Eclipse Lesson Plan: Earth’s Place in the Universe
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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Eclipse, and supports the standard of analyzing the Earth-Sun-Moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of Sun and Moon eclipses. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.
Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Display an image of a solar eclipse, such as the one shown below:
Ask students:
- What do you observe about the image?
- Do you know what it is called when the Moon blocks the Sun? Explain.
Step 2: BUILD BACKGROUND
- Read the description on the Eclipse topic page.
- Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding.
- Have students read one of the three Related Reading articles. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.
Step 3: ENGAGE
Students express what they learned about eclipses while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs
- Make-a-Movie: Create a video journal from the perspective of an astrologist viewing a lunar or solar eclipse. Describe your observations and what you can infer about the Earth-Sun-Moon positions. (Essential Literacy Skill: Cite evidence to support analysis of what is explicitly said as well as inferences drawn)
- Make-a-Map: Make a cycle map identifying and explaining the Earth-Sun-Moon positions leading up to and following a solar and moon eclipse. (Essential Literacy Skill: Determine central ideas and summarize key details)
- Creative Coding: Code a newscast about an upcoming solar eclipse. Share details about how to safely view the event. (Essential Literacy Skill: Determine central ideas and summarize key details)
- Primary Source Activity: Examine and analyze an image of a solar eclipse. (Essential Literacy Skill: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media)
Step 4: APPLY & ASSESS
Apply: Students take the Eclipse Challenge, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.
Assess: Wrap up the lesson with the Eclipse Quiz.
Step 5: EXTEND LEARNING
Space Unit: Continue to build understanding around Earth’s place in the universe by exploring more BrainPOP space topics.
Additional Support Resources:
- Pause Point Overview: Video tutorial showing how BrainPOP Pause Points actively engage students to stop, think, and express ideas.
- Modifications for BrainPOP Tools and Features: Strategies to meet ELL and other instructional and student needs.
- BrainPOP Tools and Features Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.