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Teaching About the Solar System

I just started one of my all-time favorite units to teach for science- the solar system! In this post, I will show you how I engage my students at the start of the unit (setting the stage for learning), integrate reading and writing, and use a variety of different learning modalities (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile).

Calling all astronauts! Looking for engaging and innovative ways to teach about the solar system? This blog post highlights different hands-on activities for you to use in your primary classroom .

I have a great way set the stage for learning, and build anticipation and excitement about the unit solar system science unit. Prior to starting your unit, place an astronaut trainee letter (an official letter from NASA!) in a special star stamped manila envelope. You won’t believe how excited your students will be when they come to school and find them on their desk! From here on out, students are astronaut trainees and I (formerly known as the teacher) am now their crew captain-very official, with a name badge and all!

solar system unit

After teaching any solar system lesson throughout the unit, I give my junior astronauts a few minutes to write a reflection about what they learned. I have my kiddos keep their reflections (written on a star die cut for added cuteness!) in a baggie attached to astronaut clip art. These daily reflections are a great way to review for their test and also provide a great informal assessment for me. I also remind my trainees that I will be reading them as proof that they’ve earned their entrance into the space academy- where the best and brightest go!
solar system unit
I even glue their face in the space helmet!
Solar System Spectacular: Calling all Astronauts!

I have such a hard time fitting in science with all the other subjects that I have to teach. One strategy that I use is integrating reading and writing with my science topics. Here is one idea of how I incorporate reading strategies when teaching about the different constellations. I begin by asking the students to think about what they already know about constellations. This prior knowledge is called a child’s schema- and it includes all their prior experiences about the topic. All my students, or should I say, junior astronauts, use their schema (brain file!) to share what they already know about constellations.

As I read more books and we learn more facts about constellations, their brain file grows. Students reflect on their new knowledge and revisit some of their previous understandings. We continue to learn more about each constellation by making a constellation flip book. Each page has a constellation, the formation of the stars, and the background behind the constellation.
 
After learning about the different constellations, the young astronauts pick their favorite one. Using sparkly star stickers, they form the shape of the constellation and connect the stars by using a white crayon. The students then write facts about how many stars form the constellation.
constellations
Click here if you are interested in purchasing the Crazy about Constellations file.

All junior astronauts must learn to work with other junior astronauts- very important here on Earth and in outer space! Students work in groups to write acrostic poems and present their them to the class.

acrostic poems about the planets

I assign each group a planet to research. Students use informational books and websites to research interesting and important facts about their planet. When I taught second grade, I did this lesson as a whole group. As a class, we studied one planet every day. We read the information in a source, put the information learned into our own words, and represented that information with one of the letters of the planet.
This is a great lesson to teach students about finding the MOST important facts about their assigned planet. You can challenge one group by assigning them with the planet Uranus, which has some difficult letters to begin writing their fact with.

Crew captains will definitely have the attention of their junior astronauts when they begin the next lesson with these yummy looking Milky Way bars on display!

***Important Update*** Since writing this email a few years ago, my district adopted a strict no-food policy. We must have permission slip with parent approval for every food item we use in school. I recommend that you check your district’s food policy and get parent permission if needed, prior to use any candy or gum with your students!

milky way galaxy

And, yes, they do get eaten….AFTER junior astronauts learn about our galaxy and make a really cool art project to go along with it!
Milky Way galaxy
Students painted a spiral galaxy to represent the Milky Way. We used lots of different colored paint- blue, purple, and yellow for the core of the galaxy. Students painted the paper plates and then cut in a circular pattern.
Click here if you are interested in purchasing the Galaxy Galore activity: Galaxy Activity
All astronauts know about solar and lunar eclipses and junior astronauts are no different! Below are some pictures from our Exciting Eclipse lesson!
eclipes
I kick off this lesson with a real attention grabber, Eclipse Gum! MMMMM!!!!!
eclipse
 We learn about the solar and lunar eclipse.
lunar eclipse   solar eclipse

Astronauts in training must know about how the Moon orbits the Earth and how the Earth orbits the Sun! In this hands-on, concrete approach to teach this concept, students manipulate the Moon orbiting Earth and Earth orbiting the Sun.

To keep things interesting, I passed out some Orbit gum as students were hard at work!

