Lesson Topic: Our Solar System
Objective:
Students will be able to:
1. Explain the role of gravity in the solar system.
2. Explain the relationship between mass and gravity.
3. Predict the patterns of movement of objects in our solar system.
4. Accurately produce a 2D model of objects with varying masses that illustrates the
relationship between gravity and mass.
Time Required: 85 minutes
Materials Needed:
● Teacher computer with internet access
● Projector/Smartboard
● 1 computer/laptop/iPad/Chromebook per student with internet access or BYOD
(students can Bring Yo
ur Own D
evice)
● Our Solar System and Gravity handout (attached)
● 15 magnets (varying sizes is acceptable and encouraged if magnets are not the same
size)
● A magnetic object, such as a paperclip or the leg of a student’s chair
Teacher Preparation:
● Assign a Legends of Learning Instructional Quick Play playlist for the day(s) you will
be teaching the lesson.
● Instructional - Middle School - Our Solar System
● Assign a Legends of Learning Content Review Quick Play playlist for the day(s) you
will be teaching the lesson.
● Content Review - Middle School - Our Solar System
● Make copies of Our Solar System and Gravity Worksheet (1 per student).
● Gather materials for the Engage portion of the lesson.
1
Engage (15 minutes):
The teacher will show a magnet to the class.
1. The teacher will use the magnet and a paperclip to show that the paper clip is
attracted to the magnet.
a. The teacher will ask, “Is the magnet attracted to the paperclip or is the
paperclip attracted to the magnet?”
i. Allow students time to think before accepting any answers.
ii. Teacher should employ a random way of calling on students if no
volunteers are available.
b. The teacher may guide/prompt students to the understanding that the
paperclip is attracted to the magnet.
c. Using the magnets, and working in pairs or triads, the students should explore
the classroom for other objects that are attracted to the magnet. Ask students to
use different distances between the magnet and the object and to note the
results.
d. Students should also use magnets of two different sizes to observe the results.
e. Once students are done (after 5 minutes), they should reflect (verbally or with
written text) on the following prompts:
i. What types of objects were attracted to the magnet? Were the objects that were
attracted to magnet larger or smaller than the magnet? Is there a relationship between size
and the amount of attractive force?
2. The teacher will say “The activity you just did was modeling gravity. Gravity is a force
of attraction. Why do you think I used a magnet to model gravity?” The teacher
should employ a randomized process for calling on students. Only a couple (1 or 2)
answers should be allowed at this point due to time. The teacher should say,
“Gravity is a force of attraction. Today you will learn how gravity is used to keep
objects in our solar system in constant, predictable patterns of motion, and the
relationship between mass and gravity.”
Explore (20 minutes):
1. Have your students sign in to Legends of Learning. Instruct students to complete the
Instructional playlist.
2. As students complete the assigned game, students should fill out the Our Solar
System and Gravity Handout; question #5 will be done during the Elaborate section of
the 5E.
3. Assist students as needed during game play, pause playlist if you need to address
content or questions to the entire class.
a. The teacher may need to sit with struggling students in a group of no more
than 4 to facilitate learning.
Explain (25 minutes):
1. The teacher will review the answers from the Our Solar System and Gravity handout.
2. The teacher will relate student knowledge to the demonstration at the beginning of
class.
2
3. It is important to remind students: The force of magnetism and gravity are not the
same. However, in order to model the process on a small, observable scale, magnets
were used to model gravity.
a. Why was a magnet used? A magnet was used to simulate a semi attractive
force between objects.
b. What objects in our solar system were being represented by the magnet? Any
object in the solar system that has mass can be represented by the magnet.
c. Why was the paperclip attracted to the magnet? The magnet is bigger than
the paperclip.
d. How does the relationship of size affect gravity? The bigger an object is, and
the more mass it has, the more gravity it will exert on other objects.
e. Why does the larger magnet attract the smaller magnet? The larger magnet
has a larger “force”.
f. Students should be able to answer the following:
○ Why are the planets kept in constant, predictable motion? The Sun’s
gravity.
○ Why do all the planets orbit the Sun? The Sun is the most massive
object in our solar system. Larger objects with more mass will attract
more objects.
Elaborate (10 - 15 minutes):
● Have students watch the video on gravity.
● The teacher can clear up any misconceptions about gravity and mass at this point in
the lesson.
● Students complete question #5 on the Our Solar System and Gravity handout.
Evaluate (10 minutes):
1. Have your students sign in to Legends of Learning. Instruct students to complete the
Content Review playlist.
2. Analyze student results to determine what concepts need to be a focus for reteaching.
Additional Lesson Strategies:
● To use Legends for additional instruction, create a custom playlist with an i nstructional
game and pre and post assessment.
● To use Legends for a quick formative assessment, create a 5-question assessment in
a playlist.
● To use Legends for a student-directed experience, create a targeted freeplay playlist.
● Encourage students to play on their own at home in Legends of Learning: Awakening
for a student-driven experience including avatars, battling, and quests all centered
around topics they are covering in class.
3
Our Solar System and Gravity
Name: _________________________
Directions: While playing the first game in Legends of Learning, use what you learn to
answer the questions below.
1. Label the planets in the correct order. Please note: Image is not to scale.
4
2. What are some of the components of our solar system that astronomers have
Studied? List some in the space provided.
A.
B.
C.
D.
3. What is the relationship between gravity and mass?
A The more mass an object has, the more gravity it will exert on another
object.
B The more mass an object has, the less gravity it will exert on another object.
C The less gravity an object has, the more gravity it will exert on another
object.
D The less gravity an object has, the less gravity it will exert on another
object.
4. If two objects in space are close together, which of the following is true?
A Distance has no effect on gravity.
B The farther apart objects are will cause them to have greater gravity.
C The closer together objects are will cause them to have greater gravity.
D Gravity in space depends on how much light is being emitted from the objects.
This portion should be completed during the Elaborate portion of the 5E lesson.
5. Imagine that the solar system consisted ONLY of Jupiter, Mars, and Earth. How would
Jupiter’s gravity affect the orbits of Mars and Earth? Draw and label your answer
in the space below.
