State Standards: Science Benchmark

The solar system consists of planets, moons, and other smaller objects including asteroids and comets that orbit the Sun. Planets in the solar system differ in terms of their distance from the Sun, number of moons, size, composition, and ability to sustain life…

Standard 3

Students will understand the relationship and attributes of objects in the solar system.

Objective 1

Describe and compare the components of the solar system.

Identify the planets in the solar system by name and relative location from the Sun.
Using references, compare the physical properties of the planets (e.g., size, solid or gaseous).
Use models and graphs that accurately depict scale to compare the size and distance between objects in the solar system.

https://www.uen.org/blooms/space/core.shtml

First, I will introduce the students to the unit with a video about planets. They will then get into groups where they will create a video as a group using FlipGrid to present information about a planet their group has chosen to study. The groups will be required to make comments and ask questions in video responses to each group's original post about their planet. This transforms normal practice because students are able to interact with each other on their own time. It also transforms the students' performance because they are able to record their projects with their group or alone and not in front of the whole class. It also gives students more time to think of responses and questions to the other groups' videos.

Next, students will work on various activities included on a playlist individually. Presenting various activities to choose from also transforms traditional practice because students get to pick the activities and assignments they complete based on their interests and they are able to complete the assignments at their own pace. Some of the activities require that students make a PowerPoint presentation and acronym for remembering the order of the planets which is a more creative use of technology

Lastly, the students will take an online quiz which transforms the traditional practice of students taking a quiz on paper because an online quiz is graded automatically, and is easier to leave thorough comments and feedback on. The data from these quizzes are also more easily accessible.

Module Outline

Day 1: Introduce the unit to the class by playing this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQrlgH97v94) about the planets.

Day 2: Students will be broken off into pairs or small groups where they will research information about a specific planet. They will be looking for information such as the physical properties of their planet as well as its relative distance from the sun and other planets.

Day 3: After gathering information about their planet, students will make a short presentation and video about their planet and post it for other groups to view on a flip grid discussion page. Each student will comment on something they learned from at least two of the videos. Each group will respond to the video comments made on their original posts.

Day 4: Students will complete assignments found on a playlist, they will be required to complete two of the tasks given, and will have the option of two more tasks out of four more options.

Day 5: Students will take a quiz about the planets and their characteristics, which they should learn from the unit intro, group discussion boards, and the assignments found on the playlist. (the order in which the module is organized helps scaffold the students throughout the unit).

Rationale

I will use the discussion board for group projects and discussions after I introduce the unit. The playlist will be used to further their knowledge of the solar system. I will use the quiz for formative assessment after they have reviewed each groups' project and asked follow-up questions as well as completed the playlist assignments.

I think that using the discussion board and the playlist will help the students facilitate their own learning and get them more engaged in the content.

Working together on the assignment will help students to collaborate with one another and also be creative! Students will have the chance to work together as they research and then present their findings to the class in a video. They can edit this video however they want to with music or pictures, it's up to them. This allows for personalization and is the opposite of interacting passively with technology.