Thematic Units - Solar System
Solar System
You will find various Web Sites on the top portion of this page.
Further down, you will find Lesson Plans.
At the bottom of the page, you will find Books that you can order directly from Amazon.com!
Printable Worksheets
Make your own Solar System word searches and word scrambles in seconds.
Web Sites
An Overview of the Solar System
This site contains basic information about the Solar System in very simple terms.
Discovery Channel Online
Their site contians some great articles on the latest space projects. The day I visited, there was a feature story on Mars, as well as several other space related stories.
DSEP
Deep Space Exploration Project
This is a web-page journey through the solar system, with the help of The Nine Planets pages (listed above). The entire project is on the internet.
Earth and Moon Viewer
This is an INCREDIBLE site!! You can view any part of the Earth you want. You can view the areas in the sun, or in the darkness of the moon. You can choose a city to view as well. FUN!
Earth and Sky Homepage
Education and Public Outreach Activities at the HEASARC
This is an incredible site that contains an enormous amount of resources.
You can find your way to other sites.
Kid's Web
Astronomy and Space- This site contains another large amount of sites dealing with all aspects of the Solar System.
The Magic School Bus Fun Place
This site may not have solar system activities when you visit it, but it has a great deal of information dealing with the MSB programs.
NASA Home Page
This site allows you to find information on NASA's latest projects, as well as information on the Solar System in general. If you don't see what you're looking for, you can search the NASA site.
National Space Science Data Center Photo Gallery
Solar System Family Portrait includes a very cool picture of our solar system taken by the Voyager 2 spacecraft taken from the edge of the solar system.
The Nine Planets
A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System.
Science Interactives
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Scholastic.com and MSNBC are proud to present interactive activities on a variety of topics. Explore these science interactive activities to learn more about space, science, and technology."
Solar Data Analysis Center
See the sun in a whole new way!
Space Science Hotlist
This is a comprehensive list of space science resources, planets, exploration, stars, NASA, cosmology, teacher resources and ask the astronomer. There are resources to learn how to construct an amateur telescope, a Hubble Space Telescope model, and a space educator handbook.
The Solar System in Pictures
Astronomy webquests and pictures of all the planets in the solar system. There are picture quizzes on all the other solar system websites as well.
Star Child
A learning center for young astronomers.
Ulysses/NASA home page
The Ulysses Mission - A Deep Space Voyage to High Latitudes over the Solar Poles. This site contains some incredible pictures and information about the Ulysses voyages.
Your Weight On Other Worlds
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Lesson Plans
This indicates resources located on The Teacher's Corner.
Constellations & Stars Grades K-2
A fun way to learn about the constellations.
Submitted by: Flashete@email-removed
Solar System Books Grades K-2
Integrate literature into your solar system unit.
Submitted by:Marysue111@email-removed
Solar System Concentration Grades K-2
A simple and easy way to create your own game.
Submitted by: Axogirl229@email-removed
Astronomy Grades 5-6
People have always been interested in space and the fascinating and mysterious factors that surround it. Our society and our everchanging modern technological world are proving just how important our solar system is to our future.
Astronomy Jeopardy Review Grades 3-6
This is an educational game (similar to Jeopardy) to review concepts learned during the TEACH unit. It can be adapted to any material and any curriculum.
Bringing the Solar System to Life Grades 2-3
The Solar System is a very abstract concept for primary age children. This activity was designed to show children the ideas of "revolution" and "rotation".
Build a Solar System Grades Various
"Make a scale model of the Solar System and learn the REAL definition of 'space.' "
Constellations Grades 3-6
The purpose of the following activities is to strengthen the skills of visual perception, observation, and recording by using repetition of visual bulletin board displays of the North Polar Constellations and graphing those star patterns.
Glowing Glimpses of Our Universe Grades 4-6
The purpose of these activities is to bring space "home" to young people. The abstractness of our universe is so incomprehensible to young people that they often give up before even trying to understand. A need exists to introduce students to hands-on activities that will provide enjoyment, and in so doing, will promote growth and encourage interest and awareness in our universe. These activities are reinforcement activities of curriculum covered in class.
