Solar System for Young Learners

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With all the emphasis on literacy and test preparation, how can primary teachers find time for science? Here are several models and literacy-based activities to get you started on exploring the solar system with primary students. One challenge I've encountered is that there's so much information on this subject, it's hard to know where to begin. I hope these few, easy lessons will help you keep it simple.

My overall science objective for the year is to teach children to think and act like scientists. The solar system is wide open for questions, since many astronomers don't have all the answers. There are areas of genuine inquiry and intelligent, informed guesses students can make! I encourage students to refer to books, magazines, and Web sites to answer their questions about the solar system.

Here are important concepts for this unit:

• Position of the Planets and their relative sizes and distances
• Why and How Earth is Distinctive
• The Role of the Sun
• Rotation, Revolution, and Orbit

OBJECTIVE

Students will:

1. Make several models of the solar system.
2. Read books and poems and write in response to reading.
3. Do beginning research with a partner and write a report together.

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: Making Models of the Solar System
Lesson 2: Reading and Writing about the Solar System
Lesson 3: Using a Graphic Organizer to Research a Question

REPRODUCIBLES
Planet Roll Call (PDF)
Solar System in Motion (PDF)
Research Graphic Organizer (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

Solar System Museum
Models of planets are displayed in hallway or on walls of gym for all to see. Students' reports are posted near the planets. Students are stationed throughout the solar system display, as invited guests - parents, other grades and classes, principal, school nurse, librarian, etc. - tour the museum. Students act as docents, talking with visitors and answering questions.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books for Teaching about the Solar System

ARTICLE	In Search of Other Earths On Friday, March 6, NASA launched a first-of-its-kind telescope called Kepler that will search for Earthlike planets in other parts of our galaxy, known as the Milky Way.
LESSON PLAN	Reading and Writing about the Solar System Use this lesson to teach students about the solar system through reading and writing .
ONLINE ACTIVITY	The View from Hubble See what the Hubble Space Telescopes sees in this slide show.