IMG_2015
Students then learn about the different phases of the moon. For my second graders, the learning target is as follows: I can illustrate and define the 4 phases of the moon.
Phases of the moon
Students make a concrete example of the different phases of the moon: new moon, first quarter, full moon, third quarter.
phases of the moon
(My resource about the Phases of the Moon also includes an option to teach about the 8 phases.)
phases of the moon
Last but not least, we end our unit by writing our very own informational book about the planets in the solar system. This is a great way to integrate science and ELA. After learning about the planets and the solar system, students creatively publish their own non-fiction book about each planet.
Students use what they learned to write facts and add captions to each page about the 9 planets. Students then use their creativity to add these pages to their informational text:
– All about the author
– Table of contents
– Index
– Glossary
Check out this really cool video of our flip book:

[videojs_video url=”https://inspiremeasap.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_6844.mp4″]

Want to make these solar system flip books with your students? Get your copy here: Solar System Flip Books
Remember how I started my unit with the official letters from NASA?? Similarly, as I wrap up my unit on the solar system, we celebrate by passing out the astronauts’ congratulations letter from NASA! I usually attach these letters to their final assessment- regardless of how they performed- I celebrate everyone’s hard work!
IMG_2076
As you can see….we really have some fun when learning about the solar system!! :)
I included all of the lessons that are shown above in one huge unit:
Calling All Young Astronauts: Solar System Spectacular

Here is what is included in the Solar System Unit:

1. Solar System Acrostic poems
Astronauts work in cooperative groups to research, write, and present acrostic poems about the planets!

2. Awesome orbits
Astronauts learn how the Moon orbits the earth and the earth orbits the sun, in a fun, interactive lesson! Pictures, directions with an example, a colorful poster and an awesome orbits flip book are included in this file.

3. Blast off your Space Unit
Cute and unique ideas to get your junior astronauts excited and motivated to learn about the solar system and keep them engaged throughout the unit!



4. Crazy about constellations
Young astronauts begin by sharing their schema about constellations. As they read more about constellations, their schema expands. Young astronauts then make their own constellations- which makes a beautiful bulletin board display. This file includes many colorful posters- make sure you have a color printer available! Please see the preview for some images of this file!! :)
Included:
– Resources for introducing schema to your young astronauts
– 13 posters of constellations to print and display
– Crazy about Constellations flip book (Students connect the stars to form the featured constellation)
– Writing template and art project idea for students to write about a constellation they learned about (makes a great bulletin board display!)Constellations featured in file:
– Ursa Major
– Ursa Minor
– Hercules
– Cygnus
– Cassiopeia
– Perseus
– Canis Major
– Canis Minor
– Draco
– Orion
– Pegasus
– Cephus
– Andromeda5. Exciting Eclipses
A fun and interactive way to learn about the difference between the solar and lunar eclipse!

6. Galaxy Galore
A fun writing lesson and an art project- A fun writing lesson and art project for your junior astronauts! Students write an acrostic poem about the Milky Way and then create an awesome art project. (Paint is recommended but you can also use crayons!) This file includes pictures of the project in process and the finished project!

7. Solar System Assessment
Let your astronauts show you what they know and earn their way into the space academy with flying colors!

8. Solar System comparison
A great graphic organizer

9. Solar System flip book
Students make their own non-fiction flip book on the planets in the solar system. After learning about the planets and the solar system, students creatively publish their own non-fiction book about each planet. 
Students use what they learned to write facts and add captions to each page about the 9 planets. Students then use their creativity to add these pages to their informational text:
– All about the author
– Table of contents
– Index
– Glossary 

10. The Lunar Cycle
Students make a concrete example of the different phases of the moon: new moon, first quarter, full moon, third quarter. There is also an option for the 8 phases of the moon. File includes black and white/color copies for students and anchor charts.

Click HERE to purchase the Solar System Unit on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Save 10% by purchasing directly from my website. 
purchase
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22 Responses

  1. Thanks so much for it all! I was trying to find a way to celebrate the anniversary on John Glenn's space walk and landing…. This is perfect!!!! I am a follower and look forward weekly on ideas, activitiesto inspire my class. You both are out of this world awesome!!!! Thanks for being you and sharing! sharon.washington96@yahoo.com

  2. Is there any way to just get the official NASA letter. I'm a student teacher and do not have the money to buy the whole unit (even though it looks wonderful) but would love the official letter. We are taking a trip to a NASA center in April and I this would be a great lesson to teach before we go! I love this activity though! barlow_bm@wvwc.edu

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Welcome to Inspire Me ASAP. I am a National Board Certified 2nd Grade Teacher. This is my 18th year of teaching. I love inspiring other elementary teachers to implement new ideas, strategies, and lessons in their classroom.
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