Lets Explore the Solar System 3 rd Grade

Let’s Explore the Solar System! 3 rd Grade

Learning Objectives • Students will demonstrate an understanding of the solar system by making a 3 D model. • Students will demonstrate understanding of the planets and solar system by presenting an oral report and passing a short vocabulary quiz.

Materials • • • Paper mache mix Newspaper Styrofoam spheres (or balloons) of different sizes Construction paper Glue Photos of each planet Paintbrushes Markers Measuring stick

Preparation • Mix/make paper mache paste and cut newspaper into short, thick strips. • Lay out Styrofoam spheres (or balloons) of different sizes to represent each planet. • Have a construction paper cut of a large sun in middle of classroom. • Print photos of each planet. • Plan library visit for the students to do research books, selected websites on the internet, etc.

Attention getter • Solar system online games/ coloring books/ reading books. • Explore solar sytem: http: //www. kidsastronomy. com/index. htm • Space coloring book: http: //www. windows 2 universe. org/coloring_boo k/index. html • Space games: http: //www. nasa. gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/ flash/index. html

Procedure • Group discussion/ short lecture about solar system: focus on planets relation to one another and to the sun (size and distance and make up). • Divide students into groups with each group being assigned a different planet. • Paper mache Styrofoam (or balloons) to make a hard shell, let dry. • Library visit for students to research and find information about the solar system and their assigned planet. • Return to classroom, have groups meet and discuss/list what information they found on their assigned planets.

Procedure cont’d • Hand out printed photos of each planet to its assigned group. Students then paint paper mache spheres to look like each assigned planet. • Students make labels (markers and construction paper) containing basic information they learned about their assigned planets (size, color, distance from sun, etc. ). • Glue labels onto planets or to a sheet of paper to keep with the planet. • Have class set up their planets around the cut out sun keeping accurate proportional distances to create a 3 D model of the solar system.

Closure • Have time for the students to study the model (others groups planets/facts etc. ).

Evaluation • Each student must prepare and report an oral assignment demonstrating their understanding of the basics of the solar system and how the planets relate to one another and the sun. • Short space vocabulary quiz.

Resources • Explore solar system: http: //www. kidsastronomy. com/index. htm • Space coloring book: http: //www. windows 2 universe. org/coloring_book/index. ht ml • Space games: http: //www. nasa. gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/inde x. html • Explore planets: http: //kids. nineplanets. org/ • Research planets: http: //www. planetsforkids. org/planet. html • Research planets: http: //www. frontiernet. net/~kidpower/mercury. html

Adaptations for students with Austim • Focus on increasing communication with other students by providing the opportunity to work together. • Keep the schedule structured, have the planet lesson planned and on time. • Provide a picture schedule that shows how the lesson will go. • Provide a safe area: if student becomes upset or aggravated have an area he or she may go to calm down (prevents lashing out at other students and self-injurious behavior). • Provide gloves (or whatever individual student wishes to be comfortable) when dealing with paper mache and/or paint (if sensory disorder is an issue).