Lesson Planning

Teaching

• Explore the concepts of a heliocentric and geocentric solar system (Y5&6)
• Develop scientific enquiry questions and approaches for learning about space (Y5&6)
• Research online some key facts and evidence about space (Y5&6)

Activities

1. Know that Galileo’s heliocentric view of the solar system was radical for its time (Y5&6)
2. Research the key facts/evidence about scientific statements about space (Y5&6)
3. Match (Y5) or suggest (Y6) enquiry questions for a series of statements about the Earth, sun & moon
4. Match (Y5) or suggest (Y6) possible scientific approaches to investigating enquiry questions

Investigation
Helio vs Geo centricity - The Roman Inquisition. Galileo Galilei, one the greatest astrologists the world has ever know, needs help convincing the Roman Inquisition that our solar system is heliocentric… but he needs hard evidence to present to The Inquisition. Can you help him? Develop enquiry questions and suggest the ways you could go about working scientifically to answer them. (Problem solving, , Analysing secondary sources)
Year 5 - Match enquiry questions and possible scientific approaches to investigate these, for a series of statements about the Earth, sun & moon
Year 6 - Suggest enquiry questions and possible scientific approaches to investigate these, for a series of statements about the Earth, sun & moon
Years 5&6 - Know that Galileo’s heliocentric view of the solar system was radical for its time and research the key facts/evidence about scientific statements about space

Vocabulary
Heliocentric, geocentric, spherical, solar system, astrology, enquiry, evidence, star, moon, planet, sun, Earth, Galileo, Copernicus