NAME: Allison Drasser

LESSON TOPIC: The Sun, the Moon, and the stars

RATIONALE: This lesson will allow students to learn more about parts of space that they have
seen almost every day of their lives: the sun, the moon, and the stars. The students may know
some things about them based on their observations on a day to day basis and they may also have
some misconceptions. It is important for students to have a clear understanding about things in
the world around them and that includes what we see in space.

COMMON CORE STANDARD (S):

-

RI.3.7: Use information form illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a
text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key
events occur).
W.3.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and
information clearly
a. Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations
when useful to aid comprehension.
b. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.

OBJECTIVE: (The student will be able to.)

-

The student will be able to complete an OWL chart about the sun, moon, and stars.
The student will be able to read an informative text for details on either the sun, the
moon, or the stars.
The student will be able take important information from the text to include in an
informative poster completed with his or her group.

ACADEMIC LANGUAGE: Sun, Moon, stars, phases, constellation

MOTIVATION OR ANTICIPATORY SET: Explain to the students that the class will be going on
a field trip. This field trip wont require a bus, just their memories. The students will close their
eyes and think about the things they see in the sky when they walk outside their houses. There
may be clouds and airplanes but they also can see the sun during the day and the moon and stars
at night.

BRIEF PROCEDURE:

Students will fill out the first two columns of an OWL (what they have observed, what they
want to learn, what they have learned) chart.

Students will be put into groups of three. Each students will be responsible to look through
specific pages from the book Dont Know Much About The Solar System. One person will look
through the pages about the sun, one person will look through the pages about the moon, and the
third person will look through the pages about the stars. Each group member is responsible for
reporting back important details from the pages to their group.

Each group will then create an informational poster presentation about the sun, moon, and
stars using the important details that each group member found.

Once the groups have gotten the chance to share their posters, the class will reconvene to
complete the last column in the OWL chart.

MATERIALS USED:
-

OWL chart
Davis, K. (2001). Dont know much about the solar system. New York: HarperCollins.
Poster paper
Pencils
Markers or crayons
Rubric

TECHNOLOGY COMPONENT (IF APPLICABLE): NA

ASSESSMENT OF COMMON CORE STANDARD (S)

Formal: Groups posters will be graded using a rubric that will look for important details
and appropriate illustrations.

Informal: Checklist will be used to assess students participation in discussions with their
groups and the whole class.

ADAPTATIONS:


Student with special needs: Student with ADD will be given breaks in between parts of the
lesson/assignment.

English Language Learner: ELL students will be paired with students with strong English
skills (written and oral).

Struggling Reader: Student on a lower reading level will be provided recorded copy of
their assigned pages.

Groups details and

information

Groups
illustrations

3
Presented all
important details and
all facts were
accurate.
Were detailed and
appropriate for their
topic.

2
Presented some
important details and
facts were mostly
accurate.
Were basic and went
along with some of
their topic.

1
Presented little to no
details or accurate
facts.
There were no
illustrations.