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An Introduction to the Scale of the Solar System: Lesson 2 of 2

A 5th and 6th grade STEM lesson

Chloe de Masi

January 21st, 2024

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Purpose

This lesson serves to provide an extension to lesson one. In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to build their own model of the solar system to scale, utilizing math concepts of exponents and ratios and proportions to help them build their models.
While students could try to create a model of the solar system to scale using distance AND size, it will be difficult for them to do this, as both videos show. It is recommended students choose to represent either the distance or size of the planets to scale.

The teacher should have already taught lesson one of the this two-part lesson.
Students should have been previously taught lessons about how to write numbers in scientific notation/exponential form and ratios and proportions.
Students should have basic knowledge of the solar system and planets in the relation to the sun.

Background Knowledge

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Notes for teachers

The majority of this lesson time will be spent with students working in partners to create a model of the solar system utilizing math concepts.
This is a 75-minute lesson and will require future independent work time for students to complete their models of the solar system.
Students will be working in partners.
Creative solutions should be encouraged

List of Materials

Materials of choice for building solar system models. Some suggestions:

Styrofoam or foam balls of different sizes (representing planets)
Wooden skewers or wire
Chalk
Ruler with centimeter markings or measuring tape
Acrylic paints or colored paper
Glue
String
Cardboard or a base for the model
Class Set of Solar System Sizes and Distances Handout in Resources section

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5th Grade

Science Standards

5.2U1.7 Develop, revise, and use models based on evidence to construction explanations about the movement of the Earth and Moon within our solar system.

6th Grade

Science Standards

6. E2U1. 7 Use ratios and proportions to analyze and interpret data related to scale, properties, and relationships among objects in our solar system.

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5th Grade

Math Standards

5.NBT.A.1 Recognize that in a multi-digit number, a digit in one place represents 10 times as much as it represents in the place to its right and 1/10 of what it represents in the place to its left.

5.NBT.A.2 Explain patterns in the number of zeros of the product when multiplying a number by powers of 10, and explain patterns in the placement of the decimal point when a decimal is multiplied or divided by a power of 10. Use whole-number exponents to denote powers of 10.

6. NS.B Commute fluently with multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples.

6th Grade Math

Standards

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Agenda (lesson time)

Introduction (5 minutes)

Building Background Knowledge (15 minutes)

Making Connections (15 minutes)

Explore/Create (35 minutes)*

*The explore/create phase may need to take place over 2-3 days to allow ample time for students to create their solar system models

Debrief (5 minutes)

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Introduction (5 minutes)

Watch the video with students. Ask them how this video connects with the ideas in the “To Scale” video they saw in the previous lesson.

Then, explain to students that they will be creating a model of the solar system to scale with partners in their class.

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Building Background Knowledge (15 minutes)

Have students choose a partner to work on the solar system scale activity and move spots so they are next to each other.

Pass out the Solar System Sizes and Distances Handout from the resources section.

Walk students through the first couple examples of the table and then provide them with time to complete the rest of the table.

After about 5-10 minutes, call the class back together and verify student responses to ensure all students have the accurate exponential form for each size and distance from the sun of each planet.

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Making Connections (15 minutes)

Ask students why it may be beneficial to make a scale of the solar system.
Explain that students will be creating their own scale of the solar system, choosing either distance of the sun or size of the planets as the scale. Ask students why they think it would be difficult to try to create a model to scale using both measurements (refer back to the two videos students viewed).
Give students time to decide in partners which measurement they will be scaling, either distance from the sun or size of the planets.

For ease sake of planning and supporting students, you can decide ahead of time that the whole class will either create a model to scale with distance OR size as the measurement scaled. It’s up to you and what makes sense for you and your students!

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Independent Work Time (35 minutes)

Provide students with copies of the either NASA’s Planet Size or Planet Distance Chart. Give them time to decide what scale they will be using and to complete the rest of the chart.
Have students show you their completed charts so you can check for accuracy before they begin working on the solar system models.
Once you have verified students math computations, allow them to begin building their solar system models.

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Debrief/Assessment (5 minutes)

The Solar System Distance and Size Handout and the Planet Distance and Planet Size Charts serve as assessment opportunities.

Student completion of the solar system models and documentation of the scale used, along with the math computations, also serve as an assessment.

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Differentiation

Pull small groups of students to work through math computations with them.

Circulate around the room while students are constructing their models to support students with utilizing measuring time, rulers, etc…to ensure they are using the tools correctly.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Have students utilize the NASA trading cards in the resources section as an extension and enrichment opportunity.

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Resources

NASA Make a Scale Solar System Lesson Plan Overview and links to Planet Size and Planet Distance ChARTS

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/make-a-scale-solar-system/#:~:text=Choose%20the%20size%20(diameter)%20you,scale%20size%20of%20each%20planet.

Solar System Sizes and Distances Lesson Handout

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I0TTesKr0zIs_-yXj-fQsrufioDAv7B5tboZ9JhbII0/edit?usp=sharing

Solar System Size and Distance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMZ5WFRbSTc

To Scale Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR3Igc3Rhfg&t=329s

NASA Trading Cards:

https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Solar_System_Trading_Cards_Complete_Set.pdf

Lesson 1 of 2:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eIAl6UiQ8BiVtcAlRAwfchNcVoOey3Z9/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106372183335554431242&rtpof=true&sd=true