Earth, Moon, and Sun

Modeling the Earth, Moon, and Sun Movement in Space

Vocabulary: Earth, Moon, Sun, revolve, orbit, revolution, year, month

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Have 3 students represent the 3 objects and demonstrate their relative movements through space.

• Have 1 student pretend to be the Earth and demonstrate the Earth revolving (orbiting) around the Sun (another student).
• Then have a student pretend to be the Moon and demonstate the Moon revolving (orbiting) around the Earth.
• Next have all 3 students work together and demonstrate the Moon revolving around the Earth as the Earth is revolving around the Sun.

(Each student can hold a sign with their 'name' : Earth, Moon, or Sun.)

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Another idea is to have costumes for the students. I 've used t-shirts for the kids that represent the Moon and Earth (bought at a Museum gift shop). For the Sun, I purchased a yellow M&M Halloween costume (after the holiday when it was half price). I did have to cover the M&M sign. If you're crafty you could put a Big S over the M&M sign.

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Another way to demonstrate movement in space is having each child hold a "model" that shows the different sizes of the objects relative to each other. I've used different size balls as models of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

• For the Sun, I used a VERY, VERY, VERY  LARGE yellow exercise ball as a model.
• For the Earth, I've used a blue sponge ball.
• For the Moon, I've used a very small white styrofoam ball.

(Try to have the diameter of the Moon model be about 1/4 th the diameter of the Earth model and of course for the Sun, use the BIGGEST model that you can find!)

Discuss the fact that it takes 1 year for the Earth to orbit the Sun, and 1 month for the Moon to orbit the Earth.

Here is a video demonstrating the Sun, Earth, and Moon in space.

This can lead into a math lesson on measurement:

• the number of days in a month
• the number of days in a year
• the number of months in a year
• etc. 

    

    Enjoy!

NASA Image Gallery

Another great NASA website:

Click Here:  Image of the Day Gallery

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Here is another very cooool and awesome site by NASA......with breathtaking pictures!
Each day a different picture is shown along with an explanation by a professional astronomer.
Enjoy!

Click Here: Astronomy Picture of the Day

International Space Station Video

A FREE video from Brain Pop:

Click Here: International Space Station Video

Solar System Word Search & Crossword Puzzle

Kids usually like doing word searches and crossword puzzles. It's a great way to introduce or review the essential vocabulary for a unit on the Solar System or any other topic.

You can visit Learning Workroom's website for a FREE Solar System Word Search and Crossword Puzzle that you can download and print.

Click Here: http://www.learningworkroom.com

Go to: "Free Worksheets"

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The 8 Planets

SCIENCE

Kids usually like to learn the names of all the PLANETS. It's fun for them to memorize their names and order from the Sun.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

 Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.

Earth

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The kids might also like to watch this cute video from Brain Pop about Mars.

 Click Here: Mars Video 

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 Social Studies + Art


Using a paper plate students can create maps of the Earth showing the continents, oceans, equator, and the cardinal directions.

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MUSIC

Also here's a video and song from Schoolhouse Rock about the planets called Interplanet Janet (Solar System) presently on You Tube.

Click Here: Schoolhouse Rock Video & Song


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MATH

• To tie in a MATH LESSON, use the planet order with the kids in Grades K and 1 to review ORDINAL NUMBERS.....1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. They'll like learning that Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun.

• Older kids, could do a SURVEY about FAVORITE PLANETS, then TALLY and GRAPH their results.  

• If the kids would like to find out their WEIGHT on other planets they can visit the Exploratorium website. The page will also give an explanation of Mass and Weight.

                        Click Here: Your Weight on Other Worlds
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English Language Arts

• Here's a great book about the Solar System from The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library of nonfiction books (for beginning readers) by Dr. Suess Enterprises for your child to read or for you to read to your child. 

• Also as an ELA tie-in the kids could use the planet names as spelling words this week, put the names into alphabetical order, and write an essay about their favorite planet or start a lapbook about one or all of the planets.

    Have fun!

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The Solar System - Introduction

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It's a new month so I'm going to start a new topic!  This month we can share ideas on teaching about the SOLAR SYSTEM. So please share your fun ideas for science, math, or ELA that relate to this theme.

One of the best authorities on this subject is NASA!

To get us started here is a LINK to a NASA website for kids:

Click Here:  NASA KIDS' CLUB

On the left side of the website you will be able to choose the appropriate grade level for each child.

• Grades K-4
• Grades 5-8
• Grades 9-12

Have lots of  fun!