LESSON PLAN
Researching the Planets
Grade Level: 4-6
Curriculum Area: Language Arts and Science
LA Frameworks:
ELA-5-E2 locating and evaluating information sources (eg., print
materials, databases, CD-ROM references, Internet information, electronic
reference works, community and government data, television and radio resources,
audio and visual materials); (1, 3, 4, 5)
ELA-4-M2 giving and following directions/procedures, (1, 4)
ESS-M-C2 comparing and contrasting the celestial bodies in our solar
system; (2, 4)
ESS-E-B1 observing and describing the characteristics of objects in the
sky, (1)
Lesson Objectives:
1. Use a search engine and links on the Internet to gather research.
2. Record data and cite references used.
3. Organize research into an outline.
4. Use a Word Processing program to publish report.
5. Create a cover page using Print Shop software or by importing a
picture from the Internet.
Technology Connection: Internet
and Word Processing
Assessment: The rubric
to assess the Planet Report and the teacher review of the Website
Research Sheets.
Procedure: (Planet and Moon Fact Sheet and Sample Planet Report Outline)
1. Review procedure for using the Internet to research information.
2. Define and discuss Internet terminology:
URL
address Web page
Web site Search engine
Link
3. Assign each student a planet and its moons to research using a
search engine and the Internet.
4. Record information on the Website Research/Evaluation Sheet
(provided).
5. Write a one page report on the assigned planet and one of its
moons.
6. Using Word Processing software, have the students type their planet
reports.
7. Students will create a cover sheet for their reports by using Print
Shop Software or by importing a picture from the Internet. Cover sheet must
include the name of the planet, a picture, student’s name.
8. Students will present their reports to the class.
Extensions:
1. Have students create a postcard of the planet or moon they
researched.
2. Have students share data and create a spreadsheet of planet
information.
3. Have students collect and collate planet reports to create a class
booklet.
4. Students may work in pairs to share information on different planets
to create a Venn Diagram (see Lesson 6).
Other Planets, Other Moons Home Page
To
view the .pdf documents, you must have Adobe® Acrobat Reader installed
on your computer.
Adobe® Acrobat Reader is a FREE, downloadable software program available
from www.adobe.com.
and relevancy of the information on all other site pages are entirely
the responsibility of the webmaster of the sites visited.
Louisiana
Public Broadcasting's Telecommunications Center, 7733 Perkins Road, Baton
Rouge, LA 70810
For additional information, contact us at edserv@lpb.org
or
Educational
Services at 225 767-5660 or 800-272-8161.