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Our Solar System

Performance Assessment – Lab

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BE PREPARED

Materials

Class materials

1 stick of clay

Group materials

1 student globe
1 flashlight
1 moon ball

Individual materials

1 Scientist Data Record

TEACHER PREPARATION

1. For each group, roll a small ball of clay, approximately 1 cm in diameter.

2. Place the ball of clay on each student globe on the North Pole. Place a toothpick in the clay to demonstrate the Earth’s axis. The toothpick should be in line with the axis, which makes the toothpick tilted 23.5° when compared to the level table.

3. Label an area in the classroom as the North Star. This will be a reference point as students create a model of Winter and Summer in China.

4. Separate the class into five cooperative groups.

INSTRUCTION

1. Direct each student group to obtain the following necessary materials from the distribution point: one (1) student globe, one (1) flashlight, and one (1) moon ball.

PROCEDURE

1. Briefly outline the goals of this project to the class. Read aloud the goals from the list on the Student Data Record and shown below:

a. Create a model of the Moon during the 3rd Quarter.

b. Create a model of the Moon during New Moon.

c. Create a model to show the position of the Sun and Earth when China has Winter.

d. Create a model to show the position of the Sun and Earth when China has Summer.

2. With the students, walk through the next four steps in the project described in Problems 1 through 4 of their Student Data Record.

3. When reviewing Problems 3 and 4 with students, point out the North Star in the classroom. Remind students that this is an important reference point when creating models of the seasons.

4. Encourage students to be creative and draw on their understanding of the Solar System from the first five investigations.

5. Allow students to complete their Performance Assessments. You may wish to informally or formally evaluate students as they work on their performance assessments.