Focus: Students will learn Earth, our solar system, our galaxy the Milky Way, and our place in the universe. They will focus on a big vision, that we are part of a large solar system, which lies within in an even larger galaxy that is but one of many millions of galaxies in the universe.
Students will examine the sun and the planets of our solar system. The sun is the closest of all stars to Earth and seems to be the brightest star, but because it is the closest to us. Students use this knowledge to understand apparent and absolute brightness.
Students also focus on:
- shape and motion of Earth
- Earth axis, its tilt, and its rotation around the sun
- Terrestrial, gas, and ice planets
Additionally, students get a chance to learn about the various ways that humans have studied space. The consider engineering design and its contribution to space exploration. Finally, students focus on women who have gone into space, and women whose contributions have made space travel possible.
Number of Lessons: 14
Lesson Time: 30–45 minutes daily. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Please note that certain lessons in this unit are designed for multiple days, resulting in approximately 18 days of instruction. For more information, please refer to the recommended Pacing Guide within the Teacher Guide.
Additional Search Terms:
galaxy • solar system • universe • orbit • Earth’s axis • lunar eclipse • solar eclipse• moon phase • apparent brightness • absolute brightness • light-year • star • gravity • tides • space exploration • nonfiction • informational text
CKSci Grade Levels: CKSci units are correlated to topics at the grade levels specified in the K–5 Core Knowledge Science Sequence.
