Lesson Plan Ideas
The teacher may want to use this web site as a general introduction to a unit on the Solar System. The site could be used across the curriculum. Following are some ideas and suggestions that a teacher make like to use.
Math
The class may be studying how to calculate distance. The teacher could have them calculate the distance that each planet is from the sun. They could use the distances listed on the various web pages to come up with a formula.
A teacher may have the class calculate the amount of time that it takes to get to the different planets from the sun. they could come up with this calculation their selves or the teacher can have one for them.
In the younger grades the web page could be used to learn addition and subtraction. The students could calculate how much further one planet is from the sun than another. They may want to do this with the different amounts of rings on some of the planets.
In the older grades the teacher could discuss the different surface areas of the planets and discuss with the students how to calculate surface area. The web site would be used as an introduction to that.
Using the rotational period from the charts on the site a teacher may discuss how long a day is on the different planets in comparison to Earth. this could go farther into weeks, months and years.
Science
Using the web site as an introduction a teacher can do a great deal.
The class could be studying the equipment that is used in space. The teacher could use the web site as a general overview of the different planets and then take the students to different sites on the web such as NASA and show them the equipment that is used.
The students could be testing different gases in science and the teacher could relate them to the different ones in the solar system.
The students could do experiments with different temperatures this can be related with the different temperatures in the solar system.
At the end of a unit and after great discussion the students may be asked to create their own life-sustaining planet. They must keep in mind the variables that allow us as humans to live on Earth. Before hand they could discuss the difference between active and inactive planets.
Social Studies
Discuss the evolution of how the different planets received their names. The students could discuss how they received their names.
Have the students choose one planet to write a report on in the solar system. They may do this in partners, groups or individually.
Have the students do a presentation on the planets from their report. They may use the web site as an introduction to show a picture of the planet they are presenting on.
Information Technology
Different tools that a teacher may have the students use in the classroom pertaining to the ideas listed above.
The students may use spreadsheets to record data about the planets and then make graphs from that. They may also record information in a database.
The teacher could have the students write-up their reports on a word processor to make use of the computers in the schools.
When doing presentations the students may want to use Power Point or Claris Slide Show to show the class their information.