The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Integrating the Arts into Earth and Space

Integrating the Arts into Earth and Space

A 5th grade STEM lesson

Mary McGalloway

5/1/2023

Notes for teachers

• This lesson takes place in a classroom for approximately one to two hours (One period may be for student preparation and the next period for presenting).
• Students may work in small groups of 3-5.
• Creativity and communication should be a cornerstone of this activity.

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Materials needed:

Group 1: Collaborative Storytelling:

Storyboard planner, pencil

Group 2: Drama

Moon phases and lunar eclipse information, paper, pencil

Group 3: Poetry

Word bank for gravitational forces, paper, pencil, poetry examples

Group 4: Visual Arts

Construction paper, glue, pencils, markers, colored pencils, scissors, pom poms, tissue paper, index cards, ruler.

Group 5 : Music and Creative Movement

Phases of the Moon information, paper, pencil

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Arizona Science Standards

5.E2U1.7 Develop, revise, and use models based on evidence to construct explanations about the movement of the Earth and Moon within our solar system.

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5.E2U1.8 Obtain, analyze, and communicate evidence to support an explanation that the gravitational force of Earth on objects is directed toward the planet’s center.

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Science and Engineering Practices

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• ask questions and define problems
• develop and use models
• plan and carry out investigations
• analyze and interpret data
• use mathematical and computational thinking
• construct explanations and design solutions
• engage in argument from evidence
• obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

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Arizona ELA Standards

5.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

5.SL.2 Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

5.SL.5 Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.

Objectives:

Today we will review elements of Earth and Space (Gravity and gravitational forces, phases of the moon, rotation, revolution, sun and moon, shadows)

Today we will communicate and collaborate with our group to complete one of five review projects (collaborative storytelling, drama, poetry, visual arts, or music and creative movement)

Students will present review projects to the class

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Agenda (60 minutes)

Review concepts for Earth and Space to be used with today’s projects.

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Explain the five different types of projects available for the unit review.

Collaborate with group members to complete your assigned project.

Create with the materials provided

Present your idea to the class.

The agenda for the second 60 minute time block could be to present completed projects. (If needed)

Intro

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What kind of patterns do we observe because of the movement of the Earth, Sun, and Moon? Today, we are going to review what we have learned about Earth and space. You will have the opportunity to Show what you Know about an assigned topic and present it to the class.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Group 1: Collaborative Storytelling

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Task Overview: Each member of the group takes a turn creating and telling part of a first-person narrative that personifies the earth’s revolution around the sun. Your story must show understanding of the following terms and concepts: rotation, revolution, axis, how long it takes for the earth to revolve around the sun, how long it takes earth to rotate on its axis, the change in seasons during the revolution around the sun.

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• Use a storyboard planner to outline the important components of your story.
• Decide who will begin the story. That person will share 1-2 sentences about the beginning of earth’s journey around the sun.
• Each person in the group will contribute 1-2 sentences until everyone has had at least one opportunity to contribute to the story. Continue the process until the earth has made one complete journey around the sun.
• Once the story has been told, discuss ways to enhance the story. (Find a way to get the audience involved, repeat important lines with vocabulary or key concepts, use facial expressions and gestures to keep the audience’s attention, change the sound level of your voice and/or tempo of your speaking.)

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Group 2: Drama

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Task Overview: You will take on the roles of news anchors, astronomers, and people watching a lunar eclipse. Provide a detailed description of the moon phases during a month, what a lunar eclipse is, and how often it occurs.

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• Choose your roles, each group member must have a part.
• Choose a performance space and arrange chairs or props as needed. (Where will the actors be positioned during the performance)
• Decide what each person will say during the performance.
• Act out the parts (practice). Be animated during your performance.
• Discuss what worked well, change or add whatever is needed, and continue practicing.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Group 3: Poetry

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Task Overview: Your group will write a poem based on how the gravitational forces in space cause observable patterns with the Earth and Moon. Include the gravitational force of Earth and how it pulls objects toward the planet’s center.

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• Brainstorm a list of words, vocabulary, and phrases that have to do with the Sun, Moon, Earth, and gravity to use in your poem.
• Work together to craft a poem.
• Read your poem aloud, discuss sensory details included in the poem, and add or change what is needed.
• Practice performing the poem - determine which lines will be read by each person and whether lines will be read individually or together.

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Types of Poetry:

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Cinquain

Free Verse

Haiku

Acrostic

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Group 4: Visual Arts

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Task Overview: Today you will create a mixed media art piece. Mixed media means working with a variety of material to create two- or three- dimensional art pieces. Think about the materials you choose and how they will effectively communicate what you’re trying to show.

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You may work individually, or with a partner, to create a mixed media visual that illustrates the movement of shadows during the day. Make sure to include the Sun’s position in your art piece. Add a title at the top and a caption below identifying the time of day and the general length of the shadow.

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• Use material provided:
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Pencil
• Markers
• Colored pencils
• Scissors
• Pom poms
• Tissue Paper
• Index cards
• Ruler

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Group 5: Music and Creative Movement

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Task Overview: Compose a song or rap about the phases of the Moon. You should have some choreographed moves to go along with the words of your song or rap.

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Include the following:

• The Moon reflects the light of the Sun
• Moon orbits the Earth
• Moon between the Earth and Sun (new moon)
• Earth between Sun and Moon (full moon)
• The eight phases of the Moon
• New Moon
• Waxing Crescent
• First Quarter
• Waxing Gibbous
• Full Moon
• Waning Gibbous
• Last Quarter
• Waning Crescent
• Practice performing the song/rap.
• Consider which parts will be done in unison, individually, and repeated.

Assessment

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• Did you complete your project with the approved materials?
• Did you collaborate with group members to complete your project?
• If yes, did you change or add components to make your project better?
• Explain and present your project to the class.

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Differentiation

A way to differentiate this lesson would be to assign a single project for the entire class on a particular day. Spread each project out over a week if you choose. (Break if up any way you like)

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For the Music and Creative Movement project, you can provide a song for students and they choose a stanza or two to choreograph and present to the class. (There are many songs online to choose from)

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Extension/Enrichment

As an enrichment activity, students can take notes and write a summary paragraph for each group’s presentation.

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Integrating the Arts projects listed can be applied to any subject area, not just science.

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