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Lesson Plan: Comet Facts, Myths, and Legends

Annie Campbell

Grades 3rd - 6th

Goals/Purpose: Students will explore some facts, myths and legends linked to comets.

Integrated Disciplines: Science, Technology

Standards:

      8.5.3 By the end of eighth grade, students will develop an understanding of the earth in the solar system.

Example indicators:

            • Investigate and list the components of the solar system.

            • Investigate and describe the motion of objects in the solar system that support the concepts of day, year, eclipses, and phases of the moon.

            • Investigate and describe the influence of gravity on objects in the solar system.

            • Investigate and describe the sun as the major source of energy that influences the atmosphere and the earth’s surface.

            • Investigate and describe the effect of the tilt of the earth’s axis on seasons.

      Nebraska Science Standards – Page 11

      8.6.2 By the end of eighth grade, students will develop an understanding of science and technology.

Example indicators:

            • Distinguish between scientific inquiry (asking questions about the natural world) and technological design (using science to solve practical problems).

            • Describe how science and technology are reciprocal.

            • Assess the avoidable and unavoidable limits of a technological design.

            • Recognize that solutions have intended and unintended consequences.

Teachers demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology (as described in ISTE 's Technology Standards for Students).

Teachers demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies.

Teachers plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.

 

 

 

Objectives:

        Identify one fact, legend and/or myth associated with comets.

        Identify a property of comets and explain how that property makes comets visible.

        Describe the path of a comet and explain how this affects its reappearance.

Materials:

      This activity requires a computer with color monitor and Internet connection. The Web browser must be capable of running Netscape’s Navigator 3.0 or better or Internet Explorer 4.0 or better. Science background pages and reproducible (attached).

Anticipatory Set:

      Discuss the components of the solar system: planets (name them), moons, asteroids, comets, and the Sun. Understand the differences among a fact, myth and legend.

What teacher is to do:

        Provide time to download computer software to support the lesson.

        Allow time to preview the activity and to read the science background pages.

        Distribute Reproducible 1, General Comet Misconceptions and Reproducible 2, Vocabulary (attached).

        Students may work in groups of two or three, or individually.

Special Needs: Accommodations will be made for any special needs

Procedure/Directions/Closure:

This is a self-directed computer activity. Suggested enhancements:

        Project images of comets from the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Web site onto a screen or television monitor. In a class discussion, ask students to describe what they already know about comets and planets, and what they can learn from these images.

        Organize an informal debate or discussion on the topic "Comet Collisions with Earth: Fact or Myth?"

         

Assessment:

      Share learning outcomes with students ahead of time. Then following the reading, distribute Reproducible 3, Identifying Comets, and Reproducible 4, Truth or Fiction? (attached).

       
      Comets
      Name: ________________________ Teacher: Annie campbell
      Date : ___________________ Title of Work: ___________________
       
      Criteria
      Points
       
      1
      2
      3
      4
      		  
      Identify one fact, legend and/or myth associated with comets.
      Student did not meet any objective.
      Student can identify some limited knowledge about comets.
      Student can identify one aspect of comets.
      Student can name a fact, myth and legend about comets.
      ____
      Identify a property of comets and explain how that property makes comets visible.
      Student is unable to identify any property.
      Student can identify a property.
      Student describes properties and gives explaination that isn't satisfactory.
      Student gives clear explaination of all objectives.
      ____
      Describe that path of a comet and explain how this affects its reappearance.
      Student does not meet any part of the objective.
      Student can limitedly describe a comet's path.
      Student describes the path of a comet but explanation is weak.
      Student meets all objectives.
      ____
       
       
       
       
       
      ____
       
       
       
       
       
      ____
             
      Total---->
      ____
      Teacher Comments:

       

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      References/Resources:

      Scholastic.com

      WebQuest: Planet WebQuest

      Universe Explorer

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