MS-ESS1-2 The Solar System Lab

Description

MS-ESS1-2 The Solar System Lab Preview

SNAPs Lab Stations Activities require students to use science, math, literacy, problem-solving and engineering skills. They are designed to enhance students’ understanding of scientific concepts and help students apply scientific ideas to the real world. Each station activity promotes skills so to develop students into proficient and competent scientific thinkers.

SNAPs lab activities have five components:
• Science Skills Station to develop science skill proficiency
• Narrative Station to build science literacy
• Assessment Station to evaluate learning and understanding
• Problem-Solving Station to foster engineering design
• Synthesis Station and Project to inspire higher-order learning

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DIGITAL LABORATORY – DISTANCE LEARNING & DIGITAL CLASSROOMS
• This lab is offered in a digital format to support digital classrooms & distance learning.
• The digital lab activity is designed to work with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint
• The digital lab activity CANNOT be edited. However:
– Students can manipulate text boxes
– Students can create tables, graphs and diagrams
– Students can insert images and drawings

GOOGLE FORM ASSESSMENT STATION
• The assessment station is offered as a self-grading Google Form.
• Questions are all short answer and are 100% editable.
• Suggestions for use are included in the download.

DISTANCE LEARNING COMPATIBILITY
SNAPs lab activities are rated for their ease with distance – independent learning. Refer to the preview for more information about how well this laboratory works in a fully digital classroom and with distance learning.

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EDITABLE DOCUMENTS
This download includes an editable word document (docx file) of all lab components:
• Pre-Lab and Post-Lab Activities
• The Lab Overview
• Lab Station Activities and Questions
• Directed Synthesis Project (when applicable)

Important Notes:
• Diagrams, illustrations, tables and graphs essential to lab activities are included
• Illustrative clipart is NOT included
• Editable documents and rubrics are included with the FREE SNAPs Setup Guide

Editable files allow you to:
• Edit the scope of the activities so to suit your students’ needs
• Edit the materials required based on resource availability
• Create single-period “mini-labs” using activities at the individual skills stations

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The activities at each station in this lab are detailed below.

The Solar System Lab Stations Activity Learning Objectives
1. Identify and describe the eight planets of the solar system.
2. Use a computer model to study the planets, moons and other celestial objects of the solar system.
3. Compare and contrast features of the inner terrestrial and outer Jovian planets.
4. Build and evaluate a model of our solar system.
5. Use a model to describe the role of gravity in the orbital motion of objects in our solar system.
6. Use a model to describe the relationship between our solar system, other solar systems in our galaxy, our galaxy and other galaxies in the universe.

Science Skills Station
Students will use a computer model – “NASA Eyes” – to study the planets, moons and other celestial objects of the solar system. Students will manipulate the computer model to make observations of the planets and to study features – such as mass, diameter and number of moons – of the planets. Students will also use the program to describe the relative position of the planets, the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt.

Narrative Station
Students will watch two videos about the planets of the solar system at this station. In the first video, students will watch a video about the weather conditions on the inner terrestrial planets. In the second video, students will watch a video about the weather conditions on the outer Jovian planets.

Assessment Station
At this station, students will answer questions about key terms and ideas relating to our solar system. Students must employ lower, mid and higher order thinking skills to answer these questions.

Problem-Solving Station
Students will construct a model of the solar system at this station. The model will scale the size of and distance between the eight planets of the solar system. Students will compare the model to a computer model that takes you on a “tour” of the universe – what we know exists and what we think exists beyond what we know.

Synthesis Station
Students will compose a CER (claim-evidence-reasoning) report to summarize the lab. Students are provided the claim statement and must support the claim with observations, data and other information gathered in the lab. Students will explain how the evidence supports the claim using scientific reasoning.

Synthesis Project
Students will have a choice of 11 projects. Refer to the SNAPs Lab Stations Best Practices and Setup Guide for directions and suggestions on how to conduct the project.

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This download includes:
• A pre-lab assignment and post-lab reflection
• Directions and questions for each lab station
• Student recording sheets
• Teacher Key

Additional Materials Required:
3 Computers or tablets
2 sets of colored pencils
Scissors
String or yarn (2 meters per student)
Tape
Glue stick
Meter stick

LINKS TO VIDEOS
This laboratory requires internet to access videos. Videos are hosted on SafeShare.TV so to safely watch and share educational YouTube videos without ads, comments and other distractions. Shortened and full link(s) to SafeShare.TV included. Full link to original YouTube video(s) included.

NASA EYES
The science skills station requires a computer or tablet with “NASA Eyes” installed. To make sure you can install this program, go to https://eyes.nasa.gov. If you cannot install the program, students can complete the activities at the station using the NASA Solar System Exploration website.

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS
This laboratory satisfies NGSS MS-ESS1-2. It combines the three dimensions of science learning – science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts – to meet the standard. This lab also makes interdisciplinary connections to STEM, Math CCSS and ELA CCSS to build the appropriate skills.

TERMS OF USE
• All rights reserved by Stephanie Elkowitz.
• This product is to be used by the original purchaser only.
• Intended for classroom and personal use only.
• Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited.
• This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view.
• Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).