How do you teach astronomy and space science? by Royal Observatory Greenwich

I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites:

2017-08-14 13:02:17 UTC

Intro video 2:

2017-08-14 13:10:45 UTC

2017-08-15 10:42:15 UTC

I haven't taught space yet as have spent the majority of my career in year 3. I will be teaching it this year though. I'm looking at some sort of WOW starter - hopefully an AR space experience - to get the children hooked. We also use mind maps for initial knowledge and then add to that at the end of the unit in another colour to show progress. I think that videos can be a great resource for this topic and we will take the children to the observatory as an end of unit trip.

Walking through it...

2017-08-28 14:13:49 UTC

Whenever demonstrating movement, although this is very tricky, I ask children to help act it out. I did this when we had a partial solar eclipse (child in the middle was the moon, another at one end held a torch as the sun and on the opposite side was a child as Earth) and for understanding orbits and rotation. It really helped us all understand how orbits are created and how they change what we can see from Earth.

2017-10-09 01:23:24 UTC

When teaching the skills of the Nature of Science this is a great video I've used for observation

Game of Marbles

2017-10-09 07:45:34 UTC

I use a game of marbles with my youngest students to show how celestial bodies collide.

Lots of fun!

2017-10-09 09:21:33 UTC

My experience will probably be a little different to most people here as I work as a science interpreter at The National Space Centre in Leicester, teaching people of all ages about space.
The best way to hook children is to put something physical that looks interesting out, as children naturally want to know what it is and why it's there (adults are A LOT more difficult to hook as they are nowhere near as inquisitive about the world.)
When the child is interested, turn whatever you have into a game as children love playing and it will make them really think about you're saying as children are very competitive (especially if there is a prize for getting it right like a sticker!) Let them keep guessing and changing things until they get it right, as it encourages them to go with their instincts and that it's okay in science to not always be right first time and experimenting with things is good!

I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge

2017-10-09 11:02:17 UTC

So in groups they have to discuss: Does the Earth move? How do we get day and night? Within these two questions, I give them various statements for them to discuss whether they are true or false. For example, the Earth stays still and the Sun orbits us. This gives me a good picture of where they are all a

Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical...

2017-10-09 11:09:36 UTC

For children it now seems pretty obvious as they have access to so many photos from space.
We look use BBC videos to introduce how scientists first worked out how our planet isn't flat.
They then have to work in teams to make a TV programme explaining what they have learnt. One can be the "expert" and another can be the presenter and interviewer. I encourage them to use props to explain.

How we have day and night

2017-10-09 11:17:57 UTC

I tend to introduce this by using a globe with a lego character stuck on and a torch. I model how the character is in the light and night. I get the children to repeat this using a football and a torch. They have to explain to each other.
The we go in a large area and arrange children in a circle, with their hands linked but facing outwards from the centre. I stand on the outside the circle holding a torch to represent the Sun. I get the children to move in an anticlockwise direction and as they pass me, they can see you the torch so it is day time and times when I am not visible at all (night time).
You can develop it to introduce

children ‘sunrise’ as they first see the Sun (torch), ‘midday’ when they are directly in front of the Sun, ‘sunset’ as they turn away from the Sun and ‘midnight’ when they are opposite the Sun and facing away from it.
This is a good website, you will need to use flash

Distance of the planets

2017-10-09 11:31:38 UTC

This is a good activity. We then go out into the playground and look at the distances

Movement of the Moon

2017-10-09 11:34:16 UTC

This is a very good explanation - I then get the children to imitate this in a darkened room.

Shape on Moon

2017-10-09 11:37:42 UTC

The children love this Oreo biscuit activity.

2017-10-09 12:26:10 UTC

2017-10-10 09:33:17 UTC

The big Outdoors

2017-10-10 14:31:38 UTC

Going out on and look up up the is as good way teach astronomy as it helps any who is a visual leaner.

And using visual aids is a good way of teaching sciences.

Day and night

2017-10-10 18:37:08 UTC

I have only ever taught day and night to younger children so I used 2 balloons ,one blue and one yellow to show how the earth moves round the sun and how the seasons come about.

Solar System

2017-10-11 04:26:33 UTC

Library Resources

2017-10-11 08:26:46 UTC

We've got some great readers in our school about the solar system. I usually start with the one about our planets together to gauge students' understanding and then let them explore the collection on their own.

Rotation and revolution

2017-10-11 21:27:58 UTC

Last time I explained that, U told my students to stand up and spin, first, and move around their tables, later. I was surprised, because some of them decided to do both movements at the same time.

the position of the planets

kim_lawler — 2017-10-15 09:06:12 UTC

Making models, of rough sizes using balloons for gas planets and plastercine for rock planets. All hung with strings from the ceiling. They are on a diagonal coming out from a sun in one corner in order to get a perspective of the vast distances involved between some of the bodies (the fact the planets are not evenly spaced in orbits around the sun.

Students as planets!

2017-10-15 18:00:42 UTC

Using students with planets and the playing fields as the universe. This is a great resource to help you work out the relative distances etc http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ They especially like using the toilet paper idea!

2017-10-15 20:37:48 UTC

Moon phases

Starting Out

2017-10-16 06:19:17 UTC

I have not taught this topic yet so am looking forward to using what I have learnt. We use Primary Connections, but I would love to use other ideas and resources as well.

Mission X

2017-10-16 06:51:50 UTC

This was a great activity for to get the children interested and curious about space. Lots of great resources and opportunities too

Solar system

2017-10-16 15:31:32 UTC

Solar SYSTEM

2017-10-16 15:32:11 UTC

We can make
Students more interested by using the models such as using different size of balls as planets and using stones as asteroid belts and meteoroids.

Blast off!!

2017-10-16 15:37:26 UTC

I usually use songs as a motivation, then we go to more "serious" activities like making models or watching videos. I love the Oreo biscuit activity to explain moon phases.

New to Teaching

2017-10-16 18:50:07 UTC

I have not had the opportunity to teach this subject yet.

I do like using children as resources in their own learning, so maybe construct a solar system using the students.

What not to do!

2017-10-17 20:33:27 UTC

Try not to do too much - Phases of the Moon has just appeared in the lower secondary school curriculum in Ireland. Don't try to cover everything in one go - allow time for reflection, discussion and consolidation before doing more. Spiral the ideas over two or three years. So I do 1. size of earth and moon and distance between them
then 2. orbits (so that they understand that typical model of Earth as your head and Moon as your fist - needs an arm that is the length of the classroom)
3. then phases
4. then eclipses
5. then why not eclipses each month.
Frances / BCO

Lunar Phase Simulator

2017-10-18 17:36:34 UTC

http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf

Good link to work on lunar phases with older children.

Solar System

mdiez1 — 2017-10-20 15:27:31 UTC

The youtube channel of Dr. Binocs is wonderful. I use plenty of videos from you tube and I encourage my students to work on their own exploration and investigation about planets and the solar system.

Learning to teach

2017-10-22 21:37:07 UTC

As an undergraduate student, i am yet to have any experience in teaching primary science.

But in terms of teaching generally, I like to give students opportunities to learn themselves thus would like to use lot of resources.

Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here.

2017-10-23 08:41:26 UTC

Lisa

Scale model of the solar system

2017-10-23 14:06:50 UTC

With a little knowledge (e.g Earth and Venus are the same size as each other, Jupiter is the biggest planet, mercury is the smallest... etc) this is quite a fun task to put the fruit on their tables and get them to guess which fruit represents which planet, then put them in order.

Experience phases of the moon

2017-10-23 14:10:33 UTC

I do this with a swivel chair- get one student on the swivel chair to be the earth and recap that it takes 24h for the earth to spin on its axis. Get one student to hold the torch (sun) and reiterate that the sun doesn't move. As you move the ball around the chair the student is sitting on, they can clearly see the phases of the moon. You can also model a solar and lunar eclipse in this way.

Good science CPD

2017-10-23 14:42:23 UTC

http://www.reachoutcpd.com/ it's free - just sign up and do online modules.

2017-10-24 15:56:26 UTC

Art lesson, which the scale was better

2017-10-24 15:58:42 UTC

Papier-mâché planets

Teaching Space

2017-10-24 16:56:44 UTC

We are fortunate to have a local observatory... One of the highlights of the school year is our night time field trip.

L m

2017-10-25 13:55:32 UTC

I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson

manette_carroll — 2017-10-26 14:09:29 UTC

I've also done scale models of the solar system using toilet roll and fruit

TEACHING ATRONOMY

2017-10-27 13:58:45 UTC

We teach astronomy through graphics on whiteboard.

Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course!

2017-10-27 18:14:32 UTC

Ok

2017-10-27 21:53:08 UTC

Dark Sky Ranger

2017-10-29 13:01:59 UTC

I take people stargazing. It is great as there is lots to see and discuss. As I also do outdoor learning we often have a fire and I use this as the sun for a scale model of the Solar System using lights. I can use torches too for things like moon phases.
Clear Skies, Elizabeth Tindal

Teaching The Solar System and Space

lizellexs — 2017-10-29 13:23:55 UTC

Check out my Padlet on "The Solar System" at https://padlet.com/lswanepoel1/3g4pt5r8nhgl

TO TEACH ASTRONOMY

2017-11-02 19:48:38 UTC

USING PRACTICAL OBJECTS THAT WILL INTEREST THE STUDENTS

Teaching About the Stars

agrossin15 — 2017-11-04 16:28:19 UTC

I always do a brainstorm session with my first graders to find out what they already know about stars and what they'd like to learn. I use lots of different kinds of stories - fiction and non-fiction to try to answer their questions. We also talk about the importance of stars in history and how travellers used them to navigate. As having access to a planetarium is very difficult for my age group in Paris, I decided to make my own. Out of large, black garbage bags and strong tape, I made a planetarium. My garbage bag planetarium has a long garbage bag tube that is connected to a fan which when turned on, inflates in the form of a large pillow. One adult and three children can enter the pillow through a slit on the side. Inside, I have decorated the roof with glow in the dark stars to create the night sky. As we learn about the different major constellations, I invite my students to try to find the constellations inside. It's great fun for the class as well as the parents!

I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind..

2017-11-08 07:03:16 UTC

I display some pictures maybe videos to explain
I let them draw the space

I have not

2017-11-09 11:13:14 UTC

I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there.

2017-11-11 22:56:18 UTC

I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more.

2017-11-15 14:51:17 UTC

interactive notebooks

2017-11-19 10:34:39 UTC

after practical activities and discussion, written work for their books like this makes it more memorable

Scaled down solar system

2017-11-19 10:42:14 UTC

I usually something along the lines of just how big or far away the planets are

2017-11-24 02:25:54 UTC

I love to explore the planets with my students with real photos in this link

We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab.

2017-11-27 11:25:04 UTC

I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system.

rowenaford — 2017-11-29 19:02:53 UTC

I used something like this

amal_mnagib — 2017-12-03 07:28:38 UTC

Teaching about the solar system.

2017-12-09 04:02:38 UTC

I used a variety of techniques, such as videos, drawings, pictures, written text, creating models in groups worked best for me. I found it to be agreed topic for group activities.
Another thing that I did was to get a number of balls of different sizes and labeled them with planet names. I then took the students outside and we recreated how they orbit the earth. Useful for explaining length of years.

Teaching the solar sytem

2018-01-31 09:58:41 UTC

I utilise IT as much as possible to bring it into the classroom, hands on experiences, using spheres in relative sizes paced out on the school oval, role play, wordlinks, investigations and much more. Recently we had a stardome visit and a nighttime guided observation with amazing telescopes to view stars, planets and the moon from our school oval. Our whole school visited the stardome and most attend the night guided viewing as there was no cost to families. This has given real experiences from which students have asked questions, sought information, pondered where they fit and so much more.

Teaching science

2018-02-01 02:33:50 UTC

We use an inquiry model at our school. We introduce and excite students about a topic using a mystery box, object, video etc. then we use a KWL chart to help shape the unit. We also use student questions, wonderings, to help drive the learning making it more student focused. We then explore, sort and organise our information asking our questions and the unit ends with an authentic action.
Create a video explaining a space concept to put on our school website, run a class info session for parents or invite other schools etc to explain our learning to. Create a universe in the classroom. We have a focus on skills, classifying, scientific drawings etc throughout the learning.

Homework!

2018-02-01 19:13:58 UTC

The children are actively encouraged to create a model of the solar system (to their own design). The teaching always starts by finding out what they know already. They study the planets and the phases of the moon.

I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores.

2018-02-02 12:39:53 UTC

2018-02-04 11:34:10 UTC

Fict

2018-02-04 11:35:45 UTC

Astro famil

2018-02-04 11:36:57 UTC

Meteorite

2018-02-04 11:38:23 UTC

Motivation

2018-02-04 11:42:18 UTC

Show it to students

OCEAN WORLDS

2018-02-04 11:44:10 UTC

poster for students

2018-02-04 13:20:06 UTC

Shadow of love

2018-02-04 13:29:23 UTC

Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits

2018-02-04 23:01:33 UTC

A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day?

The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion.

2018-02-04 23:06:35 UTC

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/

2018-02-05 12:08:33 UTC

I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has some wonderful tools for teachers to use to educate about space. Check them out!

2018-02-05 15:08:53 UTC

I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt.

2018-02-05 15:09:35 UTC

2018-02-07 18:05:38 UTC

more_vert https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular,

https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs

2018-02-07 18:06:45 UTC

I Would play the above video to give introduction to the concepts.

Techniquest

2018-02-11 20:40:59 UTC

We might use a local science museum to enhance what we teach...Techniquest has brilliant resources and as resources may be an issue sometimes we may as well go where they have them!

2018-02-15 08:05:12 UTC

I would like first to introduce them to astronomy using this video.

Going to space

gdemarini — 2018-02-16 20:00:38 UTC

padlet.com/gdemarini/2qg532pwq7b4

meenadinakar — 2018-02-17 13:58:08 UTC

Auriga Dome

2018-02-17 14:42:55 UTC

This mobile planetarium visits our Y5 pupils every year.
The Proprietor, Dave is a member of the NASA museums program and actively involved in an International Astronomical Union program to improve the quality of Astronomy communication worldwide. He engages the interest of the children immediately and is a mine of information.
http://www.auriga-astronomy.com

2018-02-21 01:47:05 UTC

Different space stones

2018-02-21 06:50:48 UTC

I've gone out onto the field and the children have enacted the planets circling the sun. Then we've tried to recreate the distances. That's always a fun one as you've got one child practically in someone's garden! We've made fabric planets, tie dying fabric and hanging the finished spheres (ish) relative distances apart. Again, most are close then you've got two (big ones) at the other end of the school. Good talking points.

