The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

An Introduction to the Scale of the Solar System: Lesson 1 of 2

An Introduction to the Scale of the Solar System: Lesson 1 of 2

A 5th and 6th grade STEM lesson

Chloe de Masi

January 20th, 2024

Purpose

• This lesson serves as visual example of the concept of exponents and how scientific notation is utilized in science. Additionally, students will utilize scientific notation to measure distance of planets from the sun as an introductory lesson to Specifically, students will be analyzing how scientific notation can be utilized to measure distance of planets from the sun.

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• Students should have been previously taught lessons about how to write numbers in scientific notation/exponential form.
• Students should have basic knowledge of the solar system and planets in the relation to the sun.

Background Knowledge

Notes for teachers

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• Context: This is a two part lesson that takes place in a classroom for one hour per lesson.
• The teacher will utilize the book Millions, Billions, and Trillions: Understanding Big Numbers by David A. Adler as a read aloud to visually show how large numbers are written.
• After reading the book aloud, students will brainstorm ways they think scientific notation may be utilized.
• Then, students will utilize scientific notation to measure the distance of planets from the sun.
• Students will be working in groups of 2-4.
• Creative solutions should be encouraged
• Facilitate student reflection

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List of Materials

• Millions, Billions, and Trillions: Understanding Big Numbers by David A. Adler book or read aloud video provided in resources slide
• Paper and pencil
• KWL Chart copies for students
• Vocabulary Wall
• ¼ cup sugar
• Black construction paper

Vocabulary

• million
• billion
• trillion
• exponent

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.

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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ELA

Standards

5-6.RI.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.

5-6.RI.2 Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgements.

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.

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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.

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

6th Grade Math

Standards

Agenda

Background Knowledge/Vocabulary Review (10 minutes)

Read Aloud (10 minutes)

Connection to Exponents (15 minutes)

Introduction to Solar System Connection (5 minutes)

Explore (15 minutes)

Debrief (5 minutes)

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Background Knowledge (5 minutes)

• Ask students where they have seen the numbers million, billion, and trillion used before to explain how much of something there is. Then, ask students where they have seen exponents used as a measurement.
• Record student responses on the whiteboard.

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Vocabulary (5 minutes)

Review the following vocabulary with students:

• million
• billion
• trillion
• exponent

Read Aloud (10 minutes)

• Explain to students that you will be reading them a book about big numbers and while you are reading, their job is to record all the numbers they see or hear in their notebooks/ a sheet of paper using standard form. Provide an example, saying if they see “7 million” written in the book, they need to write it down as “7,000,000”.
• Read the book aloud to students. When you get to the second page, take the ¼ cup of sugar and black construction paper and show to students the visual of a million, just as the book does.

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Connection to Exponents (15 minutes)

• Ask students what is was like trying to record all the numbers in standard form. Then, ask students if there is another way they could have written the numbers (word form, expanded, form, etc…).
• If no students share scientific/exponential notation, remind them that is another form of writing a number.
• Then, provide them a few minutes to write as many numbers as they wrote down on their paper in exponential notation. This can be done in partners.
• Have students share out and record responses on the whiteboard.
• Give students a few more minutes in partners to brainstorm any additional ways they have seen millions, billions, trillions, and exponents used. Have students share out and record additional responses on the whiteboard where you recorded students initial examples before the read aloud.

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Introduction to Solar System Connection (5 minutes)

• Explain to students that they will be taking what they know about numbers, exponents and ratios and proportions and relating it to the scale of the solar system.
• Provide students a few minutes to fill out the “K” and “W” part of their K-W-L Chart, writing what they know and want to know about the location, size, and relationship of planets in our solar system.
• Ask students to share out their thoughts and record it on a KWL chart on the whiteboard.

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Explore (15 minutes)

Watch the video with the students. Once you have finished watching the video, ask students to complete the “L” section of their KWL Chart and share in partners, then out to the whole class what they learned and their initial thoughts on the video.

Debrief/Assessment (5 minutes)

Put students in groups of 4-5 and ask them the following questions, providing time for them to share together. Circulate the room to listen to student responses and check for understanding as an informal assessment. This can also be done as a written response to get a more accurate depiction of individual student understanding.

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1. What math concepts do you think the creators of the video had to utilize to be successful in creating an accurate scale of the solar system?
2. Why do you think the creators of the video were interested in making the video?
3. Why is it important to know where the Sun, Moon, Earth and other planets in our solar system are located in relation to one another?

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Differentiation

Students can work in partners to write the numbers during the read aloud and to complete the KWL chart.

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Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Have students further research facts about the solar system and generate a list of facts utilizing exponential form or ratios/proportions as much as possible.

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Resources

Millions, Billions, and Trillions: Understanding Big Numbers by David A. Adler Read Aloud Video

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_PLHQnM6zs

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KWL Chart:

https://www.readwritethink.org/sites/default/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson924/kwl.pdf

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To Scale Video:

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

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