Title: Components of the Solar System

Grade(s): 4
Subject(s): Science
Author: ICAC Team
Overview: The teacher will provide background material about the solar system.
The students will write an essay incorporating descriptions of
components of our solar system. The students will use Microsoft
Word to write the essay.
Content SC (4) 10. Describe components of our solar system.
Standards: TC (3-5) 1. Use input and output devices of technology systems.
TC (3-5) 2. Use various technology applications, including word
processing and multimedia software.
TC (3-5) 12. Create a product using digital tools.
ELA (4) 12. Organize information on a specific topic obtained
from grade-appropriate reference materials.
Local/National
Standards:
Primary Using Microsoft Word, students will compose descriptive essays
Learning about components of the solar system that include accurate and
Objectives: complete information on the location, composition, and physical
properties of the solar system component. The essays will be
illustrated with at least 2 pictures or graphics.
Additional
Learning
Objectives:
Approximate
Duration of
Lesson: 1 hour
Materials and
Equipment: Science books, magazines, photographs of the solar system
Technology
Resources
Needed: Computer with Microsoft Word, Internet connection (optional)
Background/ Knowledge of the components of the solar system.
Preparation: Knowledge of Microsoft Word.
Procedures/ Step 1 Write the following components of a solar system on the
Activities: board or overhead. Ask students if they can define and
describe characteristics of the solar system:
 Comets are small masses of dust and ice that
orbit the sun in a long, oval-shaped path.
 Asteroids are small and rocky and most are
scattered in a large area between the orbit paths
of Mars and Jupiter in what is called the asteroid
belt.
Lesson Plan format is adapted from the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX). Lessons developed by staff of the UAB NSF project
“Integrating Computing Across the Curriculum: Incorporating Technology into STEM Education Using XO Laptops.”
1
  Inner planets, such as Earth and its three
neighbors, are objects that orbit around the sun
inside of the asteroid belt.
 Outer planets are those planets that orbit the
sun outside of the asteroid belt and tend to be
gaseous, icy, and have rings.
 Star, such as our sun, is a ball of different
gasses and plasma held together by gravity and
emits, rather than reflects, light.
 Moons are objects that are similar to planets but
much smaller, and they orbit planets rather than
a star.
Step 2 Each group will have the opportunity to select or be
assigned one of the components of the solar system
listed above. The group will research their topic. They
must produce an illustrated essay that includes the
following information about their solar system
component:
 location (orbit, distance from the sun)
 composition (gas, rocks, water)
 physical properties (size, temperature)
 two or more illustrations
Step 3 A digital camera should be used to take pictures to be
used in the essay. These can be pictures from the
student’s textbook, pictures of the sky, pictures drawn
by the student, or from other sources.

If an internet connection is available the student can

also use images from the Internet.
Step 4 Open Microsoft Word. To insert an image, find where
your pictures are located on your computer. If your
digital camera is connected using a USB port, go to “My
Computer” and the select the appropriate drive (for
example, E: or F:). Right click on the picture you want
to use, and select "Copy." Now, return to your Word
document and point your cursor to where you would like
your picture. Right click once again with your mouse
and select "Paste."

Lesson Plan format is adapted from the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX). Lessons developed by staff of the UAB NSF project
“Integrating Computing Across the Curriculum: Incorporating Technology into STEM Education Using XO Laptops.”
2
 Step 6 Once students are finished researching, it will be time to
construct an essay. Microsoft Word should already be
open. The Word interface looks like this:

Click to Click to
make text change the
Bold, type, size,
Italic, or and
Underline alignment
of font.

Click to change the

color of the text

The students should write an essay that incorporates a

description of their assigned component of our solar
system.
Have groups present their discoveries to the class or
post on the class website.
Attachments: Rubric
Assessment
Strategies: See Attached Rubric
Extension: Provide students with the opportunity to further research solar
system characteristics on the Internet. Allow students to choose a
specific element of the solar system and then write a creative story
from the point of view of an astronaut exploring that object in the
solar system.
Remediation: Provide students with an outline for each section of the essay.

Lesson Plan format is adapted from the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX). Lessons developed by staff of the UAB NSF project
“Integrating Computing Across the Curriculum: Incorporating Technology into STEM Education Using XO Laptops.”
3
 Assessment Rubric for Components of Our Solar System
Score 1 2 3 4
Essay Elements: Contains Contains two Contains three Contains all
 Location one accurate accurate accurate four elements
 Composition element. elements. elements. with accuracy.
 Physical
Properties
 Two Illustrations
Research & Little Research was Good Excellent
Organization research done, but organization of organization of
was done, essay was researched researched
information poorly information. information.
was organized.
unorganized.
Technology Use Did not Did not share Shared Shared
share technology technology technology
technology; well together; responsibilities; responsibilities;
Word Word created an created an
document is document has acceptable exemplary
incomplete. visual Word Word
mistakes. document. document.

Lesson Plan format is adapted from the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX). Lessons developed by staff of the UAB NSF project
“Integrating Computing Across the Curriculum: Incorporating Technology into STEM Education Using XO Laptops.”
4