Explore and Create Your Own Solar System Using Scratch

In this class, we will explore the solar system. We'll take a look at the 8 different planets and other elements in our solar system. 
The class will be lectured based and there will be opportunities to engage in the class with activities, light discussion, and games as time allows. Being quiet myself, I understand that some students may also be quiet or shy so they can engage in light discussion if and when they feel comfortable doing so. 

We will cover the following topics:

     Week 1 Beyond The Earth: Students will learn about the solar system and what it is made up of. They will also get familiar with 
     the Scratch interface in preparation for our solar system coding project. 

     Week 2 All About The Sun: Students will be able to identify the importance of the Sun and explain how it is the center of the 
    Solar system.

     Week 3 Mercury and Venus: Students will be able to describe Mercury and Venus and it's characteristics.

     Week 4 Our Planet Earth: Students will be able to describe the Earth and how it's different than the other planets.

     Week 5 Mars and Jupiter: Students will learn about gas giants and terrestrial planets.

     Week 6 Saturn, Uranus and Neptune: Students will learn about the classification of planets and it's differences.

     Week 7 Pluto: Students will learn about dwarf planets and why Pluto is considered a dwarf planet.

     Week 8 Earth's Moon: Students will learn about the Earth's Moon and its' phases.

     Week 9 Other Moon's and Elements: Students will be able to explain what a moon is and identify other elements in 
     our solar system.

     Week 10 Stars and Black Holes: Students will be able to identify the various types of stars, explain black holes and 
     how they are formed.

As we cover the planets, we will spend time with activities and/or building our Solar System using the Scratch interface so students will also gain some basic programming skills.