Details
Pages
14 Pages
Subject
Science, Earth Science, Astronomy
Product
Digital
Grade
5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Resource Type
Activities, Assignments, Simulations
Description
This resource is my 4 page (2 page printed duplex) inquiry based resource that walks students through an interactive online activity investigating the orbit of the Earth and Moon around the Sun, and what would happen if variables such as size and gravity were changed. This resource follows along with PhET Gravity and Orbits simulation website* found here and covers the following topics:
Earth's orbit around the Sun
Earth's orbital path
Moon's orbit around the Earth
How mass affects gravity
The goal of the activity is to have students explore how variables such as a star's mass can affect the orbit of a planet.
*Note: please make sure the website is accessible and loads properly on your computer before purchasing.
Format of Questions:
Explanation
Fill in the blank
True/False
Drawing
How can I utilize this resource in my classroom?
This resource can be used as a webquest, assessment, sub activity or worksheet. Comes in a Word document for easy editing and a pdf copy. Includes answer key. I created a demo version and a student led version.
Differentiated Versions
Version 1 Demo: The demo version has less graphics, it was used in a way where I displayed the simulation on the Smart board for the entire class and walked the students through it as a whole group while they answered the questions in the packet. This was used for my EL and SPED classes.
Version 2 Student Led: This version has the extra graphics necessary for them to walk through this lab on their own and at their own pace. I used this with my honors classes but can be used with most classes where students can follow written directions on their own.
Note: this resource is in a zip file. Some computers may need a program such as Winzip to open these types of compression files.
Earth's orbit around the Sun
Earth's orbital path
Moon's orbit around the Earth
How mass affects gravity
The goal of the activity is to have students explore how variables such as a star's mass can affect the orbit of a planet.
*Note: please make sure the website is accessible and loads properly on your computer before purchasing.
Format of Questions:
Explanation
Fill in the blank
True/False
Drawing
How can I utilize this resource in my classroom?
This resource can be used as a webquest, assessment, sub activity or worksheet. Comes in a Word document for easy editing and a pdf copy. Includes answer key. I created a demo version and a student led version.
Differentiated Versions
Version 1 Demo: The demo version has less graphics, it was used in a way where I displayed the simulation on the Smart board for the entire class and walked the students through it as a whole group while they answered the questions in the packet. This was used for my EL and SPED classes.
Version 2 Student Led: This version has the extra graphics necessary for them to walk through this lab on their own and at their own pace. I used this with my honors classes but can be used with most classes where students can follow written directions on their own.
Note: this resource is in a zip file. Some computers may need a program such as Winzip to open these types of compression files.
This resource is my 4 page (2 page printed duplex) inquiry based resource that walks students through an interactive online activity investigating the orbit of the Earth and Moon around the Sun, and what would happen if variables such as... more
3.0 (1) | @scienceteacher 
