Lesson Topic/Title:  Surf to the Planets on the Internet

Author: Sabrina Requena and Vanessa Meyer

Introduction: Students will use the Internet to find data on two planets.  The data retrieved will include each planet’s diameter, distances from the sun and earth, length of day and year, range of temperatures, and number of satellites.  After student retrieves this information they will compare and contrast the data in order to make conclusions about the planets’ size.

Content Area and Grade Level: Grade 5 Science

NE Science Standards: http://www.nde.state.ne.us/Issu/SCI/scienSTND.html 

8.5.3 By the end of eighth grade, students will develop an understanding of the earth in the solar system.

Integrated disciplines: Math

   Objectives:

Materials/Technologies: Computers with access to the Internet, hand out, pencil

Procedures:

     What teacher is to do- Pass out the hand out needed for the assignment?  Explain what students are to do, answer any questions, and move about the room to insure students are staying on task.

        What students are to do- will go to the website, http://windows.ivv.nasa.gov/ “Windows to the Universe.”  Click on the hyperlink entitled, “Enter the Site.”  Click on the icon “Our Solar System.”  Click on the planet they would like to obtain information on.  Fill in the hand out and compute all necessary information.

      Closure:  We will bring it all together by having the class present what they found most interesting about the size and so on.

     Assessment:  Assess students by being able to differentiate between 2 planets.  Accuracy of the hand out and being able to convert miles to yards.

    Explanation:  This project seems very useful.  It not only allows students to explore the Internet, but also to work on mathematics.