The Solar System

Thematic Unit Question

3rd Grade
By: Stephanie Alcocer
Thematic Unit Planning Matrix

Content Essential Centers Technology Assessment Student Standards:

or Questions (Activities) Integration and/or Rubric Products or The ISTE NETS and Performance Indicators
Subject (Must include at Scale Portfolio for Teachers and Students
Area least 2 Web 2.0 TEKS
tools)

Math How many Teacher will Students will use Teacher will Students will $111.5 Grade 3, Adopted 2012
planets are lead the Microsoft Excel or grade the graph print out the (b) Knowledge and skills
Google Drive to create according to the graph and glue (7) Geometry and measurement. The student applies
in the solar class by a graph with the accuracy of the it in a mathematical process standards to select appropriate
system? presenting temperature of each number of construction units, strategies, and tools to solve problems involving
How far each planet planet as well as how planets as well paper. The customary and metric measurement. The student is
apart is each and its far each planet is from as temperature, assignment expected to:
planet from distance the sun and the weight weight of will be saved (D) determine when it is appropriate to use measurements
of themselves on each themselves, and in the students of liquid volume (capacity) or weight, and
the sun? from the sun planet. distance from portfolio. (E) Determine liquid volume (capacity) or weight using
What are the and weight the sun of each appropriate units and tools.
different of a person planet.
temperatures in each
on the planet.
planets? Students will
What is a then get into
persons groups and
weight on organize all
each planet? the
information
and weight
themselves
so they can
Content Essential Centers Technology Assessment Student Standards:
or Questions (Activities) Integration and/or Rubric Products or The ISTE NETS and Performance Indicators
Subject (Must include at Scale Portfolio for Teachers and Students
Area least 2 Web 2.0 TEKS
tools)

find out how

much they
would weigh
on each
planet.
Writing Choose a Teacher will Students have the Teacher will Students $110.14 English Language Arts and Reading Grade 3,
planet you are ask students to opportunity to use grade the final will print Beginning with School Year 2009-2010
interested in research about essay on a scale (b) Knowledge and Skills
learning more their favorite the computer and from 1-5 points out the final (17) Writing/Writing Process. Students use elements of the
about? Why planet. With the research on their assessing the draft of their writing process (planning drafting, revising, editing, and
did you choose research they own. Students will students favorite publishing) to compose text. Students are expected to:
this planet? will be asked to then write about understanding planet. This (A) plan a first draft by selecting a genre appropriate for
Would you write about their favorite of their will be put conveying the intended meaning to an audience and
waigh the same their favorite research. generating ideas through a range of strategies(e.g.
on that planet planet. planet using in their brainstorming, graphic organizer, logs, journals):
as you do on Microsoft Office portfolio (B) develop drafts by categorizing ideas and organizing them
earth? Can or Google Docs. into paragraphs:
someone live (C) revise drafts for coherence, organization, use of simple
on this planet and compound sentences, and audience;
like on earth? (D) edit drafts for grammar, mechanics, and spelling using a
teacher-developed rubric: and
(E) publish written work for a specific audience.
(26) Research/Gathering Sources. Students determine,
locate, and explore the full range of relevant sources
addressing a research question and systematically record the
information they gather. Students are expected to:
(A) follow the research plan to collect information from
multiple sources of information, both oral and written,
including:
(i) student-initiated surveys, on-site inspections, and
interviews;
(ii) data from exports, reference texts, and online
searches; and
(iii) visual sources information (e.g., maps, timelines,
graphs) where appropriate;
(B) use skimming and scanning techniques to identify data by
looking at text features (e.g., bold print, captions, key words,
italics);
(C) take simple notes and sort evidence into provided
Content Essential Centers Technology Assessment Student Standards:
or Questions (Activities) Integration and/or Rubric Products or The ISTE NETS and Performance Indicators
Subject (Must include at Scale Portfolio for Teachers and Students
Area least 2 Web 2.0 TEKS
tools)
categories or an organizer;
(D) identify the author, title, publisher, and publication year
of sources; and
(E) differentiate between paraphrasing and plagiarism and
identify the importance of citing c\valid and reliable sources.
(27) Research/Synthesizing Information. Students clarify
research questions and evaluate and synthesize collected
information. Students are expected to improve the focus of
research as a result of consulting expect sources (e.g.,
references librarians and local experts on the topic).
(28) Research/Organizing and Presenting Ideas. Students
organize and present their ideas and information according to
the purpose of the research and teir audience. Students are
expected to draw conclusions through a brief written
explanation and create a works-cited page from notes,
including the author, title, publisher, and publication year for
each source used.
Art In what order Teacher will Children will Teacher will Students will $117.111. Art, Grade 3, Adopted 2013.
are the planets show a video watch the video on grade the display their (b) Knowledge and
form the sun? called The models in the (2) Creative w\expression. The student communicates,
Why are the Magic School a projector or the final model classroom. ideas through original artworks using a variety of media
planets Bus Lost in apple T.V. with a scale with appropriate skills. The student s\expresses thoughts
different Space: 1-5 points, and ideas creatively while challenging the imagination,
colors? What Afterward assessing of fostering reflective thinking, and developing disciplined
does each color children will be the order of effort and progressive problem-solving skills. The student
identify about asked to make is expected to:
the planet? a model of the each planet (C) produce drawings, paintings; prints; sculpture,
solar system from the sun. including modeled forms; and other art forms such as
ceramics, fiber art, constructions, mixed media,
installation art, digital art and media, and photographic
imagery using a variety of art media and materials.