2018-02-22 13:59:36 UTC

I've gone out onto t I've gone out onto the field and the children have enacted the planets circling the sun. Then we've tried to recreate the distances. That's always a fun one as you've got one child practically in someone's garden! We've made fabric planets, tie dying fabric and hanging the finished spheres (ish) relative distances apart. Again, most are close then you've got two (big ones) at the other end of the school. Good talking points. Different space ston Different space stones Auriga Dome Auriga Dome This mobile planetarium visits our Y5 pupils every year. The Proprietor, Dave is a member of the NASA museums program and actively involved in an International Astronomical Union program to improve the quality of Astronomy communication worldwide. He engages the interest of the children immediately and is a mine of information. http://www.auriga-astronomy.com 📎 Photo Going to space Going to space padlet.com/gdemarini/2qg532pwq7b4 I would like first t I would like first to introduce them to astronomy using this video. Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 Welcome to the first episode of Crash Course Astronomy. Your host for this intergalactic adventure is the Bad Astronomer himself, Phil Plait. We begin with answering a question: "What is astronomy?" youtube Techniquest Techniquest We might use a local science museum to enhance what we teach...Techniquest has brilliant resources and as resources may be an issue sometimes we may as well go where they have them! Techniquest * Science Centre UK * Science Discovery Techniquest * Science Centre UK * Science Discovery Techniquest is the UK's longest-established science centre, with a mission to embed science in Welsh culture through interactive engagement. The UK's longest-established science centre Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BW 029 2047 5475 info@techniquest.org During local school holidays 10.00am-5.00pm Bank Holidays, seven days a week. School term 9.30am-4.30pm Tuesday-Friday; 10.00am-5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. techniquest https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs I Would play the above video to give introduction to the concepts. more_vert https://www.jp more_vert https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz Learn Solar System in detail with Dr. Binocs only on Peekaboo. Wanna know what is there in Space? What is the Milky Way? What are the various planets in our Solar System? Keep calm and watch this video where Dr.Binocs explains the Solar System in an interesting and detailed way! youtube 📎 Video SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz Learn Solar System in detail with Dr. Binocs only on Peekaboo. Wanna know what is there in Space? What is the Milky Way? What are the various planets in our Solar System? Keep calm and watch this video where Dr.Binocs explains the Solar System in an interesting and detailed way! youtube https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has some wonderful tools for teachers to use to educate about space. Check them out! The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day? Shadow of love Shadow of love Empty OCEAN WORLDS OCEAN WORLDS poster for students Motivation Motivation Show it to students 📎 Photo Meteorite Meteorite Astro famil Astro famil Fict Fict I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. Homework! Homework! The children are actively encouraged to create a model of the solar system (to their own design). The teaching always starts by finding out what they know already. They study the planets and the phases of the moon. Teaching science Teaching science We use an inquiry model at our school. We introduce and excite students about a topic using a mystery box, object, video etc. then we use a KWL chart to help shape the unit. We also use student questions, wonderings, to help drive the learning making it more student focused. We then explore, sort and organise our information asking our questions and the unit ends with an authentic action. Create a video explaining a space concept to put on our school website, run a class info session for parents or invite other schools etc to explain our learning to. Create a universe in the classroom. We have a focus on skills, classifying, scientific drawings etc throughout the learning. Teaching the solar sytem Teaching the solar sytem I utilise IT as much as possible to bring it into the classroom, hands on experiences, using spheres in relative sizes paced out on the school oval, role play, wordlinks, investigations and much more. Recently we had a stardome visit and a nighttime guided observation with amazing telescopes to view stars, planets and the moon from our school oval. Our whole school visited the stardome and most attend the night guided viewing as there was no cost to families. This has given real experiences from which students have asked questions, sought information, pondered where they fit and so much more. Teaching about the solar system. Teaching about the solar system. I used a variety of techniques, such as videos, drawings, pictures, written text, creating models in groups worked best for me. I found it to be agreed topic for group activities. Another thing that I did was to get a number of balls of different sizes and labeled them with planet names. I then took the students outside and we recreated how they orbit the earth. Useful for explaining length of years. I used something like this I used something like this I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. I love to explore th I love to explore the planets with my students with real photos in this link Earth - Overview | Planets - NASA Solar System Exploration Earth - Overview | Planets - NASA Solar System Exploration Earth is the third planet from the sun and the fifth largest in the solar system. Just slightly larger than nearby Venus, Earth is the biggest of the terrestrial planets. Our home planet is the only planet in our solar system known to harbor living things. nasa solar system exploration Scaled down solar system Scaled down solar system I usually something along the lines of just how big or far away the planets are interactive notebooks interactive notebooks after practical activities and discussion, written work for their books like this makes it more memorable I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I have not I have not I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I display some pictures maybe videos to explain I let them draw the space Teaching About the Stars Teaching About the Stars I always do a brainstorm session with my first graders to find out what they already know about stars and what they'd like to learn. I use lots of different kinds of stories - fiction and non-fiction to try to answer their questions. We also talk about the importance of stars in history and how travellers used them to navigate. As having access to a planetarium is very difficult for my age group in Paris, I decided to make my own. Out of large, black garbage bags and strong tape, I made a planetarium. My garbage bag planetarium has a long garbage bag tube that is connected to a fan which when turned on, inflates in the form of a large pillow. One adult and three children can enter the pillow through a slit on the side. Inside, I have decorated the roof with glow in the dark stars to create the night sky. As we learn about the different major constellations, I invite my students to try to find the constellations inside. It's great fun for the class as well as the parents! TO TEACH ASTRONOMY TO TEACH ASTRONOMY USING PRACTICAL OBJECTS THAT WILL INTEREST THE STUDENTS Teaching The Solar System and Space Teaching The Solar System and Space Check out my Padlet on "The Solar System" at https://padlet.com/lswanepoel1/3g4pt5r8nhgl Dark Sky Ranger Dark Sky Ranger I take people stargazing. It is great as there is lots to see and discuss. As I also do outdoor learning we often have a fire and I use this as the sun for a scale model of the Solar System using lights. I can use torches too for things like moon phases. Clear Skies, Elizabeth Tindal Ok Ok Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! TEACHING ATRONOMY TEACHING ATRONOMY We teach astronomy through graphics on whiteboard. I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've also done scale models of the solar system using toilet roll and fruit L m L m Teaching Space Teaching Space We are fortunate to have a local observatory... One of the highlights of the school year is our night time field trip. Papier-mâché planets Papier-mâché planets Good science CPD Good science CPD http://www.reachoutcpd.com/ it's free - just sign up and do online modules. Experience phases of the moon Experience phases of the moon I do this with a swivel chair- get one student on the swivel chair to be the earth and recap that it takes 24h for the earth to spin on its axis. Get one student to hold the torch (sun) and reiterate that the sun doesn't move. As you move the ball around the chair the student is sitting on, they can clearly see the phases of the moon. You can also model a solar and lunar eclipse in this way. Moon Phases Demonstration Moon Phases Demonstration Emily Morgan, author of Next Time You See the Moon, takes you through the phases of the Moon in a demonstration that will be easy to replicate in your own classroom. http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781938946332 http://www.nsta.org/nexttime-moon youtube Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Lisa Art lesson, which th Art lesson, which the scale was better Learning to teach Learning to teach As an undergraduate student, i am yet to have any experience in teaching primary science. But in terms of teaching generally, I like to give students opportunities to learn themselves thus would like to use lot of resources. Solar System Solar System The youtube channel of Dr. Binocs is wonderful. I use plenty of videos from you tube and I encourage my students to work on their own exploration and investigation about planets and the solar system. Lunar Phase Simulator Lunar Phase Simulator http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf Good link to work on lunar phases with older children. What not to do! What not to do! Try not to do too much - Phases of the Moon has just appeared in the lower secondary school curriculum in Ireland. Don't try to cover everything in one go - allow time for reflection, discussion and consolidation before doing more. Spiral the ideas over two or three years. So I do 1. size of earth and moon and distance between them then 2. orbits (so that they understand that typical model of Earth as your head and Moon as your fist - needs an arm that is the length of the classroom) 3. then phases 4. then eclipses 5. then why not eclipses each month. Frances / BCO Scale model of the solar system Scale model of the solar system With a little knowledge (e.g Earth and Venus are the same size as each other, Jupiter is the biggest planet, mercury is the smallest... etc) this is quite a fun task to put the fruit on their tables and get them to guess which fruit represents which planet, then put them in order. New to Teaching New to Teaching I have not had the opportunity to teach this subject yet. I do like using children as resources in their own learning, so maybe construct a solar system using the students. Blast off!! Blast off!! I usually use songs as a motivation, then we go to more "serious" activities like making models or watching videos. I love the Oreo biscuit activity to explain moon phases. The Solar System Song The Solar System Song It's a song about the Sun and the planets for children of all ages. This song was written and performed by A.J. Jenkins. Video by KidsTV123 Copyright 2011 A.J. Jenkins/KidsTV123: All rights reserved. This is an ORIGINAL song written in 2011 - any copying is illegal. youtube Solar SYSTEM Solar SYSTEM We can make Students more interested by using the models such as using different size of balls as planets and using stones as asteroid belts and meteoroids. Solar system Solar system Mission X Mission X This was a great activity for to get the children interested and curious about space. Lots of great resources and opportunities too Mission X Train Like An Astronaut | Train Like An Astronaut Mission X Train Like An Astronaut | Train Like An Astronaut Tim Peake sends a message from the ISS....No matter if you are in Space or on Earth we all need to work together!! Let's train like astronauts together and upload points to help Astro Charlie walk from Earth to the Moon. trainlikeanastronaut Starting Out Starting Out I have not taught this topic yet so am looking forward to using what I have learnt. We use Primary Connections, but I would love to use other ideas and resources as well. Moon phases Moon phases Students as planets! Students as planets! Using students with planets and the playing fields as the universe. This is a great resource to help you work out the relative distances etc http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ They especially like using the toilet paper idea! the position of the planets the position of the planets Making models, of rough sizes using balloons for gas planets and plastercine for rock planets. All hung with strings from the ceiling. They are on a diagonal coming out from a sun in one corner in order to get a perspective of the vast distances involved between some of the bodies (the fact the planets are not evenly spaced in orbits around the sun. Rotation and revolution Rotation and revolution Last time I explained that, U told my students to stand up and spin, first, and move around their tables, later. I was surprised, because some of them decided to do both movements at the same time. Library Resources Library Resources We've got some great readers in our school about the solar system. I usually start with the one about our planets together to gauge students' understanding and then let them explore the collection on their own. Solar System Solar System Day and night Day and night I have only ever taught day and night to younger children so I used 2 balloons ,one blue and one yellow to show how the earth moves round the sun and how the seasons come about. The big Outdoors The big Outdoors Going out on and look up up the is as good way teach astronomy as it helps any who is a visual leaner. And using visual aids is a good way of teaching sciences. Vacío Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world From your hobby to your career, your class notes to your final exam, your mood board to your runway show, padlets help you organize your life. padlet 📎 Video Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Programme website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q28 Brian Cox visits NASA's Space Power Facility in Ohio to see what happens when a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space. youtube Shape on Moon Shape on Moon The children love this Oreo biscuit activity. Space Place: The Moon's Phases in Oreos Space Place: The Moon's Phases in Oreos This article explains the monthly variations in the Moon's appearance as seen from Earth. Directions for using Oreo cookies to illustrate the four major phases of the Moon are provided. The article is targeted to children ages 10-12. nasa wavelength digital library Movement of the Moon Movement of the Moon This is a very good explanation - I then get the children to imitate this in a darkened room. Stargazing Challenge: Phases of the Moon (KS2), Series 2, Stargazing Live - BBC Two Stargazing Challenge: Phases of the Moon (KS2), Series 2, Stargazing Live - BBC Two Waxing, waning, gibbous? bbc Distance of the planets Distance of the planets This is a good activity. We then go out into the playground and look at the distances 40587-ESERO%20-%20Rosetta%20resource%20book%20%28Activity%2006%29.pdf 40587-ESERO%20-%20Rosetta%20resource%20book%20%28Activity%2006%29.pdf stem How we have day and night How we have day and night I tend to introduce this by using a globe with a lego character stuck on and a torch. I model how the character is in the light and night. I get the children to repeat this using a football and a torch. They have to explain to each other. The we go in a large area and arrange children in a circle, with their hands linked but facing outwards from the centre. I stand on the outside the circle holding a torch to represent the Sun. I get the children to move in an anticlockwise direction and as they pass me, they can see you the torch so it is day time and times when I am not visible at all (night time). You can develop it to introduce children ‘sunrise’ as they first see the Sun (torch), ‘midday’ when they are directly in front of the Sun, ‘sunset’ as they turn away from the Sun and ‘midnight’ when they are opposite the Sun and facing away from it. This is a good website, you will need to use flash earthandbeyond_b_stamp.swf earthandbeyond_b_stamp.swf 113 KB swf file manchester SWF Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... For children it now seems pretty obvious as they have access to so many photos from space. We look use BBC videos to introduce how scientists first worked out how our planet isn't flat. They then have to work in teams to make a TV programme explaining what they have learnt. One can be the "expert" and another can be the presenter and interviewer. I encourage them to use props to explain. BBC Bitesize - KS2 Science - How do we know the Earth is spherical? BBC Bitesize - KS2 Science - How do we know the Earth is spherical? The evidence for the Earth being round or spherical using Aristotle's reasoning. bbc I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge So in groups they have to discuss: Does the Earth move? How do we get day and night? Within these two questions, I give them various statements for them to discuss whether they are true or false. For example, the Earth stays still and the Sun orbits us. This gives me a good picture of where they are all a My experience will p My experience will probably be a little different to most people here as I work as a science interpreter at The National Space Centre in Leicester, teaching people of all ages about space. The best way to hook children is to put something physical that looks interesting out, as children naturally want to know what it is and why it's there (adults are A LOT more difficult to hook as they are nowhere near as inquisitive about the world.) When the child is interested, turn whatever you have into a game as children love playing and it will make them really think about you're saying as children are very competitive (especially if there is a prize for getting it right like a sticker!) Let them keep guessing and changing things until they get it right, as it encourages them to go with their instincts and that it's okay in science to not always be right first time and experimenting with things is good! Game of Marbles Game of Marbles I use a game of marbles with my youngest students to show how celestial bodies collide. Lots of fun! When teaching the sk When teaching the skills of the Nature of Science this is a great video I've used for observation Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit? Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit? Test your Awareness with Do The Test's Whodunnit. Who Killed Lord Smithe? TFL cycling safety advert! How observant are you? How did you do? www.dothetest.co.uk youtube Walking through it... Walking through it... Whenever demonstrating movement, although this is very tricky, I ask children to help act it out. I did this when we had a partial solar eclipse (child in the middle was the moon, another at one end held a torch as the sun and on the opposite side was a child as Earth) and for understanding orbits and rotation. It really helped us all understand how orbits are created and how they change what we can see from Earth. I haven't taught spa I haven't taught space yet as have spent the majority of my career in year 3. I will be teaching it this year though. I'm looking at some sort of WOW starter - hopefully an AR space experience - to get the children hooked. We also use mind maps for initial knowledge and then add to that at the end of the unit in another colour to show progress. I think that videos can be a great resource for this topic and we will take the children to the observatory as an end of unit trip. I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: To Scale: The Solar System To Scale: The Solar System On a dry lakebed in Nevada, a group of friends build the first scale model of the solar system with complete planetary orbits: a true illustration of our place in the universe. A film by Wylie Overstreet and Alex Gorosh alexgorosh.com wylieoverstreet.com Copyright 2015 vimeo Intro video 2: Intro video 2: Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Programme website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q28 Brian Cox visits NASA's Space Power Facility in Ohio to see what happens when a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space. youtube add

Demonstrating Gravity and Orbits

2018-02-28 19:32:43 UTC

I got children to hold a large sheet out taught, this was space. We then put a heavy, large toy in the centre to create a slight dip, this was a sun. We next slowly rolled a tennis ball across the sheet; it rolled straight down to the heavy toy. This was an object not escaping our 'sun's' gravity. Then we rolled the ball at different speeds. Sometimes we were able to make it spiral round before hitting the 'sun'; this was something in orbit. Other times we got the ball to dip slightly but keep going and fly off the sheet in another direction; this was the slingshot effect.

