Eclipses Lesson Plan - A Complete Science Lesson Using the 5E Method of Instruction

By the end of this comprehensive lesson about eclipses, students will be able to describe the different types of eclipses. They will also be able to model and describe the differences between lunar and solar eclipses and describe how positions of the sun, moon, and earth determine the type of eclipse. Each of our lessons is designed using the 5E method of instruction to ensure maximum comprehension by the students. This well-thought out unit does the heavy lifting, giving teachers easy-to-implement, highly engaging lesson plans.

This blog will walk you through each of the steps and activities from the Eclipses 5E Lesson Plan.

ENGAGEMENT

At the beginning of the lesson, the class will discuss the objectives and some of the relevant vocabulary using the included objective statements and word wall cards.

The engagement activity continues with a with a Venn Diagram activity to show similarities and differences between solar and lunar eclipses. The teacher will help to clear any misconceptions like eclipses happen every month.

Estimated Class Time for the Engagement: 20-30 minutes

EXPLORATION

With nine stations in total, you can introduce eclipses to your middle school students in a variety of ways! Four of these stations are considered input stations where students will learn new information about eclipses, and four of the stations are output stations where students will be demonstrating their mastery of the lesson's material. A bonus station offers challenges for your early finishers and independent learners. You can read more about how I set up the station labs here.

Watch It!

At this station, students will be watching a four-and-a-half minute video clearing up the confusion between a solar and lunar eclipse. The video explains what an eclipse is and how each is formed. Students will then answer three questions relating to the video and record their answers on their lab station sheet.

Read It!

This station will provide students with a one-page reading about solar and lunar eclipses. Students are asked four questions about the reading, alternate titles, what a total eclipse is, fill in the blanks, and interpreting diagrams.

Explore It!

Students will be working in pairs to create a model of the two different types of eclipses. Students will use flashlights and sports equipment for the model. Students will demonstrate what happens when either the moon or the earth gets in the path of the other. Students will then diagram what they modeled.

Research It!

The research station will allow students to get online and interact with a computerized animation of both a lunar and solar eclipse. Students can click between the two, as well as change the tilts, distances between the earth and the moon, and the size of the moon.

Organize It!

The organize it station allows your students to use a manipulative to show that they know the position of the earth, the moon, and sun during a solar and lunar eclipse. Students will sketch and label their drawings on their lab sheet.

Illustrate It!

Your visual students will love this station. Students will be sketching the positions of the sun, earth, and moon during a solar and lunar eclipse.

Write It!

Students who can answer open-ended questions about the lab truly understand the concepts that are being taught. At this station, the students will be answering three questions like why we have eclipses, describe lunar eclipses, why we don’t see eclipses except during full and new moons.

Assess It!

The Assess It station is where students will go to prove mastery over the concepts they learned in the lab. The questions are setup in a standardized format with multiple choice answers. Some questions will ask students to identify diagrams, order of celestial bodies during certain eclipses, moon phase connection, etc…

Challenge It! - Bonus Station

Early finishers and advanced students will love the extension activities in this station. Four activity choices offer them ways to expand their learning through mini-games and mini-projects.

Estimated Class Time for the Exploration: One or two 45-minute class periods

EXPLANATION

The explanation activities will become much more engaging for your class once they’ve completed the exploration station lab. During the explanation piece of the lesson, the teacher will be clearing up any misconceptions their students may have about eclipses with a variety of materials. These materials include on-level and modified versions of the interactive presentation (may be used individually or projected), anchor charts, and paper or digital interactive notebook activities. If you have students that need modified notes, the 5E lessons come equipped to help give every student access to the lesson.

Interactive notebook samples: Above-left is a digital INB activity slide; above-right is an example of the paper INB activities.

The students will also be interacting with their journals using INB templates for eclipses. Each INB activity is designed to help students compartmentalize information for a greater understanding of the concept. The eclipses INB templates will challenge the students to understand and visualize both lunar and solar eclipses.

Estimated Class Time for the Exploration: Two or three 45-minute class periods

ELABORATION

The elaboration section of the 5E method of instruction gives students choices that allow them to prove they’ve mastered the concepts behind the lesson. When students are given a choice, they’re much more enthusiastic and invested in the project than they are when their teachers choose their projects for them. There are a total of nine choices to demonstrate understanding of eclipses. A separate set of choices that offer more teacher support are also available for students that need them. Rubrics guide students to doing their best work and assist in grading.

Estimated Class Time for the Elaboration: Two or three 45-minute class periods (can also be used as an at-home project)

EVALUATION

The final piece of the 5E model is to evaluate student comprehension. Included in every 5E lesson is a homework assignment, assessment, and modified assessment. Research has shown that homework needs to be meaningful and applicable to real-world activities in order to be effective. When possible, I like to give open-ended assessments to truly gauge the student’s comprehension.

Estimated Class Time for the Elaboration: One 45-minute class period

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