3rd Grade

Science
The Solar System

Morgan Gillespie






Table of Contents
I. TEKS
a. Science
i. (8) Earth and space. The student knows there are recognizable patterns in the
natural world and among objects in the sky. The student is expected to:
C. Construct models that demonstrate the relationship of the Sun, Earth,
and Moon, including orbits and positions; and
D. Identify the planets in Earths solar system and their position in relation
to the Sun.
b. Math
i. (3.1) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student uses place
value to communicate about increasingly large whole numbers in verbal and
written form, including money. The student is expected to:
A. Use place value to read, write (in symbols and words), and describe the
value of whole numbers through 999,999;
B. Use place value to compare and order whole numbers through 9,999;
c. Social Studies
i. (17) Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skill to organize
and use information acquired from a variety of valid sources, including
electronic technology. The student is expected to:
D. Use various parts of a source, including the table of contents, glossary,
and index as well as keyword Internet searches, to locate information;
II. Reading Strategies
a. Pre-Reading
i. 1. Planetary Match-up
ii. 2. Class Discussion
iii. 3. Vocabulary Previews
b. During Reading
i. 1. Eating in Space
ii. 2. Prediction Relay
iii. 3. Solar System Math
c. After Reading
i. 1. Think-Pair-Share
ii. 2. Reflect and Respond
iii. 3. Summarizing
III. Texts
a. Teachers Edition
i. Science
b. Juvenile Literature
i. Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun
1. Strategy- Planetary Match-up
ii. Is There Life in Outer Space?
1. Strategy- Eating in Space
iii. Night Wonders
1. Strategy- Vocabulary Previews
iv. Space
1. Strategy- Solar System Math
c. Science Fiction
i. Commander Toad in Space
1. Strategy- Class Discussion
ii. Midnight on the Moon
1. Strategy- Summarizing
iii. The Way Back Home
1. Strategy- Prediction Relay
d. Poetry
i. Comets, Stars, The Moon, and Mars
1. Strategy- Reflect and Respond
e. Website
i. http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/psgk3ex.htm
1. Strategy- Think-Pair-Share


Reading Level: 6.5
Interest Level: Grade 3
Readability Formula: Microsoft Word

APA Citation
Daniel, L. H., Hackett, J., Moyer, R. H., Baptiste, H. P., Stryker, P. & Vasquez, J. 2000. Science. New York.
McGraw-Hill.

Summary
With 432 text pages and resource pages this teachers edition textbook is good for helping a teacher
with lessons in and out of the classroom. This book contains pictures and examples that will help
student to see real life applications. This book comes with TAAS objectives, test preparations, and
practice to help students study for standardized testing as well as learn the content.

Text Features
Title Page
Verso Page
Copyright Date
Table of Contents
Headings
Bold Print
Glossary
Index
Sidebars
Captions
Photographs
Labels
Diagrams
Maps
TAAS Objectives

How to use text
This textbook will be used to assist in making lesson plans and allow the teacher to follow along with the
class. This text will help teachers prepare students for standardized testing.




Reading Level: 4.8
Interest Level: Ages 4-9, Grades K-3
Readability Formula: Given

APA Citation
Berkes, M. (2008). Going around the sun: Some planetary fun. Nevada City, CA. Dawn Publications.

Summary
Going around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun teaches children about the Sun and planets rotation around
the sun, as well as other parts of the solar system. This book brings the solar system to life with poems
and facts. This fun filled, non-fiction book gives children the opportunity to explore what is beyond
Earth.

Text Features
End Pages
Title Page
Verso Page
Dedication
Copyright Date
Bold Print
Glossary
Author Notes
About the Author

Strategy
Planetary Match-Up

Discovery Education. (2005). Characteristics of the sun and the moon. Planetary match-up. Retrieved
from http://gtm-media.discoveryeducation.com/videos/teacherCenter/lessonPlans/pdfs/3-
5_Sciece_CharacteristicsOfTheSunAndMoon.pd


How to Use
Begin by asking the students questions about the solar system. Examples: How many planets are
there? Can you name all the planets?
Ask each student to take notes while they watch a short video.
After watching the video have a discussion as a class about what the students learned and
discuss how the game will be played.
Give each student 22 index cards and tell them to write the each planet, the sun, and the moon
on one side of the card. Students should draw or glue pictures of the planet body on the other
side. Then on another card the students will write down two to four facts about that planet
body.
Divide students into groups of three to five students.
One student member of each group will be the leader and will place his or her cards in rows
with the facts and pictures facing up.
The group will work to match each of the cards and the leader will a pull a match when it has
been completed.
Play until every student has been the leader.

