Constellations, changing night sky.

2018-03-01 12:59:37 UTC

I used planetarium software to demonstrate how the night sky can be used to navigate at night. You can show the constellations, the moon and the planets. Plus you can see the sky from different locations on the planet.

I like the way that view of the night sky can be taken back and forward in time rapidly, by skipping hours, days, years and millennium. The children got excited about looking at what the sky would have looked like at the time of the dinosaurs. We looked how the planets move in the sky compared to the stars. We looked at where the sun and moon rise.

Solar Eclipse

2018-03-01 13:06:08 UTC

When there was a partial solar eclipse we set up pin-hole cameras and several binoculars to project the solar eclipse on a screen. We had a live broadcast on a large screen of the total solar eclipse (in a different country) so people could see the solar corona when it occurred during the eclipse. Students and parents were invited.

Explaining the sky

2018-03-03 20:56:18 UTC

Working in a Planetarium, one way to explain the sky, and constellation is to give students an astrolabio (or even have them build one by cutting a pre-printed one) explain how it works and then move in the dome-room in order ti project stars on the dome and verifying if the astrolabio really works.

Solar System

2018-03-03 21:00:58 UTC

A funny way to give an idea od planet distances it to use models of the Planets an put them in a room on a proportional distance

Teaching the planets in the Solar system

roslynnmr — 2018-03-05 03:56:25 UTC

I would personally use models of planets (3D) that I have in my science lab, before moving to use 2D models (diagrams/pictures). To engage the students about the planets, I will first start my lesson by eliciting their knowledge on planets. What do they know about planets and then we will move on to watching a video on the planets. This is an example of a cartoon about the solar system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLOi2jJBai0
For the follow up activity, we will do some group discussion with a task on arranging all the planets (cut outs) on a manila card for each group.The students will then present their diagrams and explain to the rest of the class about the solar system.

Planets and distance

vainsworth — 2018-03-05 20:41:44 UTC

I think practical and visual is always a great way to teach. The scale of the universe is always something that the children are in awe of and one what that I have explained the distances between the planets is by using a scale involving toilet roll. The exact distances can be found online but the children just can't believe the vastness! It is great!

I have also taught the phases of the moon using oreos. Which is just fun!

hamaelsajjad — 2018-03-20 10:36:35 UTC

hamaelsajjad — 2018-03-20 10:39:52 UTC

I used balls and a torch to teach ch

Time zones and moon phases

2018-03-30 01:44:12 UTC

I make a ring of times, 24 in all, then show how the moon, in different positions, at different times of day. Why can you see the moon at 3pm? Or 6 am?
i also do lots of scale activities like sun and planet diameter and distance. Moon/earth to scale using a globe. I could only link one video, but the other two show models and the time zones connection.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMS5qczb0w And
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJXgKYnkRA
And https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AVkw7vfwC9k

