OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

by

Lorraine Fugate

Welcome to a trip to our Solar System.  Our solar system consists of the sun, the planets, the moon, the asteroid belt, meteoroids and comets. 

Description:  Students will learn about the main bodies of the solar system and their relationships.

Objectives:

 Students will be able to demonstrate learning by:

1.      Naming the nine planets.

2.      Presenting an oral and written report incorporating three facts about each planet and three facts about our sun and moon.

3.      Arranging the planets in order from the sun and explain how their position effects the temperature of the planets.

4.      Understanding the meaning of vocabulary related to the solar system.

  Text Resources:

1. The Golden Book of Stars and Planets by Judith Herbst (Western Publishing Co., Inc., 1988).

2. The Sun by Seymour Simon (William Morrow & Co., Inc. 1986).

3. The Planets in our Solar System by Franklyn M. Branley (Harper & Row 1981).

  Procedures: 

Activity #1.  Students are going to work in groups of three to collect information about our solar system.  In order to understand the vocabulary of the solar system, look up the highlighted words in the glossary to learn their meanings.  Students will record vocabulary and definitions in a Solar System Journal.

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/solar_system.html

Activity #2.  Each student in the group will then choose one planet to research.  Read about each planet and write six facts including its relationship to the sun and its size. Answer the quiz question. Make up a poster to display your facts and pictures about your planets.

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/planets.html

This site gives more information about Mars and what NASA is doing to get us to Mars.

http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/mars_rocket4.htm

In addition to the planets, the students may choose to report on the moon and sun.

Write six or more facts about the moon.

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/moon.html

This site shows the planets and their relationship to the sun.

http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/sse_flipflop2.htm

Here is more information to include in your report on the sun.

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/

Activity #3.  When students have completed their presentations, they can use these activities to test their knowledge and have some fun.

http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/do.htm

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/activity/planet_tac_toe.html

Solar System Shuffle

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/activity/solar_system_shuffle.html

Where, Oh Where Does That Little Planet Go?

Color a picture.

http://www.thecolor.com/Category/Coloring/Planets.aspx

Cosmic  Connection

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level1/activity/cosmic_connection.html

  Activity #4. Assessment

This is a worksheet that can be printed and used as an assessment tool.

http://kidsastronomy.com/worksheet/worksheet1.htm

  Optional Activity #5.  Here are directions for making a galactic mobile the students will enjoy making.

http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/galex_make2.htm

  Index of all kinds of space related activities.

http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/site_index.htm