Art -- Draw the Solar System

If you prefer, you can follow step by step directions instead of a video with this link. 

Apollo 13 Views of the Moon

Useful Links to Learn about Planets

The Characteristics of the Eight Planets

Planet Facts for Kids

NASA: SpacePlace

Kids World Travel Guide: Solar System

Eyes on the Solar System: App from NASA

Our Universe: Dwarf Planets

Dwarf Planet Facts for Kids

Earth's Orbit and Rotation

Watch this video about Earth's orbit and rotation.

Read about Earth's orbit and rotation.

Try out this do it yourself activity.

Now answer these Exit Ticket questions (take a picture of your drawing for number 2).

Level 1

What is one pattern we observe because of Earth’s rotation? Explain.

Level 2

Draw a diagram of Earth’s orbit and rotation. Label the “orbit” and “rotation.”

Level 3

Explain why we need a leap year. Is it because of Earth’s orbit or rotation?

The Solar System

Check out these videos and links for bonus work on the Solar System.



Learn more about your planet below:
Kid's Astronomy
What Is a Planet?
Dwarf Planets
NASA planets
National Geographic

The Sun’s surprising movement across the sky

Astronomy -- The Sun

Read more about the sun on the following websites:
Astronomy for Kids
Nat Geo for Kids

Voyager 1 reaches the edge of the Solar System

In the news recently, Voyager 1 has reached the edge of our solar system.  This journey began in 1977 (the year I was born).  I thought this made for very exciting summertime reading.  Check out the story in the New York Times.
Here is the story in National Geographic.

Learn more from NASA:
Voyager - NASA
Voyager Mission -- NASA

NOVA -- Origins of the Solar System

Many of you have been asking about the origins of our sun and our solar system.  Watch Origins of the Solar System on PBS. 

See more from NOVA scienceNOW.

Check out The Star In You. (advanced reading)

Our Star, the Sun.

The sun for kids -- NASA
The sun -- KidsAstronomy.com
Check out the video above and then read about the sun in these two links.

The moon’s origins were brought up in class today. That was perfect, as our next unit in science will be about the solar system. I was able to find a few different links about the origin of the moon.

PBS NOVA

NASA

Check out other facts about the moon for kids.