5th Grade Astronomy Unit: Lesson 1

5^th Grade Astronomy Unit Blueprint

Frame of Reference

Lesson 1: FOSS Investigation #1 (Where am I?) Parts 1, 2, and 3

Pacing Suggestions: 4 days

Teacher Resources:
Tips

Essential & Unit Questions* ¹

Benchmarks ²

Formative and Summative Assessments ³

Using Assessments to Monitor Student Learning

What are models?

Why are models used in science? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the models used to show position?

Introduce: 11B(3-5)#2: Geometric figures, number sequences, graphs, diagrams, sketches, number lines, maps, and stories can be used to represent objects, events, and processes in the real world, although such representations can never be exact in every detail.

Note: The lesson serves as an introduction to the Astronomy unit.

Class discussion about models

Do students understand why a map is a considered a model?

Are students able to identify some strengths and limitations? (For most students, this may be the first time they think about a map as a model. Their ability to think about strengths and weaknesses may be very limited. This is a skill that will improve over time as they are exposed to many more models.)

* Essential/Unit questions are major questions driving the unit. They are directly aligned with the benchmarks. No single lesson addresses each question in its entirety. By the end of the unit, students should be able to answer these core questions.

1. For conceptual benchmarks.
2. Bolded sections indicate portion of benchmark addressed
3. Unless noted as a Summative Assessment, the assessments are formative and should be used to guide teaching and learning.

5th Grade Astronomy Unit Blueprint

5^th Grade Astronomy Unit Blueprint