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Learning about the Solar System Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite

Learning about the Solar System Grade: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Samantha Preller
Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: Solar System, Plants
Lesson Description: This lesson aims at teaching students about the solar system and how scientist conduct studies and obtain new information. After reading the passage students will complete a vocabulary activity, complete a discussion about the passage, and complete a short writing activity.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.2: Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4c: Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4a: Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
 
     
     
 
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.

Learning about the Solar System

When scientists looked at the stars long ago, they saw patterns. They did not understand everything about what they saw. So they kept looking to learn more. That is what scientists do. They ask questions and look for information to answer their questions. They are like explorers. They do not travel far the way explorers do. But they do make a kind of journey. They want to learn more. They go from what they know to what they discover. 

Scientists have learned about our planet. It is very big. It is very diverse. There are places that are hot. There are places that are freezing. There are mountains and plains. There are hills and valleys. There are deep oceans. There are great rivers and waterfalls. There are rainforests. There are deserts. Those are all parts of our planet. There is much more to learn about what is here on Earth. A scientist dedicates much time to learning. The scientist works hard. The scientist helps us all find out more about our world. 

Our planet is in a galaxy called the Milky Way. The sun is a big star in our part of this giant galaxy. Our galaxy holds millions of other stars. The sun is very important to our planet. The sun gives us light during the day. It gives us heat, too. Two other planets are closer to the sun than Earth: Mercury and Venus. 

Scientists figured out how the Earth changes. Earth orbits the sun once each year. It travels once around the sun every 365 days. The other eight planets in our solar system also orbit around the sun. All travel in a pattern called an ellipse, which is a kind of oval. So at times Earth is farther from the sun. Scientists figured out that made it cooler on Earth then. But they also figured out that it is the tilt of the Earth’s axis, however, that has the greatest effect on temperatures. 

Scientists are still learning about our galaxy. There is much to discover. Today astronauts travel into space. They are explorers. It is dangerous to travel in space, but they are dauntless. They bravely travel thousands of miles to learn. 

 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (40 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.

Vocabulary Questions

Word/Phrase: Dauntless | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q1 "It is dangerous to travel in space, but they are dauntless. They bravely travel thousands of miles to learn."? What can you infer the word dauntless means?
A. terrified
B. nervous
C. brave *
D. fearful

Why are the astronauts considered dauntless?
A. Because they travel to space
B. Because they learn
C. Because they have a dangerous job
D. Both A and C are correct *

Word/Phrase: Scientist | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 Which is the most accurate definition of a scientist that you have gathered from the text?
A. someone who conducts experiments
B. someone that is dedicated to conducting experiments to obtain new information to answer important questions *
C. someone who knows everything
D. someone who asks a lot of questions

Which quote from the passage is best for determining the above definition of a scientist?
A. "Scientist figured out how the Earth changes."
B. "Scientist are still learning about our galaxy."
C. "Scientists have learned about our planet."
D. "They ask questions and look for information to answer their questions." *

Word/Phrase: Orbit | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 After reading the passage which best describes the word "orbit"?
A. The Earth remains completely still
B. The Earth bounces up and down
C. The Earth spins around the sun *
D. The Earth moves side to side

What does the Earth and other planets orbit?
A. The Earth
B. The Sun *
C. The Milky Way
D. None of the above

Word/Phrase: Astronaut | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 After reading the passage what would be the best definition of a Astronaut?
A. A person in a really cool suit
B. Someone who can fly
C. An alien
D. Someone who travels into space *

What quote from the passage helped you decide what the best definition was?
A. "They are explorers."
B. "Our planet is in a galaxy called the Milky Way."
C. "Today astronauts travel into space." *
D. None of the above

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4a,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (25 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.

  Topic Title Replies

Message Why are scientist important?
We know that scientist help us answer imporant questions, so why are scientist so imporant to space and the discovery of new answers?
Sent on: Sep 26, 2021 by: Samantha Preller
0

Message What have we learned about space because of scientist?
What have we learned about the planet because of scientist? How do you think scientist learned this information?
Sent on: Sep 26, 2021 by: Samantha Preller
0

Message What did you learn?
What is something that you learned from this passage that was interesting, shocked you, made you wonder, etc.? Please explain.
Sent on: Sep 26, 2021 by: Samantha Preller
0

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4a,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (35 points)
Instructions: Please provide a minimum of one paragraph essay answer the following:

 

What do you think was the authors main reason for writting this passage? Please provide two quotes that helps support your answer.

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4c,
 
     

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