MS.ESS1.2: 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 motions within galaxies and the solar system.
The South Dakota Science Standards (2024) outcome MS.ESS1.2 (Earth and Space Sciences) for Grades 6–8 says: “Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the 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: South Dakota Science Standards (2024).
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.ESS1.2
- 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.
Need just this outcome? Build a custom pack from these pages, with its answer key, in about a minute. Custom packs come with All-access and school licences.
Compared with NGSS: MS-ESS1-2.
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