DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

UNIT PLAN TEMPLATE

Teacher Candidate: Christine Capel
Grade Level: 3

Content Area: Science

Step 1 DESIRED RESULTS

A. Contextual Factors
24 Students
13 Boys
11 Girls
5 ELL
2 SPED
2 HAL
Behavior Concerns: There are about five boys in this class with behavior
issues. One of the boys is really rough and continues to hit and bully his
classmates even after extensive interventions. The other students have
a difficult time focusing and paying attention. This is a really chatty
class that needs a lot of reminders on appropriate behavior and
procedures.
B. Utah State Core or Common Core Curriculum Standard

Standard 1
Students will understand that the shape of Earth and the moon are spherical
and that Earth rotates on its axis to produce the appearance of the sun and
moon moving through the sky.
Objective 1
Describe the appearance of Earth and the moon.
a. Describe the shape of Earth and the moon as spherical.
b. Explain that the sun is the source of light that lights the moon.
c. List the differences in the physical appearance of Earth and the moon as
viewed from space.
Objective 2
Describe the movement of Earth and the moon and the apparent movement of
other bodies through the sky.
a.Describe the motions of Earth (i.e., the rotation [spinning] of Earth on its
axis, the revolution [orbit] of Earth around the sun).
b.Use a chart to show that the moon orbits Earth approximately every 28 days.
c. Use a model of Earth to demonstrate that Earth rotates on its axis once every
24 hours to produce the night and day cycle.
d. Use a model to demonstrate why it seems to a person on Earth that the sun,
planets, and stars appear to move across the sky.
Vocabulary: model, orbit, sphere, moon, axis, rotation, revolution, appearance
C. Enduring Understanding/Big Idea
Students will understand that the shape of Earth and the moon are spherical
and that Earth rotates on its axis to produce the appearance of the sun and
moon moving through the sky.
D. Essential Questions/Guiding Questions
What is the shape of the Earth and Moon?
What is the source or light that lights the moon and how does it work?
What are the motions of the Earth?
Why does the Earth rotate and revolve around the sun?
How many days does it take the moon to orbit the Earth? what is the
significance?
- How long does it take the Earth to rotate? What doe rotation create?
- Why does it seem that the sun, planets, and starts move across the sky?
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E. Concepts

The Earth and moon are spherical.

The sun is the source that lights up the moon.
The Earth and moon look different from space.
The Earth rotates (spins) on its axis and revolves (orbits) around the sun.
It takes the moon approximately 28 days to orbit the Earth.
The Earths rotation on its axis takes 24 hours and produces night and day
cycle.
- The sun, planets, and stars appear to move across the sky because the Earth
is moving.
-

F. Skills
- Engage in dialogue about the shape of the Earth and moon.
- Write and draw the differences in the physical appearance of Earth and the
-

moon as viewed from space.

Discuss where the moon gets its light from.
Read a chart to show that the moon orbits Earth approximately every 28 days.
Demonstrate the Earths rotation and revolutions.
Create a model to demonstrate why it seems to a person on Earth that the
sun, planets, and stars appear to move across the sky.

Step 2 ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE

1. Pre-Assessments
Teacher based questions about broad topics in unit
Pre-test (multiple choice, T/F, matching, written response)
2. Formative Assessments/Evidence
Class/group discussions
Written list and drawing of the differences in the physical appearance of Earth

and moon as view from space.

3. Summative Assessments/Evidence
Posttest
Discussions
Step 3 Lesson Objectives with Instructional Strategies

Lesson 1: I will make observations about where the moon gets its light from
and describe the shape of the Earth and moon. (1, a&b)
Class discussion about the shape of the Earth and moon.
Students will make demonstrate how the Sun light is reflected by the moon by
creating a model using a ball, foil, and flashlight. (Teacher led)
Students will write observations about the relationship between the moon and
sun.
Lesson 2: I will list the differences in the physical appearance of Earth and the
moon as viewed from space. (1, c)
Use iPad app to show the physical appearance of Earth and moon as viewed
from space.
Students will write a list of the differences in physical appearance of Earth
and moon as viewed from space.
Class discussion on observations.
Students will turn list into a venn diagram for assessment.
Lesson 3: I will demonstrate the motions of the Earth. (2, a)

Discussion about how the Earth moves.

Student demonstration/presentation of how the earth moves in relation to the

sun and moon. (groups)

Lesson 4: I will read a chart to show that the moon orbits Earth approximately
every 28 days and be able to explain why this is important to me.
Review of how the Earth and moon move.
Students will look at charts that should the moons orbit and conduct other
research.
Each group will present what they found.
Class discussion.
Lesson 5: I will use a model of Earth to demonstrate that Earth rotates on its
axis once every 24 hours to produce the night and day cycle.
Teacher led model of the Earth
Class discussion
Lesson 6: I will use a model to demonstrate why it seems to a person on Earth
that the sun, planets, and stars appear to move across the sky.
Pre-assessment questions
Students will write responses to questions in moon book
Use a Celestial Model to demonstrate that the Earth moves but the stars and
sky do not.
Correct misconceptions