2018-04-05 15:19:06 UTC

Time zones and moon phases Time zones and moon phases I make a ring of times, 24 in all, then show how the moon, in different positions, at different times of day. Why can you see the moon at 3pm? Or 6 am? i also do lots of scale activities like sun and planet diameter and distance. Moon/earth to scale using a globe. I could only link one video, but the other two show models and the time zones connection. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMS5qczb0w And https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJXgKYnkRA And https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AVkw7vfwC9k I used balls and a torch I used balls and a torch to teach ch Empty Planets and distance Planets and distance I think practical and visual is always a great way to teach. The scale of the universe is always something that the children are in awe of and one what that I have explained the distances between the planets is by using a scale involving toilet roll. The exact distances can be found online but the children just can't believe the vastness! It is great! I have also taught the phases of the moon using oreos. Which is just fun! Teaching the planets in the Solar system Teaching the planets in the Solar system I would personally use models of planets (3D) that I have in my science lab, before moving to use 2D models (diagrams/pictures). To engage the students about the planets, I will first start my lesson by eliciting their knowledge on planets. What do they know about planets and then we will move on to watching a video on the planets. This is an example of a cartoon about the solar system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLOi2jJBai0 For the follow up activity, we will do some group discussion with a task on arranging all the planets (cut outs) on a manila card for each group.The students will then present their diagrams and explain to the rest of the class about the solar system. Solar System Solar System A funny way to give an idea od planet distances it to use models of the Planets an put them in a room on a proportional distance Explaining the sky Explaining the sky Working in a Planetarium, one way to explain the sky, and constellation is to give students an astrolabio (or even have them build one by cutting a pre-printed one) explain how it works and then move in the dome-room in order ti project stars on the dome and verifying if the astrolabio really works. Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse When there was a partial solar eclipse we set up pin-hole cameras and several binoculars to project the solar eclipse on a screen. We had a live broadcast on a large screen of the total solar eclipse (in a different country) so people could see the solar corona when it occurred during the eclipse. Students and parents were invited. Constellations, changing night sky. Constellations, changing night sky. I used planetarium software to demonstrate how the night sky can be used to navigate at night. You can show the constellations, the moon and the planets. Plus you can see the sky from different locations on the planet. I like the way that view of the night sky can be taken back and forward in time rapidly, by skipping hours, days, years and millennium. The children got excited about looking at what the sky would have looked like at the time of the dinosaurs. We looked how the planets move in the sky compared to the stars. We looked at where the sun and moon rise. Demonstrating Gravity and Orbits Demonstrating Gravity and Orbits I got children to hold a large sheet out taught, this was space. We then put a heavy, large toy in the centre to create a slight dip, this was a sun. We next slowly rolled a tennis ball across the sheet; it rolled straight down to the heavy toy. This was an object not escaping our 'sun's' gravity. Then we rolled the ball at different speeds. Sometimes we were able to make it spiral round before hitting the 'sun'; this was something in orbit. Other times we got the ball to dip slightly but keep going and fly off the sheet in another direction; this was the slingshot effect. I've gone out onto t I' I've gone out onto t I've gone out onto the field and the children have enacted the planets circling the sun. Then we've tried to recreate the distances. That's always a fun one as you've got one child practically in someone's garden! We've made fabric planets, tie dying fabric and hanging the finished spheres (ish) relative distances apart. Again, most are close then you've got two (big ones) at the other end of the school. Good talking points. Different space ston Different space stones Auriga Dome Auriga Dome This mobile planetarium visits our Y5 pupils every year. The Proprietor, Dave is a member of the NASA museums program and actively involved in an International Astronomical Union program to improve the quality of Astronomy communication worldwide. He engages the interest of the children immediately and is a mine of information. http://www.auriga-astronomy.com 📎 Photo Going to space Going to space padlet.com/gdemarini/2qg532pwq7b4 I would like first t I would like first to introduce them to astronomy using this video. Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 Welcome to the first episode of Crash Course Astronomy. Your host for this intergalactic adventure is the Bad Astronomer himself, Phil Plait. We begin with answering a question: "What is astronomy?" youtube Techniquest Techniquest We might use a local science museum to enhance what we teach...Techniquest has brilliant resources and as resources may be an issue sometimes we may as well go where they have them! Techniquest * Science Centre UK * Science Discovery Techniquest * Science Centre UK * Science Discovery Techniquest is the UK's longest-established science centre, with a mission to embed science in Welsh culture through interactive engagement. The UK's longest-established science centre Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BW 029 2047 5475 info@techniquest.org During local school holidays 10.00am-5.00pm Bank Holidays, seven days a week. School term 9.30am-4.30pm Tuesday-Friday; 10.00am-5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. techniquest https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs I Would play the above video to give introduction to the concepts. more_vert https://www.jp more_vert https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz Learn Solar System in detail with Dr. Binocs only on Peekaboo. Wanna know what is there in Space? What is the Milky Way? What are the various planets in our Solar System? Keep calm and watch this video where Dr.Binocs explains the Solar System in an interesting and detailed way! youtube 📎 Video SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz Learn Solar System in detail with Dr. Binocs only on Peekaboo. Wanna know what is there in Space? What is the Milky Way? What are the various planets in our Solar System? Keep calm and watch this video where Dr.Binocs explains the Solar System in an interesting and detailed way! youtube https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has some wonderful tools for teachers to use to educate about space. Check them out! The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day? Shadow of love Shadow of love Empty OCEAN WORLDS OCEAN WORLDS poster for students Motivation Motivation Show it to students 📎 Photo Meteorite Meteorite Astro famil Astro famil Fict Fict I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. Homework! Homework! The children are actively encouraged to create a model of the solar system (to their own design). The teaching always starts by finding out what they know already. They study the planets and the phases of the moon. Teaching science Teaching science We use an inquiry model at our school. We introduce and excite students about a topic using a mystery box, object, video etc. then we use a KWL chart to help shape the unit. We also use student questions, wonderings, to help drive the learning making it more student focused. We then explore, sort and organise our information asking our questions and the unit ends with an authentic action. Create a video explaining a space concept to put on our school website, run a class info session for parents or invite other schools etc to explain our learning to. Create a universe in the classroom. We have a focus on skills, classifying, scientific drawings etc throughout the learning. Teaching the solar sytem Teaching the solar sytem I utilise IT as much as possible to bring it into the classroom, hands on experiences, using spheres in relative sizes paced out on the school oval, role play, wordlinks, investigations and much more. Recently we had a stardome visit and a nighttime guided observation with amazing telescopes to view stars, planets and the moon from our school oval. Our whole school visited the stardome and most attend the night guided viewing as there was no cost to families. This has given real experiences from which students have asked questions, sought information, pondered where they fit and so much more. Teaching about the solar system. Teaching about the solar system. I used a variety of techniques, such as videos, drawings, pictures, written text, creating models in groups worked best for me. I found it to be agreed topic for group activities. Another thing that I did was to get a number of balls of different sizes and labeled them with planet names. I then took the students outside and we recreated how they orbit the earth. Useful for explaining length of years. I used something like this I used something like this I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. I love to explore th I love to explore the planets with my students with real photos in this link Earth - Overview | Planets - NASA Solar System Exploration Earth - Overview | Planets - NASA Solar System Exploration Earth is the third planet from the sun and the fifth largest in the solar system. Just slightly larger than nearby Venus, Earth is the biggest of the terrestrial planets. Our home planet is the only planet in our solar system known to harbor living things. nasa solar system exploration Scaled down solar system Scaled down solar system I usually something along the lines of just how big or far away the planets are interactive notebooks interactive notebooks after practical activities and discussion, written work for their books like this makes it more memorable I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I have not I have not I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I display some pictures maybe videos to explain I let them draw the space Teaching About the Stars Teaching About the Stars I always do a brainstorm session with my first graders to find out what they already know about stars and what they'd like to learn. I use lots of different kinds of stories - fiction and non-fiction to try to answer their questions. We also talk about the importance of stars in history and how travellers used them to navigate. As having access to a planetarium is very difficult for my age group in Paris, I decided to make my own. Out of large, black garbage bags and strong tape, I made a planetarium. My garbage bag planetarium has a long garbage bag tube that is connected to a fan which when turned on, inflates in the form of a large pillow. One adult and three children can enter the pillow through a slit on the side. Inside, I have decorated the roof with glow in the dark stars to create the night sky. As we learn about the different major constellations, I invite my students to try to find the constellations inside. It's great fun for the class as well as the parents! TO TEACH ASTRONOMY TO TEACH ASTRONOMY USING PRACTICAL OBJECTS THAT WILL INTEREST THE STUDENTS Teaching The Solar System and Space Teaching The Solar System and Space Check out my Padlet on "The Solar System" at https://padlet.com/lswanepoel1/3g4pt5r8nhgl Dark Sky Ranger Dark Sky Ranger I take people stargazing. It is great as there is lots to see and discuss. As I also do outdoor learning we often have a fire and I use this as the sun for a scale model of the Solar System using lights. I can use torches too for things like moon phases. Clear Skies, Elizabeth Tindal Ok Ok Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! TEACHING ATRONOMY TEACHING ATRONOMY We teach astronomy through graphics on whiteboard. I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've also done scale models of the solar system using toilet roll and fruit L m L m Teaching Space Teaching Space We are fortunate to have a local observatory... One of the highlights of the school year is our night time field trip. Papier-mâché planets Papier-mâché planets Good science CPD Good science CPD http://www.reachoutcpd.com/ it's free - just sign up and do online modules. Experience phases of the moon Experience phases of the moon I do this with a swivel chair- get one student on the swivel chair to be the earth and recap that it takes 24h for the earth to spin on its axis. Get one student to hold the torch (sun) and reiterate that the sun doesn't move. As you move the ball around the chair the student is sitting on, they can clearly see the phases of the moon. You can also model a solar and lunar eclipse in this way. Moon Phases Demonstration Moon Phases Demonstration Emily Morgan, author of Next Time You See the Moon, takes you through the phases of the Moon in a demonstration that will be easy to replicate in your own classroom. http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781938946332 http://www.nsta.org/nexttime-moon youtube Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Lisa Art lesson, which th Art lesson, which the scale was better Learning to teach Learning to teach As an undergraduate student, i am yet to have any experience in teaching primary science. But in terms of teaching generally, I like to give students opportunities to learn themselves thus would like to use lot of resources. Solar System Solar System The youtube channel of Dr. Binocs is wonderful. I use plenty of videos from you tube and I encourage my students to work on their own exploration and investigation about planets and the solar system. Lunar Phase Simulator Lunar Phase Simulator http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf Good link to work on lunar phases with older children. What not to do! What not to do! Try not to do too much - Phases of the Moon has just appeared in the lower secondary school curriculum in Ireland. Don't try to cover everything in one go - allow time for reflection, discussion and consolidation before doing more. Spiral the ideas over two or three years. So I do 1. size of earth and moon and distance between them then 2. orbits (so that they understand that typical model of Earth as your head and Moon as your fist - needs an arm that is the length of the classroom) 3. then phases 4. then eclipses 5. then why not eclipses each month. Frances / BCO Scale model of the solar system Scale model of the solar system With a little knowledge (e.g Earth and Venus are the same size as each other, Jupiter is the biggest planet, mercury is the smallest... etc) this is quite a fun task to put the fruit on their tables and get them to guess which fruit represents which planet, then put them in order. New to Teaching New to Teaching I have not had the opportunity to teach this subject yet. I do like using children as resources in their own learning, so maybe construct a solar system using the students. Blast off!! Blast off!! I usually use songs as a motivation, then we go to more "serious" activities like making models or watching videos. I love the Oreo biscuit activity to explain moon phases. The Solar System Song The Solar System Song It's a song about the Sun and the planets for children of all ages. This song was written and performed by A.J. Jenkins. Video by KidsTV123 Copyright 2011 A.J. Jenkins/KidsTV123: All rights reserved. This is an ORIGINAL song written in 2011 - any copying is illegal. youtube Solar SYSTEM Solar SYSTEM We can make Students more interested by using the models such as using different size of balls as planets and using stones as asteroid belts and meteoroids. Solar system Solar system Mission X Mission X This was a great activity for to get the children interested and curious about space. Lots of great resources and opportunities too Mission X Train Like An Astronaut | Train Like An Astronaut Mission X Train Like An Astronaut | Train Like An Astronaut Tim Peake sends a message from the ISS....No matter if you are in Space or on Earth we all need to work together!! Let's train like astronauts together and upload points to help Astro Charlie walk from Earth to the Moon. trainlikeanastronaut Starting Out Starting Out I have not taught this topic yet so am looking forward to using what I have learnt. We use Primary Connections, but I would love to use other ideas and resources as well. Moon phases Moon phases Students as planets! Students as planets! Using students with planets and the playing fields as the universe. This is a great resource to help you work out the relative distances etc http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ They especially like using the toilet paper idea! the position of the planets the position of the planets Making models, of rough sizes using balloons for gas planets and plastercine for rock planets. All hung with strings from the ceiling. They are on a diagonal coming out from a sun in one corner in order to get a perspective of the vast distances involved between some of the bodies (the fact the planets are not evenly spaced in orbits around the sun. Rotation and revolution Rotation and revolution Last time I explained that, U told my students to stand up and spin, first, and move around their tables, later. I was surprised, because some of them decided to do both movements at the same time. Library Resources Library Resources We've got some great readers in our school about the solar system. I usually start with the one about our planets together to gauge students' understanding and then let them explore the collection on their own. Solar System Solar System Day and night Day and night I have only ever taught day and night to younger children so I used 2 balloons ,one blue and one yellow to show how the earth moves round the sun and how the seasons come about. The big Outdoors The big Outdoors Going out on and look up up the is as good way teach astronomy as it helps any who is a visual leaner. And using visual aids is a good way of teaching sciences. Vacío Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world From your hobby to your career, your class notes to your final exam, your mood board to your runway show, padlets help you organize your life. padlet 📎 Video Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Programme website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q28 Brian Cox visits NASA's Space Power Facility in Ohio to see what happens when a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space. youtube Shape on Moon Shape on Moon The children love this Oreo biscuit activity. Space Place: The Moon's Phases in Oreos Space Place: The Moon's Phases in Oreos This article explains the monthly variations in the Moon's appearance as seen from Earth. Directions for using Oreo cookies to illustrate the four major phases of the Moon are provided. The article is targeted to children ages 10-12. nasa wavelength digital library Movement of the Moon Movement of the Moon This is a very good explanation - I then get the children to imitate this in a darkened room. Stargazing Challenge: Phases of the Moon (KS2), Series 2, Stargazing Live - BBC Two Stargazing Challenge: Phases of the Moon (KS2), Series 2, Stargazing Live - BBC Two Waxing, waning, gibbous? bbc Distance of the planets Distance of the planets This is a good activity. We then go out into the playground and look at the distances 40587-ESERO%20-%20Rosetta%20resource%20book%20%28Activity%2006%29.pdf 40587-ESERO%20-%20Rosetta%20resource%20book%20%28Activity%2006%29.pdf stem How we have day and night How we have day and night I tend to introduce this by using a globe with a lego character stuck on and a torch. I model how the character is in the light and night. I get the children to repeat this using a football and a torch. They have to explain to each other. The we go in a large area and arrange children in a circle, with their hands linked but facing outwards from the centre. I stand on the outside the circle holding a torch to represent the Sun. I get the children to move in an anticlockwise direction and as they pass me, they can see you the torch so it is day time and times when I am not visible at all (night time). You can develop it to introduce children ‘sunrise’ as they first see the Sun (torch), ‘midday’ when they are directly in front of the Sun, ‘sunset’ as they turn away from the Sun and ‘midnight’ when they are opposite the Sun and facing away from it. This is a good website, you will need to use flash earthandbeyond_b_stamp.swf earthandbeyond_b_stamp.swf 113 KB swf file manchester SWF Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... For children it now seems pretty obvious as they have access to so many photos from space. We look use BBC videos to introduce how scientists first worked out how our planet isn't flat. They then have to work in teams to make a TV programme explaining what they have learnt. One can be the "expert" and another can be the presenter and interviewer. I encourage them to use props to explain. BBC Bitesize - KS2 Science - How do we know the Earth is spherical? BBC Bitesize - KS2 Science - How do we know the Earth is spherical? The evidence for the Earth being round or spherical using Aristotle's reasoning. bbc I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge So in groups they have to discuss: Does the Earth move? How do we get day and night? Within these two questions, I give them various statements for them to discuss whether they are true or false. For example, the Earth stays still and the Sun orbits us. This gives me a good picture of where they are all a My experience will p My experience will probably be a little different to most people here as I work as a science interpreter at The National Space Centre in Leicester, teaching people of all ages about space. The best way to hook children is to put something physical that looks interesting out, as children naturally want to know what it is and why it's there (adults are A LOT more difficult to hook as they are nowhere near as inquisitive about the world.) When the child is interested, turn whatever you have into a game as children love playing and it will make them really think about you're saying as children are very competitive (especially if there is a prize for getting it right like a sticker!) Let them keep guessing and changing things until they get it right, as it encourages them to go with their instincts and that it's okay in science to not always be right first time and experimenting with things is good! Game of Marbles Game of Marbles I use a game of marbles with my youngest students to show how celestial bodies collide. Lots of fun! When teaching the sk When teaching the skills of the Nature of Science this is a great video I've used for observation Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit? Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit? Test your Awareness with Do The Test's Whodunnit. Who Killed Lord Smithe? TFL cycling safety advert! How observant are you? How did you do? www.dothetest.co.uk youtube Walking through it... Walking through it... Whenever demonstrating movement, although this is very tricky, I ask children to help act it out. I did this when we had a partial solar eclipse (child in the middle was the moon, another at one end held a torch as the sun and on the opposite side was a child as Earth) and for understanding orbits and rotation. It really helped us all understand how orbits are created and how they change what we can see from Earth. I haven't taught spa I haven't taught space yet as have spent the majority of my career in year 3. I will be teaching it this year though. I'm looking at some sort of WOW starter - hopefully an AR space experience - to get the children hooked. We also use mind maps for initial knowledge and then add to that at the end of the unit in another colour to show progress. I think that videos can be a great resource for this topic and we will take the children to the observatory as an end of unit trip. I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: To Scale: The Solar System To Scale: The Solar System On a dry lakebed in Nevada, a group of friends build the first scale model of the solar system with complete planetary orbits: a true illustration of our place in the universe. A film by Wylie Overstreet and Alex Gorosh alexgorosh.com wylieoverstreet.com Copyright 2015 vimeo Intro video 2: Intro video 2: Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Programme website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q28 Brian Cox visits NASA's Space Power Facility in Ohio to see what happens when a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space. youtube add I've gone out onto t I've gone out onto the field and the children have enacted the planets circling the sun. Then we've tried to recreate the distances. That's always a fun one as you've got one child practically in someone's garden! We've made fabric planets, tie dying fabric and hanging the finished spheres (ish) relative distances apart. Again, most are close then you've got two (big ones) at the other end of the school. Good talking points. Different space ston Different space stones Auriga Dome Auriga Dome This mobile planetarium visits our Y5 pupils every year. The Proprietor, Dave is a member of the NASA museums program and actively involved in an International Astronomical Union program to improve the quality of Astronomy communication worldwide. He engages the interest of the children immediately and is a mine of information. http://www.auriga-astronomy.com 📎 Photo Going to space Going to space padlet.com/gdemarini/2qg532pwq7b4 I would like first t I would like first to introduce them to astronomy using this video. Techniquest Techniquest We might use a local science museum to enhance what we teach...Techniquest has brilliant resources and as resources may be an issue sometimes we may as well go where they have them! https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs I Would play the above video to give introduction to the concepts. more_vert https://www.jp more_vert https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. 📎 Video https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has some wonderful tools for teachers to use to educate about space. Check them out! The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day? Shadow of love Shadow of love Empty OCEAN WORLDS OCEAN WORLDS poster for students Motivation Motivation Show it to students 📎 Photo Meteorite Meteorite Astro famil Astro famil Fict Fict I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. Homework! Homework! The children are actively encouraged to create a model of the solar system (to their own design). The teaching always starts by finding out what they know already. They study the planets and the phases of the moon. Teaching science Teaching science We use an inquiry model at our school. We introduce and excite students about a topic using a mystery box, object, video etc. then we use a KWL chart to help shape the unit. We also use student questions, wonderings, to help drive the learning making it more student focused. We then explore, sort and organise our information asking our questions and the unit ends with an authentic action. Create a video explaining a space concept to put on our school website, run a class info session for parents or invite other schools etc to explain our learning to. Create a universe in the classroom. We have a focus on skills, classifying, scientific drawings etc throughout the learning. Teaching the solar sytem Teaching the solar sytem I utilise IT as much as possible to bring it into the classroom, hands on experiences, using spheres in relative sizes paced out on the school oval, role play, wordlinks, investigations and much more. Recently we had a stardome visit and a nighttime guided observation with amazing telescopes to view stars, planets and the moon from our school oval. Our whole school visited the stardome and most attend the night guided viewing as there was no cost to families. This has given real experiences from which students have asked questions, sought information, pondered where they fit and so much more. Teaching about the solar system. Teaching about the solar system. I used a variety of techniques, such as videos, drawings, pictures, written text, creating models in groups worked best for me. I found it to be agreed topic for group activities. Another thing that I did was to get a number of balls of different sizes and labeled them with planet names. I then took the students outside and we recreated how they orbit the earth. Useful for explaining length of years. I used something like this I used something like this I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. I love to explore th I love to explore the planets with my students with real photos in this link Scaled down solar system Scaled down solar system I usually something along the lines of just how big or far away the planets are interactive notebooks interactive notebooks after practical activities and discussion, written work for their books like this makes it more memorable I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I have not I have not I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I display some pictures maybe videos to explain I let them draw the space Teaching About the Stars Teaching About the Stars I always do a brainstorm session with my first graders to find out what they already know about stars and what they'd like to learn. I use lots of different kinds of stories - fiction and non-fiction to try to answer their questions. We also talk about the importance of stars in history and how travellers used them to navigate. As having access to a planetarium is very difficult for my age group in Paris, I decided to make my own. Out of large, black garbage bags and strong tape, I made a planetarium. My garbage bag planetarium has a long garbage bag tube that is connected to a fan which when turned on, inflates in the form of a large pillow. One adult and three children can enter the pillow through a slit on the side. Inside, I have decorated the roof with glow in the dark stars to create the night sky. As we learn about the different major constellations, I invite my students to try to find the constellations inside. It's great fun for the class as well as the parents! TO TEACH ASTRONOMY TO TEACH ASTRONOMY USING PRACTICAL OBJECTS THAT WILL INTEREST THE STUDENTS Teaching The Solar System and Space Teaching The Solar System and Space Check out my Padlet on "The Solar System" at https://padlet.com/lswanepoel1/3g4pt5r8nhgl Dark Sky Ranger Dark Sky Ranger I take people stargazing. It is great as there is lots to see and discuss. As I also do outdoor learning we often have a fire and I use this as the sun for a scale model of the Solar System using lights. I can use torches too for things like moon phases. Clear Skies, Elizabeth Tindal Ok Ok Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! TEACHING ATRONOMY TEACHING ATRONOMY We teach astronomy through graphics on whiteboard. I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've also done scale models of the solar system using toilet roll and fruit L m L m Teaching Space Teaching Space We are fortunate to have a local observatory... One of the highlights of the school year is our night time field trip. Papier-mâché planets Papier-mâché planets Good science CPD Good science CPD http://www.reachoutcpd.com/ it's free - just sign up and do online modules. Experience phases of the moon Experience phases of the moon I do this with a swivel chair- get one student on the swivel chair to be the earth and recap that it takes 24h for the earth to spin on its axis. Get one student to hold the torch (sun) and reiterate that the sun doesn't move. As you move the ball around the chair the student is sitting on, they can clearly see the phases of the moon. You can also model a solar and lunar eclipse in this way. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Lisa Art lesson, which th Art lesson, which the scale was better Learning to teach Learning to teach As an undergraduate student, i am yet to have any experience in teaching primary science. But in terms of teaching generally, I like to give students opportunities to learn themselves thus would like to use lot of resources. Solar System Solar System The youtube channel of Dr. Binocs is wonderful. I use plenty of videos from you tube and I encourage my students to work on their own exploration and investigation about planets and the solar system. Lunar Phase Simulator Lunar Phase Simulator http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf Good link to work on lunar phases with older children. What not to do! What not to do! Try not to do too much - Phases of the Moon has just appeared in the lower secondary school curriculum in Ireland. Don't try to cover everything in one go - allow time for reflection, discussion and consolidation before doing more. Spiral the ideas over two or three years. So I do 1. size of earth and moon and distance between them then 2. orbits (so that they understand that typical model of Earth as your head and Moon as your fist - needs an arm that is the length of the classroom) 3. then phases 4. then eclipses 5. then why not eclipses each month. Frances / BCO Scale model of the solar system Scale model of the solar system With a little knowledge (e.g Earth and Venus are the same size as each other, Jupiter is the biggest planet, mercury is the smallest... etc) this is quite a fun task to put the fruit on their tables and get them to guess which fruit represents which planet, then put them in order. New to Teaching New to Teaching I have not had the opportunity to teach this subject yet. I do like using children as resources in their own learning, so maybe construct a solar system using the students. Blast off!! Blast off!! I usually use songs as a motivation, then we go to more "serious" activities like making models or watching videos. I love the Oreo biscuit activity to explain moon phases. Solar SYSTEM Solar SYSTEM We can make Students more interested by using the models such as using different size of balls as planets and using stones as asteroid belts and meteoroids. Solar system Solar system Mission X Mission X This was a great activity for to get the children interested and curious about space. Lots of great resources and opportunities too Starting Out Starting Out I have not taught this topic yet so am looking forward to using what I have learnt. We use Primary Connections, but I would love to use other ideas and resources as well. Moon phases Moon phases Students as planets! Students as planets! Using students with planets and the playing fields as the universe. This is a great resource to help you work out the relative distances etc http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ They especially like using the toilet paper idea! the position of the planets the position of the planets Making models, of rough sizes using balloons for gas planets and plastercine for rock planets. All hung with strings from the ceiling. They are on a diagonal coming out from a sun in one corner in order to get a perspective of the vast distances involved between some of the bodies (the fact the planets are not evenly spaced in orbits around the sun. Rotation and revolution Rotation and revolution Last time I explained that, U told my students to stand up and spin, first, and move around their tables, later. I was surprised, because some of them decided to do both movements at the same time. Library Resources Library Resources We've got some great readers in our school about the solar system. I usually start with the one about our planets together to gauge students' understanding and then let them explore the collection on their own. Solar System Solar System Day and night Day and night I have only ever taught day and night to younger children so I used 2 balloons ,one blue and one yellow to show how the earth moves round the sun and how the seasons come about. The big Outdoors The big Outdoors Going out on and look up up the is as good way teach astronomy as it helps any who is a visual leaner. And using visual aids is a good way of teaching sciences. 📎 Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world 📎 Video Shape on Moon Shape on Moon The children love this Oreo biscuit activity. Movement of the Moon Movement of the Moon This is a very good explanation - I then get the children to imitate this in a darkened room. Distance of the planets Distance of the planets This is a good activity. We then go out into the playground and look at the distances How we have day and night How we have day and night I tend to introduce this by using a globe with a lego character stuck on and a torch. I model how the character is in the light and night. I get the children to repeat this using a football and a torch. They have to explain to each other. The we go in a large area and arrange children in a circle, with their hands linked but facing outwards from the centre. I stand on the outside the circle holding a torch to represent the Sun. I get the children to move in an anticlockwise direction and as they pass me, they can see you the torch so it is day time and times when I am not visible at all (night time). You can develop it to introduce children ‘sunrise’ as they first see the Sun (torch), ‘midday’ when they are directly in front of the Sun, ‘sunset’ as they turn away from the Sun and ‘midnight’ when they are opposite the Sun and facing away from it. This is a good website, you will need to use flash Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... For children it now seems pretty obvious as they have access to so many photos from space. We look use BBC videos to introduce how scientists first worked out how our planet isn't flat. They then have to work in teams to make a TV programme explaining what they have learnt. One can be the "expert" and another can be the presenter and interviewer. I encourage them to use props to explain. I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge So in groups they have to discuss: Does the Earth move? How do we get day and night? Within these two questions, I give them various statements for them to discuss whether they are true or false. For example, the Earth stays still and the Sun orbits us. This gives me a good picture of where they are all a My experience will p My experience will probably be a little different to most people here as I work as a science interpreter at The National Space Centre in Leicester, teaching people of all ages about space. The best way to hook children is to put something physical that looks interesting out, as children naturally want to know what it is and why it's there (adults are A LOT more difficult to hook as they are nowhere near as inquisitive about the world.) When the child is interested, turn whatever you have into a game as children love playing and it will make them really think about you're saying as children are very competitive (especially if there is a prize for getting it right like a sticker!) Let them keep guessing and changing things until they get it right, as it encourages them to go with their instincts and that it's okay in science to not always be right first time and experimenting with things is good! Game of Marbles Game of Marbles I use a game of marbles with my youngest students to show how celestial bodies collide. Lots of fun! When teaching the sk When teaching the skills of the Nature of Science this is a great video I've used for observation Walking through it... Walking through it... Whenever demonstrating movement, although this is very tricky, I ask children to help act it out. I did this when we had a partial solar eclipse (child in the middle was the moon, another at one end held a torch as the sun and on the opposite side was a child as Earth) and for understanding orbits and rotation. It really helped us all understand how orbits are created and how they change what we can see from Earth. I haven't taught spa I haven't taught space yet as have spent the majority of my career in year 3. I will be teaching it this year though. I'm looking at some sort of WOW starter - hopefully an AR space experience - to get the children hooked. We also use mind maps for initial knowledge and then add to that at the end of the unit in another colour to show progress. I think that videos can be a great resource for this topic and we will take the children to the observatory as an end of unit trip. I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: Intro video 2: Intro video 2:

