WELCOME TO A SMART PROJECT!

 The following project is currently under progress by Rhode Island teachers. Although in some activities, the teachers have borrowed and adapted ideas from other teachers and current programs and sources on the Internet, the work is their own. The activities are displayed here in their original form , unedited as they have submitted them. In most cases, these are ongoing projects. The names, school districts, and email addresses of the authors are included. Please feel free to contact the authors with any suggestions, comments, or even participation.Teaching and learning are cooperative efforts.

"SPACE CADETS PLACE IN SPACE"

Topic

- Space

Project Goal

- Investigation of the Solar System- particularly the planets, stars, and the moon.

Curriculum Focus:

  1. Language- Some of these activities can be taught as whole class lessons and others can be part of centers:
    Space log - children will write in them daily (star Date!!!)
    Story Starters- ie. You just landed on Jupiter and was surprised to find..........
    Legends - Create your own moon legend
    Research - Third graders and fifth graders will work together finding facts on the planets, stars and the moon.Third graders will write sentences, while fifth graders will actually write a report.This might be done in a mentor format.

  2. Reading - This is a list of books that can either be read to the children or they may read them on their own. The reading skills being taught in the basal at that time can be integrated .
    The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System by Scholastic Inc.
    The Planets in Our Solar System by Simon Seymour
    The Little Prince Antoine de Saint-Exupery
    Keepers of the Earth by Michael J.Caduto
    Papa Please Give Me The Moon by Eric Carle
    The Truth About the Moon by Clayton Bess
    On-line stories and articles on the Internet

  3. Math - This is a list of possible skills that can be covered in this unit.
    1.Graph distances of the planets from the sun
    2.Use < and > with distances between the planets
    3.Practice math drill (add,sub,mult,and division) with space facts
    4.Story probs. Create story probs. using space facts and e-mail to each other or to another class in the system, can be done with third graders and fifth graders together
    5.Grids can be used to create constellations
    6.Metric measurement can be used in art center
    7.Space Shuttle Challenge questions to be hung around the room
    8.Discover age in orbits
    9.Discover moon weight

  4. Art Center- possible activities:
    Create a mural
    Build a shuttle with the art teacher - can be used as a reading center

  5. INTERNET Activities:

    Mail :

    1.children can create story problems on the computer and e-mail them to other classes
    2.students can connect to the local middle and high schools by asking Dr. Science or Dr.Math questions through the e-mail

    World Wide Web:

    1.Students can submit articles to on line magazines such as Kidpub
    2.Children can use Lycos, Web Crawler, or Engine search to look for info. for research
    3.We can create a Home-Page on Internet that includes this unit and samples of the children's work
    4.Use the on line Nasa program that allows the students to communicate with astronauts

    Lists:

    Create a bookmark with all the space possibilities that children can research so they may just click on one

    Other:

    Lazer disc with planet activity

  6. INTERNET Addresses Search/key words, Solar System, Planets, lesson plans
    Gopher to:ericir.syr.edu
    Gopher to:spacelink.mfsc.nasa.gov
    Gopher to: quest.arc.nasa.gov
    Lycos Key words. Solar System, Planets
    Web Crawler Planets
    Jump Station
    Elementary Science This Month
    The Nine Planets
    Views of the Solar System
    Educational Chat forums
    Space games (that can be downloaded)

  7. ASSESSMENT:
    Teacher-made assessment designed for individual and group activities
    Teacher observation of student activities in centers
    Rubric system used to assess knowledge of Space, through the writing process

AUTHORS: