovered about the universe?
  • Stars and solar systems make up galaxies similar to our Milky Way, which, altogether, make up the universe.
• Lesson 7: Studying the Universe - How and why has our understanding of our universe changed?
  • The invention of the telescope launched an age of space exploration that continues today.