Galaxies & Light Years Complete Lesson Plan - MS

Everything you need for an engaging, ready-to-teach unit on galaxies and light years is included in this resource! Students will explore the three main types of galaxies and model how light years are used to measure distances in the universe. With editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments, this multiday lesson is comprehensive yet requires minimal prep.

Through differentiated, student-led learning, your middle schoolers stay engaged while you focus on student success.

Essential Questions

• Can you describe the three main types of galaxies in the universe?

• Can you model how light years measure distances in the universe?

Texas Teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS (not updated for the 2021 TEKS).

Why Teachers Love This Lesson

• Differentiated materials for learners who need more support

• Multimodal activities that engage diverse learning styles

• Maximum flexibility—printable and digital formats included

• Editable PowerPoints for classroom customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, reading passages, and interactive notebook pages

This lesson is built around the 5E Instructional Model (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, Evaluation), providing both structure and flexibility for science instruction.

What’s Included

Engagement

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher guide with class discussion prompts, activities, and common misconceptions

Exploration – Student-Led Station Lab
Nine differentiated stations introduce galaxies and light years through multimodal learning:

Input Stations (absorb content)

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Website-based task with guided questions

• Watch It! – Short video with student reflections

Output Stations (show understanding)

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts

• Write It! – Open-ended written responses

• Illustrate It! – Student-created sketches/diagrams

• Assess It! – Task cards + vocabulary-in-context writing

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Fun extension activities for early finishers like crosswords, games, and mini-projects

Explanation

• Editable PowerPoints (standard & interactive versions)

• Interactive notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Note-taking templates to guide student learning

Elaboration

• Student-choice projects on galaxies and light years to extend learning in class or at home

Evaluation

• STAAR 2.0–style assessments (standard & modified versions)

• Review worksheet for practice, homework, or test prep

Flexible for Any Classroom

This resource is designed for both in-person and virtual learning. Station labs, interactive notebooks, and presentations are fully compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.