5th Grade Astronomy Unit: Lesson 21

5^th Grade Astronomy Unit Blueprint

Stars

Lesson 21: DSM Astronomy Activity 6 (Planet Watch)

Pacing Suggestions:
1 to 2 days

Teacher Resources:
Tips	Starry Night Settings Lesson 21

Essential & Unit Questions* ¹

Benchmarks ²

Formative and Summative Assessments ³

Using Assessments to Monitor Student Learning

What happens to the position of planets (relative to stars) throughout the year?

4A(3-5)#3: Planets change their positions against the background of stars.

Class discussion of and teacher observation of student groups completing Planet Watch worksheet, Questions 3-7

As students work on Question #5 on the worksheet, do they understand the model illustrates planets changing their position against the background of stars? Teachers most likely need to question students as they are working. Sample questions: What are you learning from this activity? What does the model show you?
See class discussion question under Teaching Suggestions, Step 6 on page 58. Students should be able to answer the question and generalize to the idea that the planets are continually changing their positions against the background of stars.
See additional information under "Tips" in the "Teacher Resources" section of the electronic curriculum.

* 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