Vocabulary Lesson Plan

Lesson Title: Introduction to the Scientific Revolution

Grade Level: 7th Grade

Unit objective: Students will analyze the historical developments of the Scientific Revolution
and its lasting effect on religious, political, and cultural institutions.

Standards:
History Social Science Content Standard: 7.10.2 Understand the significance of the new
scientific theories (e.g., those of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton) and the
significance of new inventions (e.g., the telescope, microscope, thermometer, barometer).

Common Core State Standard: Language Standard in Grade 7: 4. Determine or clarify the
meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading
and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Materials & Resources: To teach this lesson successfully the teacher will need a PowerPoint
presentation with images and brief descriptions of the essential vocabulary terms for the unit.
The teacher will also need the slides printed onto 4 sets of 6 biography cards that highlight the
contributions of each key figure. The students will need a handout to complete the “I Am” Poem
and the biographies of the key people from the Scientific Revolution.

Key Vocabulary/Terminology:
- Scientific Revolution: major changes in European thought in which the study of the
natural world began to be characterized by careful observations and the questioning of
accepted beliefs
- Copernicus: created the idea that the sun is the center of the universe
- Galileo: a believer of a sun-centered universe who made controversial scientific
discoveries with his improved version of the telescope
- Kepler: German astronomer who discovered the motion of the planets
- Newton: most widely known for developing the laws of motion and gravity
- Ptolemy: developed the idea that the universe revolved around Earth
- Bacon: spread the idea that science should use inductive reasoning (proceeding from
particular to general)

Background Knowledge/Experience/Motivation: The teacher will begin the lesson by asking

students what they may already know about the Scientific Revolution, the key people, and the
major theories to be mentioned in the following lesson.

Teaching sequence:
- Teacher will briefly introduce the key people and ideas that were brought about by the
Scientific Revolution.
Developing Meaning
 - Teacher will put students into groups of four and give each group a biography card for an
important figure from the Scientific Revolution. Each biography card will contain a
picture of the person and other visuals related to their theories and ideals.
Developing Fluency
- Each group will be responsible for creating an “I Am” Poem based on the person from
their given card and filling out their portion of the biographies worksheet.
- Students will present their “I Am” Poem to the class while the rest of the class fills in
their biographies worksheet.
- All students will be responsible for completing the biographies of all other key people
based on the poems created by the other groups.
- They will be asked to give a definition in their own words for the Scientific Revolution.

Evaluation: Students will show proficiency of Scientific Revolution vocabulary by their

completion of their “I Am” Poem and biographies worksheet. They will also show proficiency
by given their own definition of the term Scientific Revolution at the end of the period.

Extension: At the end of the unit, students will be asked to create an Acrostic Poem for the term
Scientific Revolution while having to incorporate key ideas and terms that we discuss throughout
the unit.
 “I Am” Poem

First Stanza

I am______________________________(name of the key person)

I wonder______________________________(something you’re curious about)

I hear____________________________________________________(sound)

I see_____________________________________________________(sight)

I want____________________________________________(an actual desire)

I am_____________________________________________(repeat first line)

Second Stanza

I pretend_______________________________(something you pretend to do)

I feel___________________________________(a feeling about something)

I touch______________________(something interesting thing you would touch)

I worry__________________________________(something that bothers you)

I cry__________________________________(something that makes you sad)

I am_____________________________________(repeat first line of poem)

Third Stanza

I understand______________________________(something you know is true)

I say_______________________________________(something you believe in)

I dream__________________________________(something you dream about)

I try___________________________________(something you put effort into)

I hope_____________________________________(something you hope for)

I am______________________________________(repeat first line of poem)

 Biographies
Key Figure Characteristics/Contributions
Ptolemy

Copernicus

Galileo

Newton

Bacon

Kepler

Based on the following people and contributions from the period, in your own words,
define SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION: __________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Sample of Student Work: