The Solar System and Beyond
Learning Sequence 8
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Introduction With Gavin
This week, students will explore space concepts, Earth’s atmosphere, and satellites to enhance technical and digital literacy. They’ll learn about space exploration, atmospheric layers, and satellite functions, developing essential skills for understanding technology and digital tools. The hands-on rocket project will foster creativity and problem-solving abilities.
This week, we’re going to imagine what life might be like in faraway space. We can see the stars, but we haven’t reached them yet. We’ll also learn about the Earth’s atmosphere and its different layers.
After that, we’ll discover how cool satellites are! They help us find pizza places and send text messages.
And the best part: we’ll get to create our own rocket for space adventures!
Let’s aim for the stars and beyond!
Quote of the Week - Alan Bean
As part of the course, we will revisit a series of inspiring quotes from the 12 astronauts who have had the privilege of walking on the moon. Each week, students will be asked to critically analyze and interpret one of these quotes to gain a deeper understanding of the message conveyed by the astronaut.
Students may also choose to conduct independent research on the astronaut or the particular space mission they were a part of, and record their findings in a notebook. To further enhance their engagement with the quote, students are encouraged to create an artistic representation, such as a drawing or visual art piece, that captures the essence of the message being conveyed.
Throughout this course, we’ll be exploring some inspirational quotes from the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon. Every week, you’ll get to read one of these quotes and try to figure out what the astronaut meant by saying it.
You can do some research to learn more about the astronaut or the space mission they were a part of, and write down your findings in your notebook. To make things even more fun, you can also create a drawing or artwork that shows what you think the quote is all about. This will help you engage with the quote and understand it better.
Weekly Keywords
Introduce the spelling word list and choose from this list of tasks that can be repeated and expanded upon if necessary.
Copy the words into a spelling list/vocabulary book for later reference.
Put each of the new words into a sentence and underline the new vocabulary in red pencil
Place the words in alphabetical order in a list.
Use a dictionary to define each of the words and place them into a vocabulary book.
Try to represent each of the words using a picture or a symbol and play the guessing game. (which image is matched to which word)
Write a paragraph containing all of the new vocabulary.
Make a vocabulary wall containing all of the new words.
Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for the words and create a synonym list.
These words will help you during this week’s lesson. You may already know some of these words however practice makes perfect!
First, read the words and then try to define them as simply as possible.
An example has been completed for you. You can write these into your books, and draw a picture to match or simply complete the task card.
Weekly Comprehension Activity - Exploring Space
Each week, we will provide you and your class with a reading comprehension activity. This can be done independently or tackled as a guided reading activity with your students.
Once the children have read the relevant information, they can then work through the comprehension questions until they become too hard,
The four levels of questions allow for your students to push themselves until they become too difficult. They may wish to use classroom resources to solve the questions they find too hard or they can be used as extension activities to be completed in free time or at home.
Read the information opposite on the Outer planets and use the information gained from the video above and attempt to answer as many of the comprehension questions as possible.
You may talk to the people in the classroom and use any resources available in the classroom to get the answers. You may even wish to continue your research at home on the questions that you could not solve.
We have made the questions range in difficulty, see how far you can get! Remember to answer the questions in full sentences and make notes of any diagrams or amazing facts that may help you remember the information later.
Teach a Lesson - The Layers of the Atmosphere
This lesson combines research and public speaking skills to engage students in teaching the concept of the atmosphere. Students will partner up to complete a provided slide deck, studying each atmospheric layer.
They’re tasked to add a descriptive paragraph per layer, three engaging images, and an inspiring video. This exercise encourages research acumen and resource selection. The completed slide deck will then be presented to a younger class, allowing students to exercise their public speaking skills and share knowledge, echoing Dr. Karl’s sentiment that knowledge gains value when shared. The objective is to create enthusiastic, inspirational teachers.
This week we want you to become an inspirational teacher and teach a younger child all about the concept of the atmosphere.
Dr Karl told us all about how difficult it is to get rockets into space and this week we are going to talk all about the layers that a rocket would pass through on their outward journey.
Opposite, you will find a slide deck based on the layers of the atmosphere. The first layer, the Troposphere, has been completed for you.
With a partner, you must finish the slide deck by researching each of the layers and adding the missing details. You will need to include:
1. A paragraph about each layer.
2. Three images to inspire your students.
3. A video to get your students excited.
The first one has been done for you. Use this example to make the slide deck your own and once complete, we want you to take your lesson to another class and inspire them just as Dr Karl has inspired us today.
“Knowledge is only useful if you share it.’
How Satellites Are Used - An Infographic Design
This project introduces children to eight ways satellites impact our lives, fostering digital literacy. Through designing posters, they’ll explore how satellites support communication, navigation, weather forecasting, and more. Emphasizing the importance of satellite technology, the project enhances their understanding of research and daily life in the digital age. It empowers them to appreciate the significance of staying digitally savvy as they engage with the incredible world of satellite technology.
Currently, there are more than 6000 satellites orbiting our planet, and in today’s world, we rely on them in many ways.
The moon, our only natural satellite, plays essential roles by brightening the night sky, influencing tides, and keeping the Earth steady on its axis.
This week, we will learn about the various ways satellites help us in our daily lives. Your task is to discover eight ways in which these satellites assist us, often without us even realizing it. I’ll give you the first example!
Once you have found 8 amazing functions of satellites, share them with your class and see if anyone had similar thoughts.
Let’s begin this exciting journey of exploration!
Bringing Mathematics To Life - The Speed of Light!
The lesson encourages students to partner up, conduct research, and delve into the fascinating aspects of light’s rapidity. They are tasked to explore numerical data, fill in blanks, and ponder the possibilities if we could match light’s speed.
The emphasis on numbers and statistics research engages students in comprehending the magnitude of light’s swiftness and its implications on space travel and beyond.
The speed of light is the fastest thing we have discovered in the universe. It remains one of the most mind-boggling discoveries in the history of science.
This week, we invite you to conduct research on how fast light can actually travel. Team up with a partner, download the task card provided, and explore the incredible speed of light.
Fill in the blanks with your findings and also take the opportunity to conduct additional research about the possibilities that could arise if we could travel at the speed of light! Enjoy your exploration!
Create a Fold-Up Atmosphere Booklet
In this lesson, we’ll tap into your children’s inner creativity! They’ll use their origami skills to create a fold-up, pocket-sized teaching resource for the layers of the atmosphere.
The children will conduct research and follow the provided instructions to design an attractive and informative tool. Once they have delivered their lesson, they can gift this unique resource to their students.
This week, we encourage you to utilize your origami skills to create a fold-up, pocket-sized teaching resource that complements your lesson on the layers of the atmosphere.
Follow the instructions provided, conduct thorough research, and craft an appealing teaching tool that you can distribute to your class after delivering the lesson.
Remember, for it to be inspirational, take your time and ensure the resource looks attractive while containing all the necessary information.
Embrace your creativity, and enjoy the rewarding feeling of making a valuable teaching aid for your students!
Let’s Create with Jordan - Making a Rocket
Activity: Plastic Bottle Rocket Design
Core Curriculum Connection: Science, Mathematics
Elemental Foci: Color, Shape, Form
Principle Foci: Contrast, Emphasis, Movement
Goal: Students will create an aerodynamic and brightly colored rocket for purposeful design.
Criteria:
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Construct the forms of your rocket to allow it to be aerodynamic – a cone at the bottom of the bottle.
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Add 3+ triangular wings/stabilizers to the bottom of your rocket – near the fuel propulsion/cap.
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Decorate your rocket with brightly colored materials that are smooth over the surface to help with your aerodynamics.
Relevance: Through this project, students will use functional design to create an item with purposeful results.
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Every week, we’ll provide you with an art activity related to what we’ve been learning about in class. It’s an opportunity for you to enhance your artistic abilities and learn more about the amazing things that exist in the Antarctic region.
Jordan will be joining us every week to brainstorm creative ways to showcase what we’ve learned about Space while also doing some good for the world.
We may challenge you to use recycled materials for your artwork, encourage you to teach someone else using what you create, or simply give it away as a gift to brighten someone’s day.
Take a look at the video on the other side and then do your best to follow Jordan’s guidance to make the world a better place with your creative skills.
To fully understand what we will be creating this week, you may wish to watch the full video below before starting.
Let’s get creative!
Let's Create With Jordan - Full Video
Watch the video with your class and support them as they use the skills demonstrated in the video in their own work tasks.
Watch Jordan’s full video here before starting your creative art project and remember that your work does not need to match Jordan’s exactly. Use it as a guide and try to make your work unique and be as creative as you like!