SCISAT-1

Information for Teachers

About this Lesson Plan Portfolio

This lesson plan portfolio has been designed for use with grade 6 students. It is intended to facilitate teaching topics related to Earth and Space science, specifically the physical characteristics of Earth as one of the components of the solar system. Use of these materials should provide students with examples of Canadian contributions to science and technology in support of global investigations.

Preparing to Use these Resources

Experience has shown that the best way to use these resources is to:

Begin by printing out the entire portfolio. Transparency masters can be printed directly onto colour (or grayscale) transparencies, or printed on ordinary paper and then photocopied onto transparencies.
Hint: Grayscale transparencies are helpful as they can be highlighted with colour markers when discussing them in class.
Read over the material. Make margin notes for yourself, so you can easily align it to your student's backgrounds and abilities.
Print or photocopy the student assignments and activities so they may be handed out to your class at the appropriate time.

What this module is not . . .

This is not a self-directed student web-search.

Curriculum Expectations

From the Common Framework of Science Learning Outcomes K-12, Pan-Canadian Protocol for Collaboration on School Curriculum, Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), 1997.

Nature des sciences et de la technologie

Demonstrate the importance of using the languages of science and technology to compare and communicate ideas, processes, and results.

Relationships between science and technology

Describe examples of improvements to the tools and techniques of scientific investigation that have led to new discoveries.

Social and environmental contexts of science and technology

Provide examples of Canadians who have contributed to science and technology. Describe scientific and technological achievements that are the result of contributions by people from around the world.

Communication and teamwork

Communicate procedures and results, using lists, notes in point form, sentences, charts, graphs, drawings, and oral language.

Earth and Space Science

Describe the physical characteristics of components of the solar system.

Assessment

Rubric

Note: The chart that follows identifies four levels of achievement. Levels 1 and 2 describe performance that is approaching the standard for the grade; level 3 describes the standard for the grade; and level 4 describes performance that is above the standard.

**Rubric**
The Student	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Understanding of basic concepts	demonstrates understanding of few of the basic concepts related to the composition and importance of the Earth's atmosphere	demonstrates understanding of some of the basic concepts related to the composition and importance of the Earth's atmosphere	demonstrates understanding of most of the basic concepts related to the composition and importance of the Earth's atmosphere	demonstrates understanding of almost all of the basic concepts related to the composition and importance of the Earth's atmosphere
Inquiry	analyzes information using very simple ideas	analyzes information using simple ideas	analyzes information using ideas of some complexity	analyzes information using complex ideas
Communication	communicates with little clarity and precision rarely using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols	communicates with some clarity and precision sometimes using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols	generally communicates with clarity and precision usually using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols	consistently communicates with clarity and precision always using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols
Application	makes very simple connections between the study of the Earth's atmosphere and its importance for the health and safety of all Canadians	makes simple connections between the study of the Earth's atmosphere and its importance for the health and safety of all Canadians	makes connections of some complexity between the study of the Earth's atmosphere and its importance for the health and safety of all Canadians	makes complex connections between the study of the s atmosphere and its importance for the health and safety of all Canadians