Introduction to Constellations Grades 4-6
Students learn about constellations found in the North Polar Region, including Ursa Major, Drago, Pegasus, Hercules, and Cassiopeia. Students use chalk, star stickers, and construction paper to construct a model of a constellation.
The Earth, Sun Moon and Stars Unit (Planets too!) Grade 5
An integrated space unit.
Magic School Bus Lost in Space Grades 2-3
The way the solar system is structured in the sky can be very confusing to a child. This lesson will help the students know exactly where each planet goes and what it is like on that planet. The students will read about it, create it, and watch a movie about it.
The Mystery Constellation Grades 2-4
It is very difficult to introduce and teach all the information and skills introduced in astronomy in three weeks. This activity will provide a method in which the teacher can extend the astronomy curriculum so as to include all lessons that are necessary.
Once in a Blue Moon Grades 1-2
When a month has two full moons, the second moon is sometimes referred to as a Blue Moon.
Online Discovery - Astronomy Grades Elementary
A Six Week Curriculum Unit for Intermediate Elementary Students.
Our Solar System Grade 6
To learn about the solar system.
To compare and contrast planets within the solar system, using database software to search and prepare tables and reports. To use word processing software to compose and print compositions.
Phases of the Moon Grade 3
After listening to Goodnight Moon , students use construction paper and coat hangers to construct lunar calendars. This lesson could serve as a starting point for a unit on space or space exploration.
Science: Space Sciences Grades Various
This page contains links to many of the above lessons. It displays the grade levels for each lesson.
SCIENCE: Understanding the Planets Grades 3-4
The student will use a research strategy to find information about the solar system. The student will use main and subordinate ideas to take notes and outline information about the solar system.
The Solar System Grades 4-6
The magnitude and complexity of our solar system is often difficult for students to understand. As students investigate and understand the forces of gravity and the consequences of the Earth's movement, they can better comprehend Earth's place in the solar system.
Solar System Bowl Grades 3-5
This lesson is designed for review of the solar system. It is fun for students and involves cooperative learning. The children should have a good working knowledge of the information being reviewed.
Surf to the Planets on the Internet Grades 6-8
Students will use the Internet to find data on two planets.
Your Guide to Location Orientation and Travel Grades 2-4
The purpose of this lesson is to teach elementary school students the basic knowledge and skills of location orientation and map reading.
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Books
1000 Facts About Space
by Pam Beasant
924 Elementary Problems and Answers in Solar System Astronomy
by James A. VanAllen
Amanda Visits the Planets
by Gina Ingoglia
Amazing Spacefacts : Solar System, Stars, Space Travel
by Susan Goodman
Atlas Pack : Consist Of, Quick Reference World Atlas, Notebook Solar System, Notebook World Atlas and Notebook World/Us Map
by Rand McNally
Be Your Own Astronomy Expert
by Guillaume Cannat, Nathalie Locoste, Jean-Claude Senee, Guillaume Cannat
Beginner's Guide to the Sun
by Peter O.Taylor, Nancy L. Hendrickson
Blast-Off! : A Space Counting Book
(Paper Back) (Hard Cover)
by Norma Cole
The Children's Space Atlas : A Voyage of Discovery for Young Astronauts
by Robin Kerrod
Comets, Meteors & Asteroids
by Seymour Simon
Doodle Art : Creat Your Own Original Solar System Posters, Tp-14
by Rita Warner
Eclipse! : The What, Where, When, Why, and How Guide to Watching Solar and Lunar Eclipses
by Philip S. Harrington
Encyclopedia of the Solar System
by Paul R. Weissman, Lucy-Ann McFadden, Sally Ride, Torrence Johnson
Journey to the Planets
by Patricia Lauber
Let's Look at the Planets (Poke & Look Learning Book)
by Laura Driscoll
The Magic School Bus : Lost in the Solar System
(Hard Cover) (Paper Back) (Big Book) (Video)
by Joanna Cole
Me and My Place in Space
by Joan Sweeney
The New Solar System: 4th Edition
by J.Kelly Beatty, Carolyn collins Petersen, & andr Chaikin
Postcards From Pluto: A Tour of the Solar System
by Loreen Leedy
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