Why teach about the Universe?
		The planet today is dominated by an ever-changing world. The knowledge of science is very important to the functioning of society. Without this knowledge, the planet would not have made the advances it has within the past few hundred years, one of which is space discovery and exploration. Actions such as going to the Moon and seeing the other planets closely, deemed impossible only 100
	years ago, are now quite practical. Students can use this unit to learn functional skills such as teamwork, leadership, compromise, public speaking, and presentation. Likewise, the material covered in this unit allows the student to understand articles, news stories, space trivia, and everyday questions about the universe, not to mention the plethora of "space-based" television shows and movies. Therefore, it is important students be excited about these achievements in space exploration and learn from them in order to excel in the future. This unit, geared towards 8th grade, focuses on the basic understanding of the solar system and the universe. Although this is meant to be an introductory unit, enough material will have been discussed so that any student will have a general, space science, knowledge base, and hopefully the excitement to continue developing this knowledge. Likewise, each activity is designed with the student in mind. Students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders are going to have several opportunities in varied settings to allow for social interaction and development. Many of the class sessions throughout this unit will have hands on activities. These activities are varied to accommodate for different learning styles as well as various disabilities. For those students who have other learning styles, there will also be days of lecture, brainstorming, group work, and presentations. All the activities in this unit will assist these students in developing an understanding of the Planets of the Milky Way as well as characteristics of the universe as a whole. All students will learn some elements of the solar system and the universe. Each student may learn different elements, but all students will add to their schemas. These students will also learn that social interaction and cooperativeness are requirements of life. Most students will learn many things about the solar system's operations and stellar astronomy. These students will incorporate mythology, mathematics, and science to come to a better understanding of the development of the universe. These students will also learn that working together and depending on others is sometimes required in real situations. Some students will develop a new appreciation for the universe and understand the fundamentals at play for the development and sustenance of the stellar and solar astronomy. These students will also learn that compromise and cooperation is an essential part to forming an effective working relationship.