Introduction
What do you see when you look up in the sky at night? Billions upon billions of shining objects vastly spread across the sky. Astronomers used to believe that Earth was the center of our solar system until other astronomers debunked that theory and proved that the sun is the center of our solar system. But with the advancement of technology and modern physics, the solar system is more expansive and more mysterious than we know. We have also learned that Earth may not be the only solid object in the solar system that is habitable. A few planets have some criteria of possible life forms or habitability the planet and even a few moons. During the unit, students will have the opportunity to learn the order of the solar system, explore the physical compositions of planets, and learn how astronomers detect and calculate the distance between celestial objects. Students will also have the opportunity to what an exoplanet is and how they are categorized.
Demographics
This unit is intended for 5th-grade students at Cleveland Elementary School and 5th-grade teachers utilizing Next Generation Science Standards. Cleveland Elementary lies in the heart of the Shaw/Howard District of Washington D.C. Cleveland has a dual language/immersion program. We served students from pre-K3˗5th grade. Cleveland is a Title 1 school that provides free or reduced lunch to 99% of the students. The total enrollment for Cleveland fluctuates between 290 and 315 students. Many of the students are African American (55%) Hispanic/Latino (29%), White/ Non-Hispanic (9%), and less than 7% represented by Asian and Native American students. My school believes in the holistic approach when educating a child. We offer art, music, science, library, and physical education for every child throughout the school year. Cleveland Elementary is a part of Cluster V in DCPS.
Rationale
My reason for creating this unit is that the science standards and content background have become stagnant. Teachers are not receiving updates on discoveries, and teachers are, therefore, left with executing the same unit every year or left with the absence of pedagogy for the content. The standards I was taught about our solar system as a child seem to resemble the same standards for our 21st-century learners. As astronomers find learn new information about the solar system teachers should be privy to that information. Teachers must be provided this content so that we can spark the curiosity of our students and plant the seed for the next generation of astronomers and scientists. For the longest time, my peers and I believed that the reach of our solar system stopped at Pluto when it was considered a planet. I want to expose my students to a solar system that expands beyond our reach and a galaxy that expands even beyond and introduce scientific vocabulary. As humans, we get self-absorbed thinking the world revolves around us. But we are insignificant in comparison to the thousands of galaxies in the universe. I want my students to know that there are planets different from our own that can harbor life. I want my students to expand their knowledge when it comes to space and broaden their perspective as an adult, I did not think that was possible. Students are always curious about space because it is a subject that we know little about. With science fiction being a popular genre in movies, students wonder about aliens, doppelgangers, and if there are possibilities to live on another planet.
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