Space

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Authors Janette Ball, Macmerry Primary School, East Lothian

To learn about our Solar System, produce a report of findings and share this information with others.

Objectives

Word, 3rd Base, Images from the Internet, a variety of booksSoftware

Description We worked in groups to find out information about a chosen planet. We used a variety of sources to produce a piece of work with text and graphics about the chosen planet. We then shared this information.

Learning Areas Science - Earth in Space

Reading - Reference Skills

Writing - Producing a Report

Maths - Constructing and Using a Database

Levels Children from 10 to 12 years

Solar System, names of planets, etcKeywords

Project Overview

Space

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Teacher Planning and Management

Background & Planning:

We have a two year planning cycle as I teach a P6/7 class.

Main aim of study: The Solar System

Learning Intentions:

• Pupils will understand meaning of the term “orbit” and the names of the planets.

• Pupils will be able to arrange the planets in order from the Sun.

• Pupils will be able to describe the objects in the Solar System with the greatest gravitational pull.

• Pupils will identify ways in which we find out about space.

We worked in groups of six. The children chose the members of the group and decided which planet they would investigate. They were asked to produce a piece of work about their chosen planet that included text and graphics.

Space

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Teaching ResourcesWe used:

• Project book provided by East Lothian Library Service

• Resources from Macmerry Primary, e.g. Space Posters and food eaten by astronauts

• Renfrewshire Council 5-14 resources

• The Solar System lessons 1 to 4 (Primary Stage 6)

• The Internet

• School Library van

• Two I-books per group

• A Scanner and Art materials

• 3rd Base - a database program

• The Virtual Advisory Service Pilot - we asked about the reasons for Pluto being classified as a dwarf planet.

Student Project Overview:

The children were asked to choose which materials to use to produce a document about a chosen planet. They were also asked to produce and interrogate a database about the planets. They were informed at the start of this project that the work would be shared with others. We sent the completed work to the Planetarium in Edinburgh and published it on the school website and the East Lothian exc-el website.

Space

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Assessment and Standards

1. Pre/Post test:

Name the planets.

What planet is nearest to the Sun ?

What planet is furthest away from the Sun ?

What is gravity ?

What gases are in our atmosphere ?

What can we use nitrogen and oxygen for ?

• Renfrewshire Council 5-14 Science Group

AP6/1, 5-14 Attainment Target C1.1

AP6/2, 5-14 Attainment Target D1.1

AP6/3, 5-14 Attainment Target D2.7

AP6/4, 5-14 Attainment Target C1.2

Space

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Teacher and School Information

Macmerry Primary School is a small, rural school with a total roll of around 100 children. There are 4 classes, and a nursery - a P1/2 class, a P2/3/4 class, a P4/5/6 class, and a P6/7 class. The P6/7 class worked on the project in this presentation and has 25 pupils, 9 in P6, 16 in P7.

Janette Ball

At Macmerry since January 2001

Responsibility for ICT within the school, delivery of ICT in-service within the school in response to the School Development Plan. She has also carried out peer training for neighbouring schools. She is part of the Virtual Advisory Service Pilot and has led the Eco School Meetings for the past three years - the school gained the Green Flag Award in September 2006.

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