1. To launch the unit, hang large butcher paper sun and moon cutouts. Ask: What do you know about the sun? The moon? How are they the same? How are they different? Read sun and moon poetry. (see poetry section) Ask children to draw a picture to interpret one of the poems. Post the children's work.
2. Be a moon tracker:
Have the children go outside everynight and observe the moon. Provide a chart and have the children draw the shape of the moon and record the date. Have them bring their charts back to school each day. Every morning draw the shape of the moon on an index card. Glue the cards in order onto dark blue sentence strips. At the end of the month, discuss with the children the changes of the moon. Look for patterns.
3. Illustrate how the sun is a flaming ball of gas and how the moon is made of rock.
Cover a plastic lid with foil. The foil circle is the moon. When the lights are on, the moon seems to shine. But when the lights are off, the moon is dull. Explain that the moon has no light of is't own. Shine a flashlight on the moon. When the sun (flashlight) shines on the moon, the moon appears to glow. Show the children a picture of the earth. Ask: Does the earth appear to glow? See if the children can apply the reflection principle to the earth.
4. Make models of the planets. (paper mache)
5. Make a space shuttle.
6. Make a star shaker - Fill baby foods jars 2/3 full of light corn syrup. Add water to the top. Add glitter and confetti stars. Hot glue lid to jar. Shake. Add the poem, Twinkle, Twinkle, to the lid. CHILDREN LOVE THESE!!
7. Make constellations - Discuss constellations with the children. Show the children pictures of the many constellations in our galaxy. Have the children create their own or reproduce constellations such as the Big Dipper. Use tiny cut out stars or star stickers to create the constellations. Glue to black construction paper. Connect the stars by using white chalk.
8. I would like to visit...
Draw a space suit and glue to black paper. Add stars. Take a photo of each of your students. Then have them write where in space they would like to visit. (see below)
9. Write planet facts on index cards. |
