planet research project 3rd grade

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Planet Research Project

Student Instructions

Teacher Notes (not visible to students)

The students will use the planet Choice Board to select a planet to research. I am using EPIC books as the online tool for students to use for research. The planets on the choice board are linked to the EPIC collections. If you want students to use different sources than EPIC, you can change those out according to your preferences. Please note: The Choice Board is editable and the link is provided below. Planet Choice Board (Make a Copy to Edit) --> https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oHRWsFDXMLVzqOA5Jevvxw2MipoBQ7yYyT640zPIUio/copy Seesaw Planet Google Slide Template (Make a Copy to Edit)--> https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17h-oVUWcDvBcRzEx5ocfJ7WV1V_AcFWN3aU7Am9QUgU/copy 💥💥After completing the activity, print the student QR codes to post outside your classroom.💥💥 4.E.3A. Conceptual Understanding: Astronomy is the study of objects in our solar system and beyond. A solar system includes a sun, (star), and all other objects that orbit that sun. Planets in our night sky change positions and are not always visible from Earth as they orbit our Sun. Stars that are beyond the solar system can be seen in the night sky in patterns called constellations. Constellations can be used for navigation and appear to move together across the sky because of Earth’s rotation. Performance Indicators: Students who demonstrate this understanding can: 4.E.3A.1 Develop and use models of Earth’s solar system to exemplify the location and order of the planets as they orbit the Sun and the main composition (rock or gas) of the planets. Here are the graphics. --> https://www.canva.com/design/DAEuPOGID4c/wiicihYSX-vHN-HDJ4vnag/view?utm_content=DAEuPOGID4c&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton&mode=preview Here are the planet icons. --> https://www.canva.com/design/DAEulrgqHjM/rg-YszuHEMVbWNtGRwU5Zw/view?utm_content=DAEulrgqHjM&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton&mode=preview

Solar System

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Planet Research Project

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• EPUB 3 Student View
• PDF Student View
• Thin Common Cartridge
• Thin Common Cartridge Student View
• SCORM Package
• SCORM Package Student View
• 1 - Summary
• 2 - Background for Teachers
• 3 - Step 1 - Goals and Outcomes
• 4 - Step 2 - Planning Instruction
• 5 - Step 3 - Instruction
• 6 - Step 4 - Assessments
• View all as one page

Third grade students will research to find facts about one of the 8 major planets or Pluto, write an informational paragraph about their planet and create a digital project showcasing their knowledge about their planet. 

2 to 3 weeks

Lessons can be synchronous, asynchronous, face-to-face or virtual.

Background for Teachers

Before teaching this lesson:

• Teachers will need to collect resources or be familiar with appropriate websites for researching planets for third graders (See Utah's Online Library suggested link below).  
• Teachers will need to have a knowledge of Apple Keynote or other digital resource for students to create their digital project. 
• Apple teacher learning center  Apple Teacher Learning Center
• Gale in Context Elementary is a terrific site for students to research their planet. 
• World Book Online   The kids section is excellent. 

Step 1 - Goals and Outcomes

Learning Intentions:

• Students will be able to research and find facts about a planet and organize those findings to share with others. 

Success Criteria:

• Students will be able to organize their reserach into an information paragraph about their planet.
• Students will be able to create a digital project to showcase their research findings about their planet. 

Step 2 - Planning Instruction

Student Background Knowledge

• Prior to this lesson, students will need to have an understanding of fact and opinion.
• Prior to this lesson, students will need to know how to organize an informational paragraph. 

Strategies for Diverse Learners

A Keynote template could already be set up so that the students could just enter their planet information. Students could also be grouped in pairs or students could work with an aid to research and find information. Students could also be given a scafolded graphic organizer for the informational paragraph with fill in the blank. 

Step 3 - Instruction

• Students will choose one of the eight major planets or Pluto.
• Students will read a handout on their planet, check out books about their planet from the library and use the Utah Online Library resources below to collect facts about their planet.
• Students will fill out the graphic organizer about their planet. (See attached Planet Research Outline)
• Students will write an informational paragraph about their planet including topic and concluding sentences. 
• Handouts for students to read about their planet. I used a solar system unit from Teachers Pay Teachers:  Space, Solar Systems, Planets and Earth Primary Grades
• Planet Research Outline
• Example of a Keynote created about a planet:  See the attachment below.
• Utah's Online Library - Gale in Context Elementary
• Utah's Online LIbrary - World Book Online

Attached Resources

Facts about Neptune  

File size 5.6 MB

Step 4 - Assessments

The main assessment for this lesson will be using the rubric below at the end of the project. However, ongoing assessments during the project will be:

• Checking the informational paragraph with the Informative Writing Rubric .
• Graphic Organizer and Oral feedback as the students are gathering their research and filling out their Planet Research Outline. 
• Student self-reflection on their own writing with the writing rubric and on their Keynote. 
• Presentation of their project on the SMART board at the end of the project to the class. 

Use the following Rubric to grade the finished project:

Keynote on Planet Rubric                                                          

Solar System Projects for the Third Grade

Third grade solar system projects.

