5th Grade Astronomy Unit Blueprint
Pacing Suggestions:
2 days
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What are models?
Why are models used in science?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the models used to illustrate the relative sizes of the planets?
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.
12D(3-5)#3: Use numerical data in describing and comparing objects and events
Reinforce 4A(3-5)#4: The earth is one of several planets that orbit the sun, and the moon orbits around the earth.
Class discussion of models used in activity (See Background Information on page 51 in Teacher's Guide.)
Modeling Plant Sizes worksheet and scale drawings of the planets
Suggested Journal Entry: Why is a model of the planets and sun better than just reading from a chart the size of their diameters? Pick two planets and compare their sizes using numbers.
- Do the students understand how the model of the planets is like the real thing (it represents relative size of the planets)? Do students understand how it is different from the real thing (it's two-dimensional, isn't the actual size ...)?
Journal Entry
- Do the students understand the benefit of modeling the size of the planets?
- Can students use numerical data to compare the sizes of two planets?
If stars are many different sizes, some bigger than the sun, why do they look so small in the sky?
Introduce 4A(3-5)#5: Stars are like the sun, some being smaller
and some larger, but so far away that they look like points of light.
Note: The teacher's guide does not discuss the size of the sun relative to
other stars. Introducing this benchmark will need to be deliberate on the
part of the teacher.
Suggested Journal Entry: The sun is a medium-sized star. Why does the sun look so much larger than all the other stars in the sky?
Do students understand that the sun is closer than any other star? Do students realize that other stars are much larger than the sun but look tiny because they are so far away?
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.