2018-06-06 13:05:21 UTC

I am a homeschooling Mum ... I am using a teaching product called 'Astronomy 2' by Pandia Press and it is serving as a wonderful backbone to my teaching. We also spend hours on you-tube watching documentaries, finding explanations for the 101 questions we have, and gazing at beautiful pictures of the cosmos.

Songs on Youtube

2018-06-10 16:41:54 UTC

Journey to a star: Lemongrass

2018-06-10 16:43:18 UTC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXIERd-mVQ4
This is a great video/song to end a session

Space Oddity Animation

2018-06-10 16:44:40 UTC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyadA8VcJ6g
I have used this to start or end a session

Free iPad apps

2018-06-10 16:45:48 UTC

There are quite a few that I have used including:Earth as Art, Google Earth, Gravitarium, Heat Pad, ISS Live, and Star Chart.

MT - Solar System

2018-06-11 16:09:41 UTC

I usually start by making a Big Bang with paint. I usually read the beginning of “Earth Story” until the creation of the Universe. We talk about stars and constellations. Then we make up a Sun and put it on the ceiling of the classroom. We then hang models of the planets (unfortunately not to scale). We then talk about the sizes of the Sun and the planets and show videos and share information taken from the NASA website for children. The children love counting moons, so we do that as well.

Orbits

2018-06-19 10:11:05 UTC

One of the best lessons I have done was teaching the orbits of the different planets but getting the children to all have a role. Some were planets, others moons and the asteroid belt. First they only learnt there orbit then we put them altogether to see how all the planets and move at the same times.

Inquiry

n_moloney — 2018-06-30 04:05:57 UTC

Students have asked questions, undertaken their own research, been to the museum connected to the ESA and made presentations to share .

Memory

2018-07-02 18:32:06 UTC

I am not yet a teacher but as a child I remembering visiting a planetarium with my mum and enjoying the view of our solar system. I also remember a science museum representative visiting my Primary school with a tent-like dome and projecting different space constellations on the ceiling and explaining their location. Both experiences were very informative and memorable.

Redshift Doppler

2018-07-03 07:49:16 UTC

How do we know the universe is expanding and how do we know the approximate time since the big bang?
When a police car comes towards us the tone of the siren is different from when it passes and moves away. This is because as it approaches it is pushing its sound wave and as it goes away it's stretching it. If it were stationary the pitch would be the same and this works with light waves too.
If a star is moving away from us it stretches its lightwave into the red spectrum and if it's coming towards us it compresses its lightwave into the blue part of the spectrum (Redshift and Blueshift)
This is not something particularly visible with the eye but a computer wil analyse it and determine the speed in which it is moving and if you run the process backwards you come to a time when everything comes to a single point in space around 13.8 billion years ago - The Big Bang.

2018-07-13 19:07:25 UTC

I used CrashCourse a lot to introduce a unit.

U

2018-07-31 19:31:28 UTC

2018-07-31 19:32:40 UTC

UNGA FAKTA, CLEAR PICTURES, INTERESTING SHORT FILMS AND ASKING QUESTIONS My name is Håkan Lindgren and I'm from Sweden. I haven't taught astronomy to kids yet, but when I do, I will use the excellent website "ungafakta". It's a Swedish educational site about different subjects, for young people. The set-up is really exciting and triggers the imagination. I will also use clear and visual pictures, like the one I show here about the solar system. I will use interesing and pedagogical short films. Finally I will educate by asking questions. What are the pupils interested in and what do they already know?

2018-07-31 19:57:45 UTC

http://www.ungafakta.se/stjarnorplaneter/himlakroppar/om.asp

https://youtu.be/GoW8Tf7hTGA

Teaching space

2018-08-06 09:59:18 UTC

With my 4yo, we have done solar system art work and models. She loves the videos on scishowkids. We also use apps like StarWalk, Google Sky Map and SkySafari to see the phases of the moon and stars/planets. We've also started using the ISS HD live app to look at the space station too. And of course a trip to the science museum and planetarium!

In the classroom, we've done travel guides to the planets and models. Modeling the phases of the moon is very effective. I haven't done it myself but I have seen outdoor scaled models (in the playground) of the solar system which looks great.

How I teach Astronomy in In

2018-08-07 04:23:12 UTC

How I teach astronomy depends on where I it takes, regulary I teach in multimedia room in Bosscha Observatory, using PPT slide and I variate the material based on the group of audience (who are they, where they came from and their level of study). I love to teach basic solar system for elementary student but when I face senior high school student I want to expand their space knowledge by present the advance space exploration mission such as Rosseta mission from ESA.
But If I go to school without computer facility there I use pictures to explain space (like in the photo), and bring small telescope.

Е

sevelene — 2018-10-09 17:54:29 UTC

Teaching astronomy

sevelene — 2018-10-09 17:54:35 UTC

I have never taught astronomy before, yet have some experience in teaching children. I think children would enjoy making posters about solar system, singing songs and playing games (related to the topic). Modelling, making maps are great fun too!
Nice song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGgZalXIwqI

In the past I have made a fruit solar system, paper mache solar system, scale solar systems and had children research a planet and present a poster about it to the rest of the class.

2018-10-10 08:49:08 UTC

Solar System project

2018-10-11 11:41:30 UTC

This is a project of the Solar System we did with my daughter as part of her Units of Inquiry. It's a great way to learn things and really enjoy them. She loved it!

He we start off with a song about how the elements were formed and then make a scale model of the solar system in the playground and them we link the elements to Earth science and human biology so the students think of themselves as part of space not something seperate from it.

2018-10-11 12:44:42 UTC

Our Universe..

2018-10-15 04:11:49 UTC

Firstly I will introduce the terms that related with Universe such as stars, our solar system, planets,. etc., And then I will present some facts about our universe like how our universe was formed. After that i will move on another step to introduce about our solar system in details.

And then I will let the students to build the model of our solar system.

A great activity is to show models of the sun and planets according to their real size. The sun is represented by a giant beach ball, and Earth is just a peppercorn. Then you can go outside and measure how far they would be apart to scale!

2018-10-15 13:05:06 UTC

Firstly, I introduce about the topic in related to astronomy and tell the students what I will be talking about. And then I start my speech, after preaching I ask some questions to see that they have understood that. I like to teach astronomy and help others to make and cultivate astronomy in their minds.

2018-10-19 05:17:34 UTC

At a recent Star Party that my local astronomical society organised, we had a gravity well demonstration (a sheet stretched over a frame), a Solar System Walk (Sun and Planets laid out to scale), an optics demonstration (light sources, lenses and mirrors) and a scale model of the Lunar Surface to show the shadows around the terminator and the phases. The kids loved it!

2018-10-25 08:24:29 UTC

I often give them fruit of various sizes and put out lots of reference books so they can order planets. They sort and annotate on post-its then photograph their work

2018-10-27 11:45:02 UTC

2018-11-17 19:29:47 UTC

We start with learning about how the earth and the moon move around the sun. I have student stand up and model the movements of the sun, earth, and moon. I also use a flashlight and an old globe that I have painted white to show how the phases of the moon works.