Reading Level: 3.5
Interest Level: Grades K-3
rd

Readability Formula: Given

APA Citation
Branley, F.M. (1984). Is there life in outer space? New York. HaperCollins Publishers.

Summary
Many things live on Earth, including people, animals, and plants. Is it possible that there could be living
people, animals, and plants somewhere else? In this book, scientists explore the solar system by planets
and aspects such as meteors to see if there really is life in outer space.

Text Features
Title Page
Verso Page
Copyright Date
Captions
Photographs
Labels
Diagrams

Strategy
Eating in Space

Discovery Education. (2005). Eating in Space. Eating in space. Retrieved from http://gtm-
media.discoveryeducation.com/videos/teacherCenter/lessonPlans/pdfs/3-5_Science_EatingInSpace.pdf

How to Use
Discuss with students what they know about food astronauts eat in outer space.
Explain that food must be dehydrated (to take the water out) to reduce cargo weight and
preserve the food, but that once in outer space water can be added to back to some.
Have students look on the computer, through magazines and newspapers to make a list of
dehydrated foods they might find in a super market.
Once finished have the students participate in a class discussion about the food they found and
why they think they are dehydrated.



Reading Level: 5.9
Interest Level: Grades K-3
rd

Readability Formula: Given

APA Citation-
Peddicord, J. A. (2005). Night wonders. Massachusetts. Charlesbridge.

Summary
As you shine a light into the night sky is races away at 186,000 miles per second, and once outside of
Earths atmosphere it is traveling among the stars. In this book, children can explore the light as it spins
through our solar system. Close up previews and descriptions will leave you high in the sky or back to
Earth in a matter of seconds.

Text Features
End Pages
Title Page
Verso Page
Dedication
Copyright Date
Glossary
Author Notes
About the Author
Captions
Photographs

Strategy
Vocabulary Previews

Porter, K. (n.d.). Prereading Strategies. Vocabulary Previews. Retrieved from
http://departments.weber.edu/teachall/reading/prereading.html

How to Use
Unfamiliar words need to be taught to students to help before reading. Learning new words can help
students build background information and improve comprehension.
List all words and arrange the words to show the relationships to the learning task.
Ask students to use dictionaries or online resources to find the definitions.
Verbally quiz students on the vocabulary words before reading the book.



Reading Level: 2.9
Interest Level: Grade 3
Readability Formula: Microsoft Word

APA Citation
Osborne, W. & M. P. (2002). Space. New York. Random House Childrens Books.

Summary
In this Magic Tree House Fact Tracker students are able to learn the history and different aspect of
space. This book will help to answer questions such as how far is the moon, what do they eat in space,
and what are meteorites? Students will learn alongside Jack and Annie about how our solar system
works and what kind of things are out there.

Text Features
Title Page
Verso Page
Dedication
Copyright Date
Table of Contents
Bold Print
Index
Introduction
Author Notes
About the Author
Side Bars
Captions
Photographs
Labels
Diagrams

Strategy
Solar System Math

edHelper.com. (n.d.). Solar system math. Solar system: Scientific notation and multiplication math
problems. Retrieved from http://www.edhelper.com/SolarSystem2.htm

How to Use-
Have students solve simple word problems by changing place value either by adding, subtracting,
multiplication, or division to determine the distance of each planet from the sun. Discuss with students
the importance of learning the distances and compare them to the Earth.


Reading Level: 2.2
Interest Level: Ages 7-10
Readability Formula: Microsoft Word

APA Citation
Yolen, J. (1980). Commander toad in space. New York. Coward-McCann, Inc.

Summary
Commander Toad and the crew set off in the Star Warts hoping to take a piece of Earth to another
planet by traveling where no toad has been before. While trying to land on the planet of water
complications arise when someone or something does not want them there. Will Commander Toad and
the crew complete their mission and make it back home or will they be someones lunch?

