Title: Exploring the Solar System

Grade Level: 8th Grade

Objective: Students will be able to identify and describe the characteristics of the eight planets in the solar system, as well as the sun and other celestial bodies.

Materials: - Solar System poster or diagram - Textbooks or online resources - Paper and pencils - Colored pencils or markers - Computer or tablet with internet access

Procedure:

Introduction (10 minutes): 1. Begin by asking students what they know about the solar system. Write their responses on the board. 2. Show the students a poster or diagram of the solar system and ask them to identify the planets. 3. Explain that today’s lesson will focus on exploring the characteristics of each planet in the solar system.

Activity 1: Researching the Planets (30 minutes): 1. Divide the class into groups of four or five. 2. Assign each group a planet to research (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune). 3. Provide textbooks or online resources for the students to use. 4. Instruct the students to research the following information about their planet: size, distance from the sun, number of moons, atmosphere, temperature, and any other interesting facts. 5. Have the students record their findings on a piece of paper.

Activity 2: Creating Planet Posters (30 minutes): 1. Provide each group with a large piece of paper and colored pencils or markers. 2. Instruct the students to create a poster for their planet that includes a picture, the planet’s name, and the information they researched. 3. Encourage the students to be creative and make their posters visually appealing.

Activity 3: Presenting Planet Posters (20 minutes): 1. Have each group present their planet poster to the class. 2. As each group presents, ask the other students to take notes on the information presented. 3. After each presentation, ask the class if they have any questions or comments about the planet.

Conclusion (10 minutes): 1. Review the characteristics of each planet in the solar system. 2. Ask the students to share one thing they learned about the solar system today. 3. Encourage the students to continue exploring the solar system on their own.

Assessment: Students will be assessed on their participation in the group research and poster creation, as well as their ability to present their findings to the class. Additionally, the teacher can assess the students’ understanding of the characteristics of each planet through their notes and participation in class discussion.