Space tourism - Year 5 CLE
This online resource is a Science ASSIST Connected Learning Experience (CLE) to help teach Year 5 students about the scale of the solar system and human exploration of space.
Description: In this investigation, students will use a model to represent the scale distances between objects in the solar system. Students will understand that scientific discoveries about space have been made by a range of people from different cultures, and that these have been used to solve problems that directly affect people’s lives on Earth. Students will conduct research on space exploration to determine whether space tourism is viable.
NOTE: This CLE is aimed at enhancing a unit already being taught on the solar system.
Students will be able to:
- use a scale model to demonstrate the distances between the planets in our solar system;
- understand that a model is a representation of some aspect of the real world, which can be useful in developing our understanding of that aspect;
- understand the vast distances within the solar system;
- discuss how scientific discoveries in space have affected people’s lives;
- draw conclusions about the probability of space travel and space tourism.
A Connected Learning Experience (CLE) is a resource package designed to support the use of inquiry investigations in the classroom.
Each CLE may not encompass all the concepts and skills addressed in the specific content descriptions outlined by the Australian Curriculum: Science for that Year level. The Learning Intentions clearly define the aims and objectives of the CLE.
Relevant prior curriculum knowledge
Science / Year 3 / Science Understanding / Earth and space sciences
Earth’s rotation on its axis causes regular changes, including night and day (ACSSU048)
Year 5 Achievement Standard
This lesson sequence provides opportunities to gather information about students’ achievement of specific components in the standards (which are bolded in the statements below).
By the end of Year 5, students classify substances according to their observable properties and behaviours. They explain everyday phenomena associated with the transfer of light. They describe the key features of our solar system. They analyse how the form of living things enables them to function in their environments. Students discuss how scientific developments have affected people’s lives and how science knowledge develops from many people’s contributions.
Students follow instructions to pose questions for investigation, predict what might happen when variables are changed, and plan investigation methods. They use equipment in ways that are safe and improve the accuracy of their observations. Students construct tables and graphs to organise data and identify patterns. They use patterns in their data to suggest explanations and refer to data when they report findings. They describe ways to improve the fairness of their methods and communicate their ideas, methods and findings using a range of text types.
- Year 5 > Science Inquiry Skills > Communicating > Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations... > ACSIS093
- Year 5 > Science Inquiry Skills > Questioning and Predicting > With guidance, pose clarifying questions and make predictions about scientific... > ACSIS231
- Year 5 > Science Understanding > Earth and Space Sciences > The Earth is part of a system of planets orbiting around a star (the sun) > ACSSU078
- Year 5 > Science as a Human Endeavour > Use and influence of science > Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve... > ACSHE083