Universe Cycle
FOURTH GRADE
4 week unit

1. Students should recognize that astronomy is a science, and astrology is not.
2. Students should know the various components of the Universe.
3. Students should be able to compare the different planets.
4. Students should understand how to look for information in the library.
5. Students should be able to compare terrestrial and the gas planets.
6. Students should be able to recognize craters from a photograph.
7. Students should be able to compare and contrast the surface of the Earth with the Moon.
8. Students should be able to explain revolution and rotation.
9. Students should know why maps are important.
10. Students should be able to derive information from a map.

WEEK 1.
PRE: Comparing astrology and astronomy.
LAB: Contrasting the different types of galaxies.
POST: Exploring how galaxies evolve.

SOLAR SYSTEM

WEEK 2.
PRE: Plotting the relative distances of planets from the Sun.
LAB: Observing craters on the surface of planets and moons.
POST: Discovering new facts about the Solar System.

EARTH

WEEK 3.
PRE: Comparing the surface of the Earth and Moon.
LAB: Exploring the Earth/Moon system.
POST: Comparing the landscapes of the Earth and Moon.

GEOGRAPHY

WEEK 4.
PRE: Exploring the importance of soil on Earth.
LAB: Plotting data of soil locations.
POST: Deriving information from maps.