Teacher Resources and Additional Post-Activities For students

Lesson Plan One - Our Galaxy, the Milky Way and our Solar System
Teacher Resources Dr. Seuss' book by Tish, R. (1999). There's No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System (Cat in
the Hat's Learning Library). New York, NY: Random House Books for Young Readers NASA Education: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/#.Uo-rF-KwVuA, a direct link to the portal for Educator resources at NASA NASA Explorer Schools Education Resource Center http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/nes2/home/index.html#.UpO5vOKwVuA, Sign up here to become a NASA explorer educator and register your school. Cost: Free. Gazing at the Stars: http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/activities/anywhereactivities/gazeatstars/ This is short live action videos produced by PBS for kids. The Solar System by CoreKnowledge http://www.coreknowledge.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/lesson_plans/1157/1_oursolarsystem.pdf This document from 2004 has a variety of teacher resources already prepared worksheets to help these grade levels learn more about the planets in our solar system. PLEASE NOTE: Since Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006, the current standard for our solar system includes eight planets, not nine.

Additional activities/handouts for extending lessons: Astronomy for kids: http://www.kidsastronomy.com NASAs Fit for Space Program: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/presskits/fit_for_space.html NASAs Fit Explorer Challenge:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/fitexplorer/home/ Great site with tons of activities for kids to get fit and take on mini-missions like they are training to become astronauts. MissionX: http://trainlikeanastronaut.org/ Annual Train like an astronaut challenge, this program is worldwide! Eight Planets, not Nine. http://www.universetoday.com/15568/how-many-planets-are-in-the-solarsystem/ This Youtube video explains why there are only 8 planets. NASA Interactive Solar System: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm Children can use the following link from NASA to learn the names of each planet Why Saturn would float in the water? http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k4/home/F_Saturn_Fun_Facts_K-4.html

Lesson Plan 2: The Sun, Earth and the Moon

Teacher Resources: Sun/Earth Scale model activity sheet - http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2007/materials/solar_pizza.pdf From Core to Corona: http://fusedweb.pppl.gov/CPEP/Chart_pages/5.Plasmas/SunLayers.html
Introduction and definitions to the Suns layers and features:

Sun Earth Media Viewer- http://ds9.ssl.berkeley.edu/viewer/flash; Full Size Sun pictures/interviews videos and more Earth-Sun-Moon Orbits and relationship http://library.thinkquest.org/29033/begin/earthsunmoon.htm Observing the Moon in the Day and Observing the Night Moon: http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/activities/anywhere-activities/obsdaymoon/ and http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/activities/anywhere-activities/obsnightmoon/ These are short live action videos produced by PBS for kids listed under Everywhere activities.

Additional activities/handouts: Bean Bag Kids Apollo 11: http://bestappsforkids.com/2013/10/bean-bag-kids-apollo-11/ Interactive story
that recounts the Apollo 11 mission and the first time man walked on the moon beginning with Kennedy's famous speech. This app could be used as an extension activity after a lesson on Earth and the Moon or after introducing the idea that scientists are thinking about going to Mars. It is an interactive format that allows children to launch the rocket, release the capsule, land on the moon. Ideas such as "orbits" and "gravity" are introduced as we watch 3 Bean Bag Kid astronauts fly to the moon and return to earth. Cost: $2.99; but the one download allows you to watch the video as many times as you want. Earth School: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/earth-school-science-dinosaur/id538790574?mt=8 This interactive learning tool teaches kids about the universe, starting with the big bang. With simple tap and swipe games, a student is taken through basic astronomy ideas about black holes, how planets form, galaxies and more. Kids love this app! Cost: FREE! Solar Walk: http://bestappsforkids.com/2011/01/iphone-ipod-ipad-app-solar-walk/ Great visuals and allow kids to easily navigate the solar system and customize their learning pathway. Highly recommended. Cost: $2.99 A Free Version is also available http://vitotechnology.com/solar-walk.html Earth/Sun/Moon: http://www.earthsunmoon.co.uk/ Fun website with lots of interactive feature for kids to learn about the relationships between. Moon Phases: http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonphase/ The Edible Sun activity: http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2007/materials/solar_cookie.pdf Extend this lesson by making edible suns out of sugar cookies!!

Lesson Plan 3 - Living on Mars: Seeds

Teacher Resources: Growing a Garden on Mars (background information):
http://blogs.nature.com/soapboxscience/2013/06/05/how-to-grow-a-garden-on-mars How to grow a garden on Mars: It has been shown that some plants such as asparagus and potatoes can grow in Mars-like soils as well as seeds such as radish, alfalfa, and bean How to Plant a Garden on Mars: http://www.universetoday.com/102151/how-plant-a-garden-on-marswith-a-robot/ Living on Mars: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/living-on-mars/ A 10-minute video from National Geographic. NASA Space Food: http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/27/3922806/nasa-space-food-photos Photos of real foods astronauts eat in space. Look at Those Seeds Grow! http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/look-at-those-seeds-grow/ Great ideas and handouts for teachers to use.

Plant Cycle -- Teachers can print posters from this website to show children about plant cycle. Bean Life Cycle Poster http://storytime-storytime.blogspot.com/2013/04/this-week-we-covered-lifecycles.html Pumpkin Life Cycle Poster http://owensfamily-gwyn.blogspot.com/2013_02_01_archive.html http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/PreschoolPrintable/pumpkin-life-cycle-printable A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds, Jean Richards Millbrook Press, 2002. Discover the fascinating story of how seeds travel and grow. One Bean, Anne Rockwell. Walker Books, 1999. See how a big, beautiful plant can grow from one small bean.

Additional activities/apps/handouts: The Seed Cycle: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/seed-cycle/id440030386?mt=8

There are several Apps, but this is by far the best, and easy to work. It is beautiful, very colorful, and it is accurate.. Children learn about the seed cycle, while playing a game, and grow a garden. Children plant seeds, then (by clicking on the cloud) make it rain, and (by clicking on the sun) make the sun shine to grow the seed. They can also help the bee pollinate plants to grow more flowers. Cost: $0.99

Mars Facts for Kids: http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-mars.html Pumpkin Seed Art: http://www.readingconfetti.com/2012/10/pumpkin-seed-art.html Now that you have a bunch of pumpkin seeds, why not make some art? Space Quiz Game/activityBBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/earth_sun_moon_fs.shtml There are 10 questions, students can take the quiz over and over until they get them right. Send a Postcard to Curiosity: http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/1stbday/?go=20130806