2018-12-06 23:25:47 UTC

We start with learni We start with learning about how the earth and the moon move around the sun. I have student stand up and model the movements of the sun, earth, and moon. I also use a flashlight and an old globe that I have painted white to show how the phases of the moon works. I often give them fruit of various sizes and put out lots of reference books so they can order planets. They sort and annotate on post-its then photograph their work I often give them fruit of various sizes and put out lots of reference books so they can order planets. They sort and annotate on post-its then photograph their work Firstly, I introduce about the topic in related to astronomy and tell the students what I will be talking about. And then I start my speech, after preaching I ask some questions to see that they have understood that. I like to teach astronomy and help others to make and cultivate astronomy in their minds. Firstly, I introduce about the topic in related to astronomy and tell the students what I will be talking about. And then I start my speech, after preaching I ask some questions to see that they have understood that. I like to teach astronomy and help others to make and cultivate astronomy in their minds. A great activity is to show models of the sun and planets according to their real size. The sun is represented by a giant beach ball, and Earth is just a peppercorn. Then you can go outside and measure how far they would be apart to scale! A great activity is to show models of the sun and planets according to their real size. The sun is represented by a giant beach ball, and Earth is just a peppercorn. Then you can go outside and measure how far they would be apart to scale! Our Universe.. Our Universe.. Firstly I will introduce the terms that related with Universe such as stars, our solar system, planets,. etc., And then I will present some facts about our universe like how our universe was formed. After that i will move on another step to introduce about our solar system in details.And then I will let the students to build the model of our solar system. He we start off with a song about how the elements were formed and then make a scale model of the solar system in the playground and them we link the elements to Earth science and human biology so the students think of themselves as part of space not something seperate from it. He we start off with a song about how the elements were formed and then make a scale model of the solar system in the playground and them we link the elements to Earth science and human biology so the students think of themselves as part of space not something seperate from it. Solar System project Solar System project This is a project of the Solar System we did with my daughter as part of her Units of Inquiry. It's a great way to learn things and really enjoy them. She loved it! At a recent Star Party that my local astronomical society organised, we had a gravity well demonstration (a sheet stretched over a frame), a Solar System Walk (Sun and Planets laid out to scale), an optics demonstration (light sources, lenses and mirrors) and a scale model of the Lunar Surface to show the shadows around the terminator and the phases. The kids loved it! At a recent Star Party that my local astronomical society organised, we had a gravity well demonstration (a sheet stretched over a frame), a Solar System Walk (Sun and Planets laid out to scale), an optics demonstration (light sources, lenses and mirrors) and a scale model of the Lunar Surface to show the shadows around the terminator and the phases. The kids loved it! In the past I have made a fruit solar system, paper mache solar system, scale solar systems and had children research a planet and present a poster about it to the rest of the class. In the past I have made a fruit solar system, paper mache solar system, scale solar systems and had children research a planet and present a poster about it to the rest of the class. Е Е Teaching astronomy Teaching astronomy I have never taught astronomy before, yet have some experience in teaching children. I think children would enjoy making posters about solar system, singing songs and playing games (related to the topic). Modelling, making maps are great fun too! Nice song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGgZalXIwqI How I teach Astronomy in In How I teach Astronomy in In How I teach astronomy depends on where I it takes, regulary I teach in multimedia room in Bosscha Observatory, using PPT slide and I variate the material based on the group of audience (who are they, where they came from and their level of study). I love to teach basic solar system for elementary student but when I face senior high school student I want to expand their space knowledge by present the advance space exploration mission such as Rosseta mission from ESA. But If I go to school without computer facility there I use pictures to explain space (like in the photo), and bring small telescope. Teaching space Teaching space With my 4yo, we have done solar system art work and models. She loves the videos on scishowkids. We also use apps like StarWalk, Google Sky Map and SkySafari to see the phases of the moon and stars/planets. We've also started using the ISS HD live app to look at the space station too. And of course a trip to the science museum and planetarium! In the classroom, we've done travel guides to the planets and models. Modeling the phases of the moon is very effective. I haven't done it myself but I have seen outdoor scaled models (in the playground) of the solar system which looks great. UNGA FAKTA, CLEAR PICTURES, INTERESTING SHORT FILMS AND ASKING QUESTIONS My name is Håkan Lindgren and I'm from Sweden. I haven't taught astronomy to kids yet, but when I do, I will use the excellent website "ungafakta". It's a Swedish educational site about different subjects, for young people. The set-up is really exciting and triggers the imagination. I will also use clear and visual pictures, like the one I show here about the solar system. I will use interesing and pedagogical short films. Finally I will educate by asking questions. What are the pupils interested in and what do they already know? UNGA FAKTA, CLEAR PICTURES, INTERESTING SHORT FILMS AND ASKING QUESTIONS My name is Håkan Lindgren and I'm from Sweden. I haven't taught astronomy to kids yet, but when I do, I will use the excellent website "ungafakta". It's a Swedish educational site about different subjects, for young people. The set-up is really exciting and triggers the imagination. I will also use clear and visual pictures, like the one I show here about the solar system. I will use interesing and pedagogical short films. Finally I will educate by asking questions. What are the pupils interested in and what do they already know? http://www.ungafakta.se/stjarnorplaneter/himlakroppar/om.asp https://youtu.be/GoW8Tf7hTGA 📎 Photo U U I used CrashCourse a I used CrashCourse a lot to introduce a unit. Redshift Doppler Redshift Doppler How do we know the universe is expanding and how do we know the approximate time since the big bang? When a police car comes towards us the tone of the siren is different from when it passes and moves away. This is because as it approaches it is pushing its sound wave and as it goes away it's stretching it. If it were stationary the pitch would be the same and this works with light waves too. If a star is moving away from us it stretches its lightwave into the red spectrum and if it's coming towards us it compresses its lightwave into the blue part of the spectrum (Redshift and Blueshift) This is not something particularly visible with the eye but a computer wil analyse it and determine the speed in which it is moving and if you run the process backwards you come to a time when everything comes to a single point in space around 13.8 billion years ago - The Big Bang. Memory Memory I am not yet a teacher but as a child I remembering visiting a planetarium with my mum and enjoying the view of our solar system. I also remember a science museum representative visiting my Primary school with a tent-like dome and projecting different space constellations on the ceiling and explaining their location. Both experiences were very informative and memorable. Inquiry Inquiry Students have asked questions, undertaken their own research, been to the museum connected to the ESA and made presentations to share . Orbits Orbits One of the best lessons I have done was teaching the orbits of the different planets but getting the children to all have a role. Some were planets, others moons and the asteroid belt. First they only learnt there orbit then we put them altogether to see how all the planets and move at the same times. MT - Solar System MT - Solar System I usually start by making a Big Bang with paint. I usually read the beginning of “Earth Story” until the creation of the Universe. We talk about stars and constellations. Then we make up a Sun and put it on the ceiling of the classroom. We then hang models of the planets (unfortunately not to scale). We then talk about the sizes of the Sun and the planets and show videos and share information taken from the NASA website for children. The children love counting moons, so we do that as well. Free iPad apps Free iPad apps There are quite a few that I have used including:Earth as Art, Google Earth, Gravitarium, Heat Pad, ISS Live, and Star Chart. Space Oddity Animation Space Oddity Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyadA8VcJ6g I have used this to start or end a session Journey to a star: Lemongrass Journey to a star: Lemongrass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXIERd-mVQ4 This is a great video/song to end a session Songs on Youtube Songs on Youtube I am a homeschooling I am a homeschooling Mum ... I am using a teaching product called 'Astronomy 2' by Pandia Press and it is serving as a wonderful backbone to my teaching. We also spend hours on you-tube watching documentaries, finding explanations for the 101 questions we have, and gazing at beautiful pictures of the cosmos. Time zones and moon phase Time zones and moon phases Time zones and moon phases I make a ring of times, 24 in all, then show how the moon, in different positions, at different times of day. Why can you see the moon at 3pm? Or 6 am? i also do lots of scale activities like sun and planet diameter and distance. Moon/earth to scale using a globe. I could only link one video, but the other two show models and the time zones connection. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMS5qczb0w And https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJXgKYnkRA And https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AVkw7vfwC9k I used balls and a torch I used balls and a torch to teach ch Empty Planets and distance Planets and distance I think practical and visual is always a great way to teach. The scale of the universe is always something that the children are in awe of and one what that I have explained the distances between the planets is by using a scale involving toilet roll. The exact distances can be found online but the children just can't believe the vastness! It is great! I have also taught the phases of the moon using oreos. Which is just fun! Teaching the planets in the Solar system Teaching the planets in the Solar system I would personally use models of planets (3D) that I have in my science lab, before moving to use 2D models (diagrams/pictures). To engage the students about the planets, I will first start my lesson by eliciting their knowledge on planets. What do they know about planets and then we will move on to watching a video on the planets. This is an example of a cartoon about the solar system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLOi2jJBai0 For the follow up activity, we will do some group discussion with a task on arranging all the planets (cut outs) on a manila card for each group.The students will then present their diagrams and explain to the rest of the class about the solar system. Solar System Solar System A funny way to give an idea od planet distances it to use models of the Planets an put them in a room on a proportional distance Explaining the sky Explaining the sky Working in a Planetarium, one way to explain the sky, and constellation is to give students an astrolabio (or even have them build one by cutting a pre-printed one) explain how it works and then move in the dome-room in order ti project stars on the dome and verifying if the astrolabio really works. Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse When there was a partial solar eclipse we set up pin-hole cameras and several binoculars to project the solar eclipse on a screen. We had a live broadcast on a large screen of the total solar eclipse (in a different country) so people could see the solar corona when it occurred during the eclipse. Students and parents were invited. Constellations, changing night sky. Constellations, changing night sky. I used planetarium software to demonstrate how the night sky can be used to navigate at night. You can show the constellations, the moon and the planets. Plus you can see the sky from different locations on the planet. I like the way that view of the night sky can be taken back and forward in time rapidly, by skipping hours, days, years and millennium. The children got excited about looking at what the sky would have looked like at the time of the dinosaurs. We looked how the planets move in the sky compared to the stars. We looked at where the sun and moon rise. Demonstrating Gravity and Orbits Demonstrating Gravity and Orbits I got children to hold a large sheet out taught, this was space. We then put a heavy, large toy in the centre to create a slight dip, this was a sun. We next slowly rolled a tennis ball across the sheet; it rolled straight down to the heavy toy. This was an object not escaping our 'sun's' gravity. Then we rolled the ball at different speeds. Sometimes we were able to make it spiral round before hitting the 'sun'; this was something in orbit. Other times we got the ball to dip slightly but keep going and fly off the sheet in another direction; this was the slingshot effect. I've gone out onto t I' I've gone out onto t I've gone out onto the field and the children have enacted the planets circling the sun. Then we've tried to recreate the distances. That's always a fun one as you've got one child practically in someone's garden! We've made fabric planets, tie dying fabric and hanging the finished spheres (ish) relative distances apart. Again, most are close then you've got two (big ones) at the other end of the school. Good talking points. Different space ston Different space stones Auriga Dome Auriga Dome This mobile planetarium visits our Y5 pupils every year. The Proprietor, Dave is a member of the NASA museums program and actively involved in an International Astronomical Union program to improve the quality of Astronomy communication worldwide. He engages the interest of the children immediately and is a mine of information. http://www.auriga-astronomy.com 📎 Photo Going to space Going to space padlet.com/gdemarini/2qg532pwq7b4 I would like first t I would like first to introduce them to astronomy using this video. Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 Welcome to the first episode of Crash Course Astronomy. Your host for this intergalactic adventure is the Bad Astronomer himself, Phil Plait. We begin with answering a question: "What is astronomy?" youtube Techniquest Techniquest We might use a local science museum to enhance what we teach...Techniquest has brilliant resources and as resources may be an issue sometimes we may as well go where they have them! Techniquest * Science Centre UK * Science Discovery Techniquest * Science Centre UK * Science Discovery Techniquest is the UK's longest-established science centre, with a mission to embed science in Welsh culture through interactive engagement. The UK's longest-established science centre Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BW 029 2047 5475 info@techniquest.org During local school holidays 10.00am-5.00pm Bank Holidays, seven days a week. School term 9.30am-4.30pm Tuesday-Friday; 10.00am-5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. techniquest https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs I Would play the above video to give introduction to the concepts. more_vert https://www.jp more_vert https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz Learn Solar System in detail with Dr. Binocs only on Peekaboo. Wanna know what is there in Space? What is the Milky Way? What are the various planets in our Solar System? Keep calm and watch this video where Dr.Binocs explains the Solar System in an interesting and detailed way! youtube 📎 Video SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz Learn Solar System in detail with Dr. Binocs only on Peekaboo. Wanna know what is there in Space? What is the Milky Way? What are the various planets in our Solar System? Keep calm and watch this video where Dr.Binocs explains the Solar System in an interesting and detailed way! youtube https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has some wonderful tools for teachers to use to educate about space. Check them out! The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day? Shadow of love Shadow of love Empty OCEAN WORLDS OCEAN WORLDS poster for students Motivation Motivation Show it to students 📎 Photo Meteorite Meteorite Astro famil Astro famil Fict Fict I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. Homework! Homework! The children are actively encouraged to create a model of the solar system (to their own design). The teaching always starts by finding out what they know already. They study the planets and the phases of the moon. Teaching science Teaching science We use an inquiry model at our school. We introduce and excite students about a topic using a mystery box, object, video etc. then we use a KWL chart to help shape the unit. We also use student questions, wonderings, to help drive the learning making it more student focused. We then explore, sort and organise our information asking our questions and the unit ends with an authentic action. Create a video explaining a space concept to put on our school website, run a class info session for parents or invite other schools etc to explain our learning to. Create a universe in the classroom. We have a focus on skills, classifying, scientific drawings etc throughout the learning. Teaching the solar sytem Teaching the solar sytem I utilise IT as much as possible to bring it into the classroom, hands on experiences, using spheres in relative sizes paced out on the school oval, role play, wordlinks, investigations and much more. Recently we had a stardome visit and a nighttime guided observation with amazing telescopes to view stars, planets and the moon from our school oval. Our whole school visited the stardome and most attend the night guided viewing as there was no cost to families. This has given real experiences from which students have asked questions, sought information, pondered where they fit and so much more. Teaching about the solar system. Teaching about the solar system. I used a variety of techniques, such as videos, drawings, pictures, written text, creating models in groups worked best for me. I found it to be agreed topic for group activities. Another thing that I did was to get a number of balls of different sizes and labeled them with planet names. I then took the students outside and we recreated how they orbit the earth. Useful for explaining length of years. I used something like this I used something like this I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. I love to explore th I love to explore the planets with my students with real photos in this link Earth - Overview | Planets - NASA Solar System Exploration Earth - Overview | Planets - NASA Solar System Exploration Earth is the third planet from the sun and the fifth largest in the solar system. Just slightly larger than nearby Venus, Earth is the biggest of the terrestrial planets. Our home planet is the only planet in our solar system known to harbor living things. nasa solar system exploration Scaled down solar system Scaled down solar system I usually something along the lines of just how big or far away the planets are interactive notebooks interactive notebooks after practical activities and discussion, written work for their books like this makes it more memorable I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I have not I have not I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I display some pictures maybe videos to explain I let them draw the space Teaching About the Stars Teaching About the Stars I always do a brainstorm session with my first graders to find out what they already know about stars and what they'd like to learn. I use lots of different kinds of stories - fiction and non-fiction to try to answer their questions. We also talk about the importance of stars in history and how travellers used them to navigate. As having access to a planetarium is very difficult for my age group in Paris, I decided to make my own. Out of large, black garbage bags and strong tape, I made a planetarium. My garbage bag planetarium has a long garbage bag tube that is connected to a fan which when turned on, inflates in the form of a large pillow. One adult and three children can enter the pillow through a slit on the side. Inside, I have decorated the roof with glow in the dark stars to create the night sky. As we learn about the different major constellations, I invite my students to try to find the constellations inside. It's great fun for the class as well as the parents! TO TEACH ASTRONOMY TO TEACH ASTRONOMY USING PRACTICAL OBJECTS THAT WILL INTEREST THE STUDENTS Teaching The Solar System and Space Teaching The Solar System and Space Check out my Padlet on "The Solar System" at https://padlet.com/lswanepoel1/3g4pt5r8nhgl Dark Sky Ranger Dark Sky Ranger I take people stargazing. It is great as there is lots to see and discuss. As I also do outdoor learning we often have a fire and I use this as the sun for a scale model of the Solar System using lights. I can use torches too for things like moon phases. Clear Skies, Elizabeth Tindal Ok Ok Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! TEACHING ATRONOMY TEACHING ATRONOMY We teach astronomy through graphics on whiteboard. I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've also done scale models of the solar system using toilet roll and fruit L m L m Teaching Space Teaching Space We are fortunate to have a local observatory... One of the highlights of the school year is our night time field trip. Papier-mâché planets Papier-mâché planets Good science CPD Good science CPD http://www.reachoutcpd.com/ it's free - just sign up and do online modules. Experience phases of the moon Experience phases of the moon I do this with a swivel chair- get one student on the swivel chair to be the earth and recap that it takes 24h for the earth to spin on its axis. Get one student to hold the torch (sun) and reiterate that the sun doesn't move. As you move the ball around the