Age 9-11- Properties of Solids, Liquids & Gases on Mars

This is a science lesson based on travelling to Mars where we investigate mysterious patches on Mars’s surface. We sort materials and create check lists based on the properties of solids, liquids and gases. An investigation option also provides an extension to develop questions to sort problem materials leading on to learning about colloids. This lesson runs alongside a Maths unit where children create their own diary on Mars to document mathematical findings and a Literacy unit where they write their own non-chronological report on Mars.

This unit is aimed at children at an age 9-11 level (Year 5 & 6 in England and Wales).

The unit’s context revolves around a mission to Mars. Pre-lesson preparation is provided with four short animations from an astronaut’s first-person point of view as he or she travels and lands on Mars, making the lesson come alive. A further animation in lesson sets the context of experimenting on Mars.

PowerPoints provide structure, modelling, examples and explanation. Optional IT links and an investigation activity are provided.

There is a lesson plan which includes:

• suggested links to curriculums;
• notes to provide background information;
• optional pre lesson preparation;
• starter, main, groups and plenary sections with suggested timings (please change depending on your class);
• sections of the lesson are linked to Blooms taxonomy;
• Talk time suggestions;
• PowerPoint presentations to support teaching;
• differentiated group activities with extra ideas for early finishers;
• consideration of, and reference to, different learning styles;
• pictures and actions provided for key terms; and
• independent activities that are planned to aim to allow the teacher to support or extend an assessment group within the lesson

Plans and PowerPoints are detailed and thorough to provide teaching structure, if needed, for the whole, or parts, of the lesson. An alternative streamlined PowerPoint is also provided.

Thankyou,

Team Teaching Alive

P.S.- See PowerPoints for any copyright info.
P.P.S.- PowerPoints and PDFs are read only but there is no problem with any requests for changes (within reason).