Lesson Class #: Course Grade 6

Title/Focus Dec 4 - 8 Science

Sky science

PROGRAM OF STUDY OUTCOMES

9. Recognize that the other eight known planets, which revolve around the Sun, have
characteristics and surface conditions that are different from Earth; and identify examples of
those differences.
7. Recognize that the Moon's phases are regular and predictable, and describe the cycle of its
phases.
8. Illustrate the phases of the Moon in drawings and by using improvised models. An improvised
model might involve such things as a table lamp and a sponge ball.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lessons students will be able to:
1. List facts about the outer planets.
2. Describe why pluto is no longer considered a planet.
3. List the requirements for a planet to be a planet
4. List the phases of the moon
5. Describe why the moon has phases

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Smartboard
Sky science slide show
Laptops
Overhead projector
Soccer ball
Oreo cookies
Phases of the moon handout

PREPARATION AND LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Have sky science slide show ready on Smartboard before the start of the lesson.
Load Stellarium on the computer beforehand
Look up facts about the outer planets
Have phases of the moon and oreos ready to be handed out

PROCEDURE
 Introduction Time

Mention that we have been talking about the planets in our solar system. 2 min
The moon doesnt always appear to look the same every night, it changes.

Body Time

Outer Planets 1. Start on slide 35 and summarize the information. 60 min

The outer planets are called the gas giants because
they are much larger than the inner planets and are
made of gas. Also, each of the outer planets have
rings. Saturns rings are the largest but the others
do have them. Uranus is the only planet that rotates
on its side, much like how the Earth is tilted.
2. Bring up other interesting facts about the outer
planets that you find. Ask students what they know
about them.
3. Use Stellarium to look at the orbits of all the planets
4. Go over the instructions for their Outer Planets
poster. Must have characteristics about each outer
planet and must be coloured.

When students are done:

Silent reading space books
Do research on other planets/exoplanets

Poor Pluto 1. Start on slide 37 and summarize the information. 30 min

Pluto is no longer a planet but a dwarf planet. This is
also like Eris which is another dwarf planet in our
solar system. Dwarf planets are not classified as full
planets because they are too small or have other
characteristics that make them not planets.
2. Mention how Ceres is the largest asteroid in our
solar system and that it has a rounded shape due to
its size and gravity.
3. Go over the instructions for their newspaper article
about Pluto. They will just be looking up
information and will be given other time to write the
article.
 Phases of the 1. Start on slide 39 and summarize the information. 60 min
Moon Earth has only one natural satellite, the moon. The
moon shines because it reflects the light from the
sun. Takes 28 days to make a full revolution of earth
but rotates so that we always see the same side.
Fully illuminated is a full moon, no light is a new
moon. The moon waxes (gets larger) and wanes
(gets smaller). The moons phases are regular and
predictable. We know when the different phases
will happen over the year.
2. Overhead projector and soccer ball demonstration.
Have one kid come up to the front, hold the soccer
ball out in front of them, and face the projector.
Then have them move in a counterclockwise
direction and explain what they see as they rotate.
They should see the different phases of the moon.
Name these phases as the student reaches them.
3. Explain the activity. Using the handout and oreo
cookies, you will be creating the phases of the moon.
Twist apart the cookies and use the filling to
represent how much of the moon is illuminated. You
can eat the cookies once a teacher has checked that
they are correct.

Conclusion Time

Ask a few students what details about each outer planet they chose to put 3 min
in their poster.
Have students share what they found about why pluto isnt a planet
anymore.
Have students pack up and get ready for the next period.

Assessment
Do they have at least one fact for each outer planet?
Are their moon phases in the correct order? Are they labeled correctly?

Additional Notes: