MS-ESS-1.2: Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the…
Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the orbital motions within galaxies and the solar system.
The Idaho Content Standards for Science (2022) outcome MS-ESS-1.2 (Earth and Space Sciences) for Grades 6–8 says: “Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the orbital motions within galaxies and the solar system.” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: Idaho Content Standards for Science (2022).
The Solar System: Gravity, Orbits and Scale Grades 5–8 · partly supports this outcome
Pace out the whole solar system across the schoolyard from real NASA distances, walk a human orbit held together by an arm of 'gravity', graph real planet years to find the pattern, and plan a mission from planet data cards. Nothing to buy: just the printed sheets and some space.
- Why do planets go around the Sun and not fly away? 50–60 min
Students make a human orbit held together by a linked arm of 'gravity', let go to see where a planet would go without it, and follow Isaac Newton's cannon on a mountaintop. Then they graph the real length of every planet's year against its distance from the Sun and find the pattern.
Printable practice for MS-ESS-1.2
- The Solar System: Gravity, Orbits and Scale workbook included with the unit
1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
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Compared with NGSS: MS-ESS1-2.
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