chair the student is sitting on, they can clearly see the phases of the moon. You can also model a solar and lunar eclipse in this way. Moon Phases Demonstration Moon Phases Demonstration Emily Morgan, author of Next Time You See the Moon, takes you through the phases of the Moon in a demonstration that will be easy to replicate in your own classroom. http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781938946332 http://www.nsta.org/nexttime-moon youtube Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Lisa Art lesson, which th Art lesson, which the scale was better Learning to teach Learning to teach As an undergraduate student, i am yet to have any experience in teaching primary science. But in terms of teaching generally, I like to give students opportunities to learn themselves thus would like to use lot of resources. Solar System Solar System The youtube channel of Dr. Binocs is wonderful. I use plenty of videos from you tube and I encourage my students to work on their own exploration and investigation about planets and the solar system. Lunar Phase Simulator Lunar Phase Simulator http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf Good link to work on lunar phases with older children. What not to do! What not to do! Try not to do too much - Phases of the Moon has just appeared in the lower secondary school curriculum in Ireland. Don't try to cover everything in one go - allow time for reflection, discussion and consolidation before doing more. Spiral the ideas over two or three years. So I do 1. size of earth and moon and distance between them then 2. orbits (so that they understand that typical model of Earth as your head and Moon as your fist - needs an arm that is the length of the classroom) 3. then phases 4. then eclipses 5. then why not eclipses each month. Frances / BCO Scale model of the solar system Scale model of the solar system With a little knowledge (e.g Earth and Venus are the same size as each other, Jupiter is the biggest planet, mercury is the smallest... etc) this is quite a fun task to put the fruit on their tables and get them to guess which fruit represents which planet, then put them in order. New to Teaching New to Teaching I have not had the opportunity to teach this subject yet. I do like using children as resources in their own learning, so maybe construct a solar system using the students. Blast off!! Blast off!! I usually use songs as a motivation, then we go to more "serious" activities like making models or watching videos. I love the Oreo biscuit activity to explain moon phases. The Solar System Song The Solar System Song It's a song about the Sun and the planets for children of all ages. This song was written and performed by A.J. Jenkins. Video by KidsTV123 Copyright 2011 A.J. Jenkins/KidsTV123: All rights reserved. This is an ORIGINAL song written in 2011 - any copying is illegal. youtube Solar SYSTEM Solar SYSTEM We can make Students more interested by using the models such as using different size of balls as planets and using stones as asteroid belts and meteoroids. Solar system Solar system Mission X Mission X This was a great activity for to get the children interested and curious about space. Lots of great resources and opportunities too Mission X Train Like An Astronaut | Train Like An Astronaut Mission X Train Like An Astronaut | Train Like An Astronaut Tim Peake sends a message from the ISS....No matter if you are in Space or on Earth we all need to work together!! Let's train like astronauts together and upload points to help Astro Charlie walk from Earth to the Moon. trainlikeanastronaut Starting Out Starting Out I have not taught this topic yet so am looking forward to using what I have learnt. We use Primary Connections, but I would love to use other ideas and resources as well. Moon phases Moon phases Students as planets! Students as planets! Using students with planets and the playing fields as the universe. This is a great resource to help you work out the relative distances etc http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ They especially like using the toilet paper idea! the position of the planets the position of the planets Making models, of rough sizes using balloons for gas planets and plastercine for rock planets. All hung with strings from the ceiling. They are on a diagonal coming out from a sun in one corner in order to get a perspective of the vast distances involved between some of the bodies (the fact the planets are not evenly spaced in orbits around the sun. Rotation and revolution Rotation and revolution Last time I explained that, U told my students to stand up and spin, first, and move around their tables, later. I was surprised, because some of them decided to do both movements at the same time. Library Resources Library Resources We've got some great readers in our school about the solar system. I usually start with the one about our planets together to gauge students' understanding and then let them explore the collection on their own. Solar System Solar System Day and night Day and night I have only ever taught day and night to younger children so I used 2 balloons ,one blue and one yellow to show how the earth moves round the sun and how the seasons come about. The big Outdoors The big Outdoors Going out on and look up up the is as good way teach astronomy as it helps any who is a visual leaner. And using visual aids is a good way of teaching sciences. Vacío Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world From your hobby to your career, your class notes to your final exam, your mood board to your runway show, padlets help you organize your life. padlet 📎 Video Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Programme website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q28 Brian Cox visits NASA's Space Power Facility in Ohio to see what happens when a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space. youtube Shape on Moon Shape on Moon The children love this Oreo biscuit activity. Space Place: The Moon's Phases in Oreos Space Place: The Moon's Phases in Oreos This article explains the monthly variations in the Moon's appearance as seen from Earth. Directions for using Oreo cookies to illustrate the four major phases of the Moon are provided. The article is targeted to children ages 10-12. nasa wavelength digital library Movement of the Moon Movement of the Moon This is a very good explanation - I then get the children to imitate this in a darkened room. Stargazing Challenge: Phases of the Moon (KS2), Series 2, Stargazing Live - BBC Two Stargazing Challenge: Phases of the Moon (KS2), Series 2, Stargazing Live - BBC Two Waxing, waning, gibbous? bbc Distance of the planets Distance of the planets This is a good activity. We then go out into the playground and look at the distances 40587-ESERO%20-%20Rosetta%20resource%20book%20%28Activity%2006%29.pdf 40587-ESERO%20-%20Rosetta%20resource%20book%20%28Activity%2006%29.pdf stem How we have day and night How we have day and night I tend to introduce this by using a globe with a lego character stuck on and a torch. I model how the character is in the light and night. I get the children to repeat this using a football and a torch. They have to explain to each other. The we go in a large area and arrange children in a circle, with their hands linked but facing outwards from the centre. I stand on the outside the circle holding a torch to represent the Sun. I get the children to move in an anticlockwise direction and as they pass me, they can see you the torch so it is day time and times when I am not visible at all (night time). You can develop it to introduce children ‘sunrise’ as they first see the Sun (torch), ‘midday’ when they are directly in front of the Sun, ‘sunset’ as they turn away from the Sun and ‘midnight’ when they are opposite the Sun and facing away from it. This is a good website, you will need to use flash earthandbeyond_b_stamp.swf earthandbeyond_b_stamp.swf 113 KB swf file manchester SWF Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... For children it now seems pretty obvious as they have access to so many photos from space. We look use BBC videos to introduce how scientists first worked out how our planet isn't flat. They then have to work in teams to make a TV programme explaining what they have learnt. One can be the "expert" and another can be the presenter and interviewer. I encourage them to use props to explain. BBC Bitesize - KS2 Science - How do we know the Earth is spherical? BBC Bitesize - KS2 Science - How do we know the Earth is spherical? The evidence for the Earth being round or spherical using Aristotle's reasoning. bbc I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge So in groups they have to discuss: Does the Earth move? How do we get day and night? Within these two questions, I give them various statements for them to discuss whether they are true or false. For example, the Earth stays still and the Sun orbits us. This gives me a good picture of where they are all a My experience will p My experience will probably be a little different to most people here as I work as a science interpreter at The National Space Centre in Leicester, teaching people of all ages about space. The best way to hook children is to put something physical that looks interesting out, as children naturally want to know what it is and why it's there (adults are A LOT more difficult to hook as they are nowhere near as inquisitive about the world.) When the child is interested, turn whatever you have into a game as children love playing and it will make them really think about you're saying as children are very competitive (especially if there is a prize for getting it right like a sticker!) Let them keep guessing and changing things until they get it right, as it encourages them to go with their instincts and that it's okay in science to not always be right first time and experimenting with things is good! Game of Marbles Game of Marbles I use a game of marbles with my youngest students to show how celestial bodies collide. Lots of fun! When teaching the sk When teaching the skills of the Nature of Science this is a great video I've used for observation Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit? Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit? Test your Awareness with Do The Test's Whodunnit. Who Killed Lord Smithe? TFL cycling safety advert! How observant are you? How did you do? www.dothetest.co.uk youtube Walking through it... Walking through it... Whenever demonstrating movement, although this is very tricky, I ask children to help act it out. I did this when we had a partial solar eclipse (child in the middle was the moon, another at one end held a torch as the sun and on the opposite side was a child as Earth) and for understanding orbits and rotation. It really helped us all understand how orbits are created and how they change what we can see from Earth. I haven't taught spa I haven't taught space yet as have spent the majority of my career in year 3. I will be teaching it this year though. I'm looking at some sort of WOW starter - hopefully an AR space experience - to get the children hooked. We also use mind maps for initial knowledge and then add to that at the end of the unit in another colour to show progress. I think that videos can be a great resource for this topic and we will take the children to the observatory as an end of unit trip. I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: To Scale: The Solar System To Scale: The Solar System On a dry lakebed in Nevada, a group of friends build the first scale model of the solar system with complete planetary orbits: a true illustration of our place in the universe. A film by Wylie Overstreet and Alex Gorosh alexgorosh.com wylieoverstreet.com Copyright 2015 vimeo Intro video 2: Intro video 2: Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Programme website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q28 Brian Cox visits NASA's Space Power Facility in Ohio to see what happens when a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space. youtube add I've gone out onto t I've gone out onto the field and the children have enacted the planets circling the sun. Then we've tried to recreate the distances. That's always a fun one as you've got one child practically in someone's garden! We've made fabric planets, tie dying fabric and hanging the finished spheres (ish) relative distances apart. Again, most are close then you've got two (big ones) at the other end of the school. Good talking points. Different space ston Different space stones Auriga Dome Auriga Dome This mobile planetarium visits our Y5 pupils every year. The Proprietor, Dave is a member of the NASA museums program and actively involved in an International Astronomical Union program to improve the quality of Astronomy communication worldwide. He engages the interest of the children immediately and is a mine of information. http://www.auriga-astronomy.com 📎 Photo Going to space Going to space padlet.com/gdemarini/2qg532pwq7b4 I would like first t I would like first to introduce them to astronomy using this video. Techniquest Techniquest We might use a local science museum to enhance what we teach...Techniquest has brilliant resources and as resources may be an issue sometimes we may as well go where they have them! https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs I Would play the above video to give introduction to the concepts. more_vert https://www.jp more_vert https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. 📎 Video https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has some wonderful tools for teachers to use to educate about space. Check them out! The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day? Shadow of love Shadow of love Empty OCEAN WORLDS OCEAN WORLDS poster for students Motivation Motivation Show it to students 📎 Photo Meteorite Meteorite Astro famil Astro famil Fict Fict I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. Homework! Homework! The children are actively encouraged to create a model of the solar system (to their own design). The teaching always starts by finding out what they know already. They study the planets and the phases of the moon. Teaching science Teaching science We use an inquiry model at our school. We introduce and excite students about a topic using a mystery box, object, video etc. then we use a KWL chart to help shape the unit. We also use student questions, wonderings, to help drive the learning making it more student focused. We then explore, sort and organise our information asking our questions and the unit ends with an authentic action. Create a video explaining a space concept to put on our school website, run a class info session for parents or invite other schools etc to explain our learning to. Create a universe in the classroom. We have a focus on skills, classifying, scientific drawings etc throughout the learning. Teaching the solar sytem Teaching the solar sytem I utilise IT as much as possible to bring it into the classroom, hands on experiences, using spheres in relative sizes paced out on the school oval, role play, wordlinks, investigations and much more. Recently we had a stardome visit and a nighttime guided observation with amazing telescopes to view stars, planets and the moon from our school oval. Our whole school visited the stardome and most attend the night guided viewing as there was no cost to families. This has given real experiences from which students have asked questions, sought information, pondered where they fit and so much more. Teaching about the solar system. Teaching about the solar system. I used a variety of techniques, such as videos, drawings, pictures, written text, creating models in groups worked best for me. I found it to be agreed topic for group activities. Another thing that I did was to get a number of balls of different sizes and labeled them with planet names. I then took the students outside and we recreated how they orbit the earth. Useful for explaining length of years. I used something like this I used something like this I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. I love to explore th I love to explore the planets with my students with real photos in this link Scaled down solar system Scaled down solar system I usually something along the lines of just how big or far away the planets are interactive notebooks interactive notebooks after practical activities and discussion, written work for their books like this makes it more memorable I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I have not I have not I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I display some pictures maybe videos to explain I let them draw the space Teaching About the Stars Teaching About the Stars I always do a brainstorm session with my first graders to find out what they already know about stars and what they'd like to learn. I use lots of different kinds of stories - fiction and non-fiction to try to answer their questions. We also talk about the importance of stars in history and how travellers used them to navigate. As having access to a planetarium is very difficult for my age group in Paris, I decided to make my own. Out of large, black garbage bags and strong tape, I made a planetarium. My garbage bag planetarium has a long garbage bag tube that is connected to a fan which when turned on, inflates in the form of a large pillow. One adult and three children can enter the pillow through a slit on the side. Inside, I have decorated the roof with glow in the dark stars to create the night sky. As we learn about the different major constellations, I invite my students to try to find the constellations inside. It's great fun for the class as well as the parents! TO TEACH ASTRONOMY TO TEACH ASTRONOMY USING PRACTICAL OBJECTS THAT WILL INTEREST THE STUDENTS Teaching The Solar System and Space Teaching The Solar System and Space Check out my Padlet on "The Solar System" at https://padlet.com/lswanepoel1/3g4pt5r8nhgl Dark Sky Ranger Dark Sky Ranger I take people stargazing. It is great as there is lots to see and discuss. As I also do outdoor learning we often have a fire and I use this as the sun for a scale model of the Solar System using lights. I can use torches too for things like moon phases. Clear Skies, Elizabeth Tindal Ok Ok Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! TEACHING ATRONOMY TEACHING ATRONOMY We teach astronomy through graphics on whiteboard. I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've also done scale models of the solar system using toilet roll and fruit L m L m Teaching Space Teaching Space We are fortunate to have a local observatory... One of the highlights of the school year is our night time field trip. Papier-mâché planets Papier-mâché planets Good science CPD Good science CPD http://www.reachoutcpd.com/ it's free - just sign up and do online modules. Experience phases of the moon Experience phases of the moon I do this with a swivel chair- get one student on the swivel chair to be the earth and recap that it takes 24h for the earth to spin on its axis. Get one student to hold the torch (sun) and reiterate that the sun doesn't move. As you move the ball around the chair the student is sitting on, they can clearly see the phases of the moon. You can also model a solar and lunar eclipse in this way. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Lisa Art lesson, which th Art lesson, which the scale was better Learning to teach Learning to teach As an undergraduate student, i am yet to have any experience in teaching primary science. But in terms of teaching generally, I like to give students opportunities to learn themselves thus would like to use lot of resources. Solar System Solar System The youtube channel of Dr. Binocs is wonderful. I use plenty of videos from you tube and I encourage my students to work on their own exploration and investigation about planets and the solar system. Lunar Phase Simulator Lunar Phase Simulator http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf Good link to work on lunar phases with older children. What not to do! What not to do! Try not to do too much - Phases of the Moon has just appeared in the lower secondary school curriculum in Ireland. Don't try to cover everything in one go - allow time for reflection, discussion and consolidation before doing more. Spiral the ideas over two or three years. So I do 1. size of earth and moon and distance between them then 2. orbits (so that they understand that typical model of Earth as your head and Moon as your fist - needs an arm that is the length of the classroom) 3. then phases 4. then eclipses 5. then why not eclipses each month. Frances / BCO Scale model of the solar system Scale model of the solar system With a little knowledge (e.g Earth and Venus are the same size as each other, Jupiter is the biggest planet, mercury is the smallest... etc) this is quite a fun task to put the fruit on their tables and get them to guess which fruit represents which planet, then put them in order. New to Teaching New to Teaching I have not had the opportunity to teach this subject yet. I do like using children as resources in their own learning, so maybe construct a solar system using the students. Blast off!! Blast off!! I usually use songs as a motivation, then we go to more "serious" activities like making models or watching videos. I love the Oreo biscuit activity to explain moon phases. Solar SYSTEM Solar SYSTEM We can make Students more interested by using the models such as using different size of balls as planets and using stones as asteroid belts and meteoroids. Solar system Solar system Mission X Mission X This was a great activity for to get the children interested and curious about space. Lots of great resources and opportunities too Starting Out Starting Out I have not taught this topic yet so am looking forward to using what I have learnt. We use Primary Connections, but I would love to use other ideas and resources as well. Moon phases Moon phases Students as planets! Students as planets! Using students with planets and the playing fields as the universe. This is a great resource to help you work out the relative distances etc http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ They especially like using the toilet paper idea! the position of the planets the position of the planets Making models, of rough sizes using balloons for gas planets and plastercine for rock planets. All hung with strings from the ceiling. They are on a diagonal coming out from a sun in one corner in order to get a perspective of the vast distances involved between some of the bodies (the fact the planets are not evenly spaced in orbits around the sun. Rotation and revolution Rotation and revolution Last time I explained that, U told my students to stand up and spin, first, and move around their tables, later. I was surprised, because some of them decided to do both movements at the same time. Library Resources Library Resources We've got some great readers in our school about the solar system. I usually start with the one about our planets together to gauge students' understanding and then let them explore the collection on their own. Solar System Solar System Day and night Day and night I have only ever taught day and night to younger children so I used 2 balloons ,one blue and one yellow to show how the earth moves round the sun and how the seasons come about. The big Outdoors The big Outdoors Going out on and look up up the is as good way teach astronomy as it helps any who is a visual leaner. And using visual aids is a good way of teaching sciences. 