Boarshaw Community primary school - Flexible Friday Lesson Plan
Enrichment Activity: Astronomy
Description: The Wonders of the Solar System
Objectives: To promote problem solving and decision making. To encourage pupils in developing their independent learning skills. Programme of Study:
Date: Autumn Term 2
Duration: 6 weeks
Science Progression of Learning and Teaching: Key Teaching Points
Resources needed
Week 1: Introduction to the Wonders of the Solar System. Q and A with pupils to discover their level of interest and prior knowledge. The Solar System Wall display: Pupils to create a wall display of the Solar system using the Kids Astronomy website. Pupils to be given notebooks and independently research (in pair of in 3’s) the Sun and 8 planets of the Solar System.
“Space” wrapping paper. Pictures of the planets and Solar system. Notebooks
Week 2:
“Space” wrapping paper. Pictures of the planets and Solar system. Notebooks
The Solar System Wall display: Pupils to complete their wall display of the Solar system using the Kids Astronomy website. Pupils to be given notebooks and independently research (in pair of in 3’s) the Sun and 8 planets of the Solar System. Pupils to present their wall display to the group and submit their research. Week 3: The Life Cycle of a star: Pupils to create a flow diagram of a life cycle of a star. Using a short clip and the internet pupils will research the life cycle of a star and produce a flow diagram.
“Flow diagram” worksheet. Large “sugar” paper. Notebooks
Week 4: The Space shuttle: Pupils to use a Nasa design worksheet to create a scale model glider of the space shuttle. Pupils to work individually on their models and have a competition to see who create the most air dynamic model. Pupils to discuss the outcome of the competition assessing each other’s models
“Space shuttle” designs worksheet Notebooks
Week 5: Design a planet: Pupils to be asked to design their own planet (to replace the asteroid belt), they will have to consider its size, atmosphere, distance from the sun and number of moons it has. Pupils to consider whether other group member’s planets could support life.
“Space shuttle” designs “Design a planet” worksheet.
Week 6: Design an alien: Pupils to be asked to design an alien, and its biosphere on the planets they create the previous week. Pupils to draw on examples from Earths different biosphere to determine the size and shape of their aliens and its environment.
Notebooks. “Design an alien” worksheet.
Outcome: For pupils to have a basic understand of the makeup of the Solar System and the life cycle of the sun. Additionally they will be introduced to basic biology, geography and physic through week 4 – 6 activities.