Katie Ferruzzi

Wattles

Science Wednesday March 21, 2012

Objective: Students will be able to understand the concept of perspective and be able to answer the question If the sun is much bigger than the moon, why do they look the same size in the sky?

GLCE: S.RS.03.11 Demonstrate scientific concepts through various illustrations, performances, models, exhibits, and activities. S.RS.03.15 Use evidence when communicating scientific ideas.

Anticipatory Set: On the SmartBoard I will put up a copy of a Degas painting. I will give the students 1 minute to observe the painting and talk to their partners. I will ask students, Which dancers are closer? Which dancers are farther away?, and How do you know which dancers are closer and farther away?. I will follow up each question by asking students, What makes you think that? Instructional Input: After my anticipatory set, I will ask if anyone has ever heard of the word perspective before. If there are students who do know I will take a few volunteers. I will explain that perspective is how you view or see an object. Depending on your view your perspective can change. I will explain that the dancers look closer because they are larger and the dancers that are smaller look farther away because of our perspective. I will then have the students line up to go outside. I will have the students stand facing the red structure. I will have one student go and stand right by the structure. I will ask students to tell me what they see. Students should notice that the structure is much larger than the

Katie Ferruzzi

Wattles

student. I will prompt students to use relative size in their explanation, to tie in the previous lesson. I will then ask the student to move away from the structure and come closer to the group. I will ask students what they notice now. Students should realize that the structure looks smaller than it actually is because of our perspective. I will then bring the students back to the classroom. Modeling: I will then model the drawing in the first box on page 6 of their science notebooks. I will draw a large tree and then draw a smaller person standing next to the tree. I will explain that just like when we had a classmate stand next to a structure, the person is relatively smaller than the tree. Guided Practice: I will then have the students fill in the second box on page 6 of their science notebooks on their own. The students will draw a picture of a person with a tree in the distance. I will walk around to see if students are drawing the correct picture. I will then fill in the box with the correct drawing and explain that the tree appears to be in the distance because the tree and person are relatively the same size which gives the appearance of being in the distance. Activities: I will put the students into 8 groups. Each group will have two Styrofoam balls (one small ball wrapped in foil and one large). I will tell them that the large ball represents the sun and the small ball represents the moon. I will ask the students if the relative sizes are accurate to the real sun and moon, they should respond no. I will have each group go to their designated area in the class. The student with the larger sphere stands far away and the student with the smaller sphere stands closer. After students have taken turns and have experimented with perspective views I will have them come back to their seats. We will discuss what they have observed and fill in the rest of their science notebook. As a class, we will then complete the two questions on page 7.

Katie Ferruzzi Checking for Understanding:

Wattles

Why do you think that the sun and moon look the same size when we look in the sky? Turn and talk to your partner. What is perspective? Besides today, tell me another time when you witnessed perspective. Independent Practice: Students will complete the visible thinking routine See, Think, Wonder. They will also draw their own perspective diagram.

Katie Ferruzzi

Wattles

Name: _________________________________ Please describe something that you saw today. Next explain what you think about what you saw! Tell me why you saw this. Then write one wonder or question you still have.

I see

I think

I wonder

Draw your own perspective diagram.

Katie Ferruzzi

Wattles