"Exploring Space Using the Multiple Intelligences"

by Sara Stoskopf

Brief Description:

The lesson plan that I am using comes from the Exploring Space Unit.  I have taken each topic that is outlined in the book and used different activities to highlight Gardner’s intelligences.  The intelligences used are logical/mathematical, interpersonal, spatial, and verbal/linguistic.  What I have seen is that students learn the information more quickly than if it was just read out of the book during class.  Students love this activity because it allows them to really see how big outer space really is.

 State Standard:

My lesson plan follows state standard E.8.7.  Describe the general structure of the solar system, galaxies, and the universe, explaining the nature of the evidence used to develop current models of the universe. 

Objective:

Students will formulate a model of the solar system to compare and contrast distances from other planets and the sun.

Cognitive Domain:

This lesson relates to the cognitive domain because students are using measurement to understand distances related to space and how large it is.

 Groupings:

Students will work in groups of 2 or 3.

 Materials per group:

1.        25 – meter piece of string

2.        Meter stick

3.        Masking tape

Procedures:

1.        Mark the string at one end of the piece of string with masking tape and label SUN.

2.        Measure from the SUN along the string 25 cm.  Mark this point with tape and write MERCURY on it.

3.        Measure from the SUN along the string 50 cm.  Mark this point with tape and write VENUS on it.

4.        Using the following information, keep measuring along the string and using the tape to label the planets.  Make each measurement from the SUN.

Earth – 55 cm

Mars – 1 m

Jupiter – 3.5 m

Saturn – 6 m

Uranus – 12 m

Neptune – 19.5 m

Uranus – 25 m

Evaluations:

What Happened?

1.        Which two planets are the closest to each other?

2.        Which planet is about halfway between the sun and Pluto?

What now? 

1.        How could you reduce the model’s size to fit into your classroom?

2.        Use a calculator to figure out how many times farther it is from the sun to Pluto than it is from the sun to Earth.

(Convert all measurements to cm.  Then divide the sun-to-Pluto distance by the sun-to-Earth distance.)

3.        Write the names of the planets in the order they are from the sun.

 MacMillan / McGraw-Hill Publishing Company