📎 Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world 📎 Video Shape on Moon Shape on Moon The children love this Oreo biscuit activity. Movement of the Moon Movement of the Moon This is a very good explanation - I then get the children to imitate this in a darkened room. Distance of the planets Distance of the planets This is a good activity. We then go out into the playground and look at the distances How we have day and night How we have day and night I tend to introduce this by using a globe with a lego character stuck on and a torch. I model how the character is in the light and night. I get the children to repeat this using a football and a torch. They have to explain to each other. The we go in a large area and arrange children in a circle, with their hands linked but facing outwards from the centre. I stand on the outside the circle holding a torch to represent the Sun. I get the children to move in an anticlockwise direction and as they pass me, they can see you the torch so it is day time and times when I am not visible at all (night time). You can develop it to introduce children ‘sunrise’ as they first see the Sun (torch), ‘midday’ when they are directly in front of the Sun, ‘sunset’ as they turn away from the Sun and ‘midnight’ when they are opposite the Sun and facing away from it. This is a good website, you will need to use flash Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... For children it now seems pretty obvious as they have access to so many photos from space. We look use BBC videos to introduce how scientists first worked out how our planet isn't flat. They then have to work in teams to make a TV programme explaining what they have learnt. One can be the "expert" and another can be the presenter and interviewer. I encourage them to use props to explain. I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge So in groups they have to discuss: Does the Earth move? How do we get day and night? Within these two questions, I give them various statements for them to discuss whether they are true or false. For example, the Earth stays still and the Sun orbits us. This gives me a good picture of where they are all a My experience will p My experience will probably be a little different to most people here as I work as a science interpreter at The National Space Centre in Leicester, teaching people of all ages about space. The best way to hook children is to put something physical that looks interesting out, as children naturally want to know what it is and why it's there (adults are A LOT more difficult to hook as they are nowhere near as inquisitive about the world.) When the child is interested, turn whatever you have into a game as children love playing and it will make them really think about you're saying as children are very competitive (especially if there is a prize for getting it right like a sticker!) Let them keep guessing and changing things until they get it right, as it encourages them to go with their instincts and that it's okay in science to not always be right first time and experimenting with things is good! Game of Marbles Game of Marbles I use a game of marbles with my youngest students to show how celestial bodies collide. Lots of fun! When teaching the sk When teaching the skills of the Nature of Science this is a great video I've used for observation Walking through it... Walking through it... Whenever demonstrating movement, although this is very tricky, I ask children to help act it out. I did this when we had a partial solar eclipse (child in the middle was the moon, another at one end held a torch as the sun and on the opposite side was a child as Earth) and for understanding orbits and rotation. It really helped us all understand how orbits are created and how they change what we can see from Earth. I haven't taught spa I haven't taught space yet as have spent the majority of my career in year 3. I will be teaching it this year though. I'm looking at some sort of WOW starter - hopefully an AR space experience - to get the children hooked. We also use mind maps for initial knowledge and then add to that at the end of the unit in another colour to show progress. I think that videos can be a great resource for this topic and we will take the children to the observatory as an end of unit trip. I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: Intro video 2: Intro video 2: Time zones and moon phases Time zones and moon phases I make a ring of times, 24 in all, then show how the moon, in different positions, at different times of day. Why can you see the moon at 3pm? Or 6 am? i also do lots of scale activities like sun and planet diameter and distance. Moon/earth to scale using a globe. I could only link one video, but the other two show models and the time zones connection. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMS5qczb0w And https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJXgKYnkRA And https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AVkw7vfwC9k I used balls and a torch I used balls and a torch to teach ch Empty Planets and distance Planets and distance I think practical and visual is always a great way to teach. The scale of the universe is always something that the children are in awe of and one what that I have explained the distances between the planets is by using a scale involving toilet roll. The exact distances can be found online but the children just can't believe the vastness! It is great! I have also taught the phases of the moon using oreos. Which is just fun! Teaching the planets in the Solar system Teaching the planets in the Solar system I would personally use models of planets (3D) that I have in my science lab, before moving to use 2D models (diagrams/pictures). To engage the students about the planets, I will first start my lesson by eliciting their knowledge on planets. What do they know about planets and then we will move on to watching a video on the planets. This is an example of a cartoon about the solar system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLOi2jJBai0 For the follow up activity, we will do some group discussion with a task on arranging all the planets (cut outs) on a manila card for each group.The students will then present their diagrams and explain to the rest of the class about the solar system. Solar System Solar System A funny way to give an idea od planet distances it to use models of the Planets an put them in a room on a proportional distance Explaining the sky Explaining the sky Working in a Planetarium, one way to explain the sky, and constellation is to give students an astrolabio (or even have them build one by cutting a pre-printed one) explain how it works and then move in the dome-room in order ti project stars on the dome and verifying if the astrolabio really works. Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse When there was a partial solar eclipse we set up pin-hole cameras and several binoculars to project the solar eclipse on a screen. We had a live broadcast on a large screen of the total solar eclipse (in a different country) so people could see the solar corona when it occurred during the eclipse. Students and parents were invited. Constellations, changing night sky. Constellations, changing night sky. I used planetarium software to demonstrate how the night sky can be used to navigate at night. You can show the constellations, the moon and the planets. Plus you can see the sky from different locations on the planet. I like the way that view of the night sky can be taken back and forward in time rapidly, by skipping hours, days, years and millennium. The children got excited about looking at what the sky would have looked like at the time of the dinosaurs. We looked how the planets move in the sky compared to the stars. We looked at where the sun and moon rise. Demonstrating Gravity and Orbits Demonstrating Gravity and Orbits I got children to hold a large sheet out taught, this was space. We then put a heavy, large toy in the centre to create a slight dip, this was a sun. We next slowly rolled a tennis ball across the sheet; it rolled straight down to the heavy toy. This was an object not escaping our 'sun's' gravity. Then we rolled the ball at different speeds. Sometimes we were able to make it spiral round before hitting the 'sun'; this was something in orbit. Other times we got the ball to dip slightly but keep going and fly off the sheet in another direction; this was the slingshot effect. I've gone out onto t I' I've gone out onto t I've gone out onto the field and the children have enacted the planets circling the sun. Then we've tried to recreate the distances. That's always a fun one as you've got one child practically in someone's garden! We've made fabric planets, tie dying fabric and hanging the finished spheres (ish) relative distances apart. Again, most are close then you've got two (big ones) at the other end of the school. Good talking points. Different space ston Different space stones Auriga Dome Auriga Dome This mobile planetarium visits our Y5 pupils every year. The Proprietor, Dave is a member of the NASA museums program and actively involved in an International Astronomical Union program to improve the quality of Astronomy communication worldwide. He engages the interest of the children immediately and is a mine of information. http://www.auriga-astronomy.com 📎 Photo Going to space Going to space padlet.com/gdemarini/2qg532pwq7b4 I would like first t I would like first to introduce them to astronomy using this video. Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 Welcome to the first episode of Crash Course Astronomy. Your host for this intergalactic adventure is the Bad Astronomer himself, Phil Plait. We begin with answering a question: "What is astronomy?" youtube Techniquest Techniquest We might use a local science museum to enhance what we teach...Techniquest has brilliant resources and as resources may be an issue sometimes we may as well go where they have them! Techniquest * Science Centre UK * Science Discovery Techniquest * Science Centre UK * Science Discovery Techniquest is the UK's longest-established science centre, with a mission to embed science in Welsh culture through interactive engagement. The UK's longest-established science centre Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BW 029 2047 5475 info@techniquest.org During local school holidays 10.00am-5.00pm Bank Holidays, seven days a week. School term 9.30am-4.30pm Tuesday-Friday; 10.00am-5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. techniquest https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs I Would play the above video to give introduction to the concepts. more_vert https://www.jp more_vert https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz Learn Solar System in detail with Dr. Binocs only on Peekaboo. Wanna know what is there in Space? What is the Milky Way? What are the various planets in our Solar System? Keep calm and watch this video where Dr.Binocs explains the Solar System in an interesting and detailed way! youtube 📎 Video SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz SOLAR SYSTEM - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz Learn Solar System in detail with Dr. Binocs only on Peekaboo. Wanna know what is there in Space? What is the Milky Way? What are the various planets in our Solar System? Keep calm and watch this video where Dr.Binocs explains the Solar System in an interesting and detailed way! youtube https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has some wonderful tools for teachers to use to educate about space. Check them out! The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day? Shadow of love Shadow of love Empty OCEAN WORLDS OCEAN WORLDS poster for students Motivation Motivation Show it to students 📎 Photo Meteorite Meteorite Astro famil Astro famil Fict Fict I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. Homework! Homework! The children are actively encouraged to create a model of the solar system (to their own design). The teaching always starts by finding out what they know already. They study the planets and the phases of the moon. Teaching science Teaching science We use an inquiry model at our school. We introduce and excite students about a topic using a mystery box, object, video etc. then we use a KWL chart to help shape the unit. We also use student questions, wonderings, to help drive the learning making it more student focused. We then explore, sort and organise our information asking our questions and the unit ends with an authentic action. Create a video explaining a space concept to put on our school website, run a class info session for parents or invite other schools etc to explain our learning to. Create a universe in the classroom. We have a focus on skills, classifying, scientific drawings etc throughout the learning. Teaching the solar sytem Teaching the solar sytem I utilise IT as much as possible to bring it into the classroom, hands on experiences, using spheres in relative sizes paced out on the school oval, role play, wordlinks, investigations and much more. Recently we had a stardome visit and a nighttime guided observation with amazing telescopes to view stars, planets and the moon from our school oval. Our whole school visited the stardome and most attend the night guided viewing as there was no cost to families. This has given real experiences from which students have asked questions, sought information, pondered where they fit and so much more. Teaching about the solar system. Teaching about the solar system. I used a variety of techniques, such as videos, drawings, pictures, written text, creating models in groups worked best for me. I found it to be agreed topic for group activities. Another thing that I did was to get a number of balls of different sizes and labeled them with planet names. I then took the students outside and we recreated how they orbit the earth. Useful for explaining length of years. I used something like this I used something like this I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. I love to explore th I love to explore the planets with my students with real photos in this link Earth - Overview | Planets - NASA Solar System Exploration Earth - Overview | Planets - NASA Solar System Exploration Earth is the third planet from the sun and the fifth largest in the solar system. Just slightly larger than nearby Venus, Earth is the biggest of the terrestrial planets. Our home planet is the only planet in our solar system known to harbor living things. nasa solar system exploration Scaled down solar system Scaled down solar system I usually something along the lines of just how big or far away the planets are interactive notebooks interactive notebooks after practical activities and discussion, written work for their books like this makes it more memorable I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I have not I have not I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I display some pictures maybe videos to explain I let them draw the space Teaching About the Stars Teaching About the Stars I always do a brainstorm session with my first graders to find out what they already know about stars and what they'd like to learn. I use lots of different kinds of stories - fiction and non-fiction to try to answer their questions. We also talk about the importance of stars in history and how travellers used them to navigate. As having access to a planetarium is very difficult for my age group in Paris, I decided to make my own. Out of large, black garbage bags and strong tape, I made a planetarium. My garbage bag planetarium has a long garbage bag tube that is connected to a fan which when turned on, inflates in the form of a large pillow. One adult and three children can enter the pillow through a slit on the side. Inside, I have decorated the roof with glow in the dark stars to create the night sky. As we learn about the different major constellations, I invite my students to try to find the constellations inside. It's great fun for the class as well as the parents! TO TEACH ASTRONOMY TO TEACH ASTRONOMY USING PRACTICAL OBJECTS THAT WILL INTEREST THE STUDENTS Teaching The Solar System and Space Teaching The Solar System and Space Check out my Padlet on "The Solar System" at https://padlet.com/lswanepoel1/3g4pt5r8nhgl Dark Sky Ranger Dark Sky Ranger I take people stargazing. It is great as there is lots to see and discuss. As I also do outdoor learning we often have a fire and I use this as the sun for a scale model of the Solar System using lights. I can use torches too for things like moon phases. Clear Skies, Elizabeth Tindal Ok Ok Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! TEACHING ATRONOMY TEACHING ATRONOMY We teach astronomy through graphics on whiteboard. I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've also done scale models of the solar system using toilet roll and fruit L m L m Teaching Space Teaching Space We are fortunate to have a local observatory... One of the highlights of the school year is our night time field trip. Papier-mâché planets Papier-mâché planets Good science CPD Good science CPD http://www.reachoutcpd.com/ it's free - just sign up and do online modules. Experience phases of the moon Experience phases of the moon I do this with a swivel chair- get one student on the swivel chair to be the earth and recap that it takes 24h for the earth to spin on its axis. Get one student to hold the torch (sun) and reiterate that the sun doesn't move. As you move the ball around the chair the student is sitting on, they can clearly see the phases of the moon. You can also model a solar and lunar eclipse in this way. Moon Phases Demonstration Moon Phases Demonstration Emily Morgan, author of Next Time You See the Moon, takes you through the phases of the Moon in a demonstration that will be easy to replicate in your own classroom. http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781938946332 http://www.nsta.org/nexttime-moon youtube Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Lisa Art lesson, which th Art lesson, which the scale was better Learning to teach Learning to teach As an undergraduate student, i am yet to have any experience in teaching primary science. But in terms of teaching generally, I like to give students opportunities to learn themselves thus would like to use lot of resources. Solar System Solar System The youtube channel of Dr. Binocs is wonderful. I use plenty of videos from you tube and I encourage my students to work on their own exploration and investigation about planets and the solar system. Lunar Phase Simulator Lunar Phase Simulator http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf Good link to work on lunar phases with older children. What not to do! What not to do! Try not to do too much - Phases of the Moon has just appeared in the lower secondary school curriculum in Ireland. Don't try to cover everything in one go - allow time for reflection, discussion and consolidation before doing more. Spiral the ideas over two or three years. So I do 1. size of earth and moon and distance between them then 2. orbits (so that they understand that typical model of Earth as your head and Moon as your fist - needs an arm that is the length of the classroom) 3. then phases 4. then eclipses 5. then why not eclipses each month. Frances / BCO Scale model of the solar system Scale model of the solar system With a little knowledge (e.g Earth and Venus are the same size as each other, Jupiter is the biggest planet, mercury is the smallest... etc) this is quite a fun task to put the fruit on their tables and get them to guess which fruit represents which planet, then put them in order. New to Teaching New to Teaching I have not had the opportunity to teach this subject yet. I do like using children as resources in their own learning, so maybe construct a solar system using the students. Blast off!! Blast off!! I usually use songs as a motivation, then we go to more "serious" activities like making models or watching videos. I love the Oreo biscuit activity to explain moon phases. The Solar System Song The Solar System Song It's a song about the Sun and the planets for children of all ages. This song was written and performed by A.J. Jenkins. Video by KidsTV123 Copyright 2011 A.J. Jenkins/KidsTV123: All rights reserved. This is an ORIGINAL song written in 2011 - any copying is illegal. youtube Solar SYSTEM Solar SYSTEM We can make Students more interested by using the models such as using different size of balls as planets and using stones as asteroid belts and meteoroids. Solar system Solar system Mission X Mission X This was a great activity for to get the children interested and curious about space. Lots of great resources and opportunities too Mission X Train Like An Astronaut | Train Like An Astronaut Mission X Train Like An Astronaut | Train Like An Astronaut Tim Peake sends a message from the ISS....No matter if you are in Space or on Earth we all need to work together!! Let's train like astronauts together and upload points to help Astro Charlie walk from Earth to the Moon. trainlikeanastronaut Starting Out Starting Out I have not taught this topic yet so am looking forward to using what I have learnt. We use Primary Connections, but I would love to use other ideas and resources as well. Moon phases Moon phases Students as planets! Students as planets! Using students with planets and the playing fields as the universe. This is a great resource to help you work out the relative distances etc http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ They especially like using the toilet paper idea! the position of the planets the position of the planets Making models, of rough sizes using balloons for gas planets and plastercine for rock planets. All hung with strings from the ceiling. They are on a diagonal coming out from a sun in one corner in order to get a perspective of the vast distances involved between some of the bodies (the fact the planets are not evenly spaced in orbits around the sun. Rotation and revolution Rotation and revolution Last time I explained that, U told my students to stand up and spin, first, and move around their tables, later. I was surprised, because some of them decided to do both movements at the same time. Library Resources Library Resources We've got some great readers in our school about the solar system. I usually start with the one about our planets together to gauge students' understanding and then let them explore the collection on their own. Solar System Solar System Day and night Day and night I have only ever taught day and night to younger children so I used 2 balloons ,one blue and one yellow to show how the earth moves round the sun and how the seasