TABLE OF CONTENTS - Lindbergh School District

Strand 6: Composition and Structure of the Universe and the Motion of the Objects within It
1. The universe has observable properties and structure
Major Objectives IS Suggested Activities Suggested Assessments
Concept A: The Earth, sun, and moon are
part of a larger system that includes other
planets and smaller celestial bodies
a. Recognize that the Earth is one of
several planets within a solar system
that orbits the sun.
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a. Students will classify the planets of our solar
system by size, distance from the sun,
composition, and number of satellites. (1.3;
1.4; 1.8; 2.7)
a. Students will create a concept map for each
planet with the aforementioned categories.
b. Recognize that the moon orbits the
Earth.
c. Recognize that planets look like stars
and appear to move across the sky
among the stars.
Concept B: The Earth has a composition
and location that is suitable to sustain life
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b. In a dark room with a single lamp
representing the sun, a basketball as the
Earth, and a ping pong ball as the moon,
observe where the shadow of the Earth falls
upon the moon as it rotates around the Earth.
(1.8; 1.10)
c. Students will go outside at night and observe
the sky. They will look for planets, different
colored stars, and number of stars. Students
will brainstorm natural objects that appear to
move in the sky. (1.2; 1.8)
b. Students will design a diagram illustrating the
phases of the moon. Keep a daily log of the
phase of the moon.
c. Students will pick a visible planet (Mars,
Venus, Saturn) and chart its path across the
sky for a period of time. They will use the
internet if necessary to check the planet’s
position.
a. Describe physical features of the planet
Earth that allows life to exist (e.g., air,
water, temperature) and compare these
to the physical features of the sun, the
moon and other planets.
C3 a. Students will create a comparison chart GO
7) with Earth and the other planets
comparing atmosphere, temperature, gravity,
etc. (2.6)
Students will create a story explaining what the
sun, moon, or planet would need to have life
exist.
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