Text Features
Title Page
Verso Page
Dedication
Copyright Date

Strategy
Class Discussion

Porter, K. (n.d.). Prereading Strategies. Class Discussion. Retrieved from
http://departments.weber.edu/teachall/reading/prereading.html

How to Use
Class discussions serve as a technique to discover more about what students bring to the reading.
Discuss with the class the importance of classroom discussions.
Encourage students to speak aloud about what they think will happen and has happened
throughout the story.






Reading Level: 2.1
Interest Level: Grades 3-5
Readability Formula: Given

APA Citation
Osborne, M. P. (1996). Midnight on the moon. New York. Random House, Inc.

Summary
Jack age 8 and Annie age 7 are brother and sister who just happen to have a magic tree house in their
backyard. When Jack and Annie learn that their friend Morgan is under a spell they must take the magic
tree house along with peanut to moon to find the final clue. Once they arrive at the moon the siblings
learn about oxygen, space suits, and the moon itself. When Jack and decide to explore they meet a
moon man who helps them with the final clue to cure Morgan of the spell.

Text Features
Title Page
Verso Page
Dedication
Copyright Date
Table of Contents
Introduction
About the Author

Strategy
Summarizing

AdLit.org. (2014). Classroom Strategies. Summarizing. Retrieved from
http://www.adlit.org/strategies/21827/

How to Use
Summarizing teaches students how to a large portion of a text and reduce it to the basics.
Read aloud to students.
Then have them write a summary based on the main idea and important details.
Guide students through by teaching them what is necessary and unnecessary for a summary.




Reading Level: 3.1
Interest Level: Grades K- 3
Readability Formula: Given

APA Citation
Jefferes, O. (2007). The way back home. New York. Philomel Books.

Summary
While a boy is cleaning out his closet one day he finds an airplane and decides to take it into flight. After
running out of gas the is stuck on the moon, when suddenly a Martians ship crashes as well. Both work
together to help each other to get back home.

Text Features
End Pages
Title Page
Verso Page
Dedication
Copyright Date
About the Author

Strategy
Prediction Relay

AdLit.org. (2014). Classroom Strategies. Prediction Relay. Retrieved from
http://www.adlit.org/strategies/23276/

How to Use
Break students up into small groups.
Have each student make predictions about the assigned text from the cover of the book.
One person in the group reads aloud.
After five minutes students check their predictions and summarize the main points.
To finish this strategy have each student read for five minutes until everyone has read or the
book ends.



Reading Level: 3.1
Interest Level: Grades K- 3
Readability Formula: Given

APA Citation
Florian, D. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and mars. Florida. Harcourt, Inc.

Summary
This book provides poems over the different aspects of the solar system. Each poems goes into detail
describing the planets and aspects separately.

Text Features
Title Page
Verso Page
Dedication
Copyright Date
Table of Contents
Headings
Glossary
About the Author
Bibliography

Strategy
Reflect and Respond

Jefferson County Public Schools. (n.d.). Read me first. Teaching students to write and read poetry:
Methods to encourage budding poets to blossom. Retrieved from
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry_resources_for_teachers/documents/teaching%20students%20to%
20write-read%20poetry.pdf

How to Use
Read the poem two or three times to the class.
Have students write down their response.
Students should discussion and share with the classroom what they reflected upon.







Reading Level: 5.2
Interest Level: Grade 1-6
Readability Formula: Microsoft Word

APA Citation
Albrecht, R., ESA/ES) Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility., NASA. (n.d.). Solar System.
Retrieved from http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/psgk3ex.htm

Summary
This website helps students to search through each of the planets of the solar system. Each planet goes
into detail on the features and how it serves a purpose in the solar system.

Features
Table of Contents
Pictures
Facts
Examples
Activity Links
Media Clips

Strategy
Think-Pair-Share

AdLit.org. (2014). Classroom Strategies. Think-pair-share. Retrieved from
http://www.adlit.org/strategies/23277/

How to Use
Think- the teacher begins by asking a question about.
o Students then think about what they know or have learned.
Pair- each student should be paired with a partner or small group.
Share- students share with their partner(s) what they have learned and then expand into a class
discussion.