2. Introduction to the Planets Unit
During this unit students will be using Project-Based
Learning to create a group project on the 8 planets in
our solar system. Project Based Learning, PBL,
provides problems, tasks and activities for the students
to solve. The students get to explore and research,
through the use of technology, to find the answer to
the problems independently with help from the
teacher.
3. Overview for Unit Plan
The Planets Unit will last two weeks. In those two weeks
students will learn about the eight planets. In the third and
last week, students will work on their group planets
project. The project will be guided through the following
questions:
Essential Question: What are planets?
Unit Question: What are the 8 planets in the solar system?
What are moons?
Content Question: How many moons does each planet
have? What is the atmosphere like on each planet? What is
the order of the planets from closest to the sun to the
furthest from the sun?
4. Expected Roles of Students and
Parents
During the project students will learn how to do research on
each planet with the use of technology and books from in
our classroom along with books from the library. Students
will create a power-point on the eight planets with their
assigned groups. The power-point will be a minimum of 10
slides including: an introduction, a slide on each planet
and a conclusion slide. The slides on planets will each have
information on the atmosphere of the planet, when it was
discovered and how many moons each planet has. Parents
are welcome to come in the classroom during the week of
the in-class project to help students gather information,
work on computers, guest speakers, etc. If any parents
would like to volunteer please e-mail me.
5. Role of the Teacher
The role of the teacher is to teach the students about the
eight planets. The teacher will also be modeling the
project for the students so they can see how it is
properly done. The teacher will show students how to
create a power point and how to research information
on their project.
6. Instructional Standards for the Unit
ELA(2) 12. Utilize research skills to collect and record
information on a specific topic.
TC2(K-2) 2. Identify applications and operations of
various technology systems. TC2(K-2) 7. Use digital
tools to access and retrieve information. TC2(K-2) 10.
Design original works using digital tools.
SC(4) 10. Describe components of our solar system.
7. Objectives for Unit
Students will gain understanding of the order of the
planets in our solar system.
By describing characteristics about each of the 8
planets, students will list important facts.
Students will work together to create a power-point
project using technology.
8. Questions?
If anyone has any questions or would like to help in the
classroom, please e-mail me at hlpoe@crimson.ua.edu
Thank you,
Hayley Poe
4th Grade
