Learning Exercise

Lesson Title: The Solar System
Grade Level: Third Grade
Activity: Mercury Rising!
Objectives: 1. Students will know that Mercury is one of the planets in
our Solar System. 2. Students will know its proximity to Earth. 3.
Students will compare facts about Mercury to facts about Earth. 4. Students
will read aloud, fluently, text from a NASA website. 5. Students will create a
Power Point to discuss the planet Mercury.
CDE Science: Earth Sciences 4d: Students know that the Earth is one of several
planets that orbit the Sun and that the Moon orbits the Earth. Investigation
and Experimentation 5c: Use numerical data in describing and comparing objects,
events, and measurements. 5d: Predict the outcome of a simple investigation and
compare the result with the prediction.
CDE Language Arts: Reading 1.3: Read aloud narrative and expository text
fluently and accurately and with appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression.
ISTE/NETS: #1: Use keyboards and other input and output devices efficiently and
effectively. #4: Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to
support personal productivity, remediate skill deficits, and facilitate learning
throughout the curriculum.
Materials: pencils, paper, Internet, computers (5), LCD projector, Power Point,
printer, slates, dry-erase markers, science journals, small group desk design.
Anticipatory Sets: Students will visit the site located at
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/targetFamily/Mercury .
Primary Website:
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level2/mercury.html
Procedures: 1. Teacher will visit anticipatory set site and cycle through the
images. 2. Have students read Internet text aloud and fluently. 3. Students
will group in 4?s and predict the conditions on Mercury. 4. Students write
predictions down in journals (note in data). 5. Students will visit the primary
site in groups and collect more data about Mercury and Earth. 6. Students will
draw a picture a picture of Mercury from web images. 7. Teacher will instruct
whole group on methods of using Power Point. 8. Each of the student groups will
create 4 PPT. Slides (one per student). 9. Students will orally present to the
class. 10. Students will display work on the Outer Space Bulletin Board. 11.
Students will return to their predictions and revise them as needed. 12.
Students and teacher will transition to recess.
Assessment: Informal: per teacher observations and coaxing during the
coursework and class time. Formal: Students will be graded according to the
Master Rubric (Appendix A). After the completion of grading, students will be
able to take home the grading sheet for parent review.
Copyright 2004 Troy Tenhet Jr.