Planets

Price: Free
Category: Science
Grade(s): 5
Devices: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Standards:
Science:
Grade 5: Earth Sciences: The solar system consists of planets and other bodies that orbit the sun in predictable paths.

App Description:
This app offers many useful features associated with star constellations and planets.  The buttons at the bottom of the screen lead the user to four other pages.  One to a 2D view of the earth and sun.  The 3D view allows the user to move the device and see what star constellations and planets are in the sky beyond the earth's atmosphere in the direction the user faces the iPad. The black background color seen in the image is the skies' atmosphere and the green color demonstrates what is beyond the earth's surface. The button labeled Earth shows a spinning earth that demonstrates where the sun is touching the earth at the present time.  In the top right corner of the Earth page, the user can choose to view earth's moon or any of the planets.  When viewing the planets and moon through this page, the user can see how fast or slow the planets spin in comparison to each other.   The button on the bottom of the pages labeled Visibility show when the visibility of each planet and the earth's moon can be seen from the user's location on earth.

Home Screen:

Home Screen begins on the 2D View

3D View

Spinning Earth shows where the sunlight is touching the globe presently 

The dark side of the earth that the sun is not touching

View of the Moon

A chart of the visibility of the planets 

Uses in the Classroom:
Teachers can integrate this app into their lessons about the solar system.  If students have access to the appropriate technology, teachers could have students divide into groups or teams and give each team a planet to research.  The students can utilize this app to find out when the planet would be visible from their place on earth.   The can also see how quickly or slowly the planet spins through orbit.   Each team can provide a quick presentation about their planet including a visual of what the planet looks like and how it orbits in space.

Possible Assessments:
No assessment is provided on this app.  A teacher would need to provide an additional assessment after having students use this app in order to assess student learning.