For elementary school students, science education and science projects can be the most fun and most rewarding part of their school day. Units on ecology, electricity, weather and animals are just a few of the science topics included in the curriculum. Another important topic is the solar system, and many classes also do solar system projects. There are a number of project ideas to help third graders learn about the solar system and to have fun while doing it.

Most classes have a solar system unit in their science activities or science unit plans, and many of these solar system project ideas can include solar system facts as well as science experiments using playdough, popsicle sticks, construction paper, bottle caps, worksheets and astronaut figures. Each planet project can be made uniquely, using moon phases in lessons with other out of this world designs. These projects can also be used at high school and homeschool levels for different types of learners.

By learning about the Earth and the surrounding planets, like Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Venus, Uranus, and the debated Pluto, 3rd grade students, as well as 2nd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade students, can use solar system models to see interactive ways that the plants can aligns and rotate. Having their own solar system by using DIY lesson plans, elementary and middle school students can engage in solar system activities and art projects for higher learning in fun science. Different grade levels can use these solar models for different reasons, like a first grade class learning the names of the different planets.

One of the most popular solar system projects is building a model version of the solar system. One way of doing this is to paint Styrofoam balls to represent the planets, then attach them with wire to one large Styrofoam ball in the middle, representing the sun. Another way is to create a model to scale on a football field, using an orange as the sun and calculating the distance of the other planets.

Cardboard Sun Hole

A cardboard sun hole is a simple way to demonstrate the power of the sun's rays. You'll need a thin piece of cardboard, a piece of paper and a pen. Use the pen to punch a hole in the cardboard, then hold the cardboard over the piece of paper in direct sunlight. You will notice a small white circle on the paper--an upside-down image of the sun. Move the cardboard forward or back to focus the circle. If a cloud passes over the sun, its shadow will cross the page in the opposite direction.

Mars Vacation

This is a fun research project to help third graders learn about the planets. Pretend that you are going to take a vacation, only to Mars instead of Hawaii or Florida. Have the students imagine what it would be like to be there, what they would see and do, what they would need to bring with them, and so on. Research facts on the planet Mars, then have the children write a story or travelogue about their trip.

Solar System Kit

There are a number of fun solar system assembly kits available online at amazon.com and other sellers. One of these kits is the glow-in-the-dark "Mega Cosmos" kit, which contains glow-in-the dark stars, as well as nine planets for the solar system. This and other kits can be assembled by third graders, either alone or with the help of an adult. Solar system kits come in two- and three-dimensional versions. There are also star ceiling kits, which have glow-in-the-dark star stickers to put on the ceiling.

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Kevin Blankinship began writing professionally in 2010. His work is featured online, focusing on business, technology, physical fitness, education and religion. Blankinship holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in comparative literature and is pursuing a doctorate in Arabic language and literature from the University of Chicago.

Planets and Solar System | Research Report

Grade 3, 4, 5, 6

About This Product

Engage your students with this fun, comprehensive, 43 page resource to help your students produce a research report on Planets and the Solar System. Our packet contains templates, organizers, and tools to help students create, develop, write, edit, illustrate, present, and assess their planet research report.

Students will stay engaged and focused and will be able to communicate or "show what they know" about planets and the solar system.This report (or performance task) is also designed to not only to learn and explain the new information, but answer some higher level thinking questions (Common Core Essential Questions) to apply the knowledge they have learned.

Our resource is designed to have your students choose one planet to research and complete this report. You can decide whether or not to include Pluto as a dwarf planet, a planet, or omit depending on your current research.

A simple rubric and student checklist is included. You can also add to this report by asking your students to do a model, a large cookie, or a large poster to accompany this report (this would be appropriate also if you are using this as a performance task).

You can use this report template in its entirety, or “pick and choose” the questions that you wish to use and tailor it to your students’ needs. This package contains the following planet report elements:

1. Title Page- Templates Provided-Topic, student’s name, and teacher’s name) We

created gray-scale version if you can’t copy in color.

2. What is your planet and why did you choose it?

3. What does your planet’s name mean and who discovered your planet?

4. What number is your planet and how far is it from the sun (its position in the

solar system) and how many moons does it have?

5. How long does it take your planet to travel around the sun (orbit) and what is

your planet’s size?

6. Describe what is your planet made, what is its temperature, and what does it

7. What if anything lives on your planet?

8. What are some interesting facts about your planet?

9. Compare and contrast your planet with another planet that interests you. What

are their similarities and differences?

10. If you were to live on your planet, what would you need in order to live there

successfully?

11. How long would it take astronauts to travel to your planet and what would they

need to take with them to travel comfortably there?

12. Illustrate your planet by itself.

13. Illustrate the solar system and put an arrow pointing to your planet.

14. Blank paper to add to any of the questions if more room is needed.

15. Additional Information page for any other facts not discussed in other areas of

the report if needed.

16. Ideas on how to research your report

17. Note taking bullet form template

18. Note taking lined form template

19. Resource pages and Bibliography Template

20. Student Checklist for editing and revising

21. Rubric for Performance Task Assessment

22. Common Core ELA Standard

23. Teacher Notes

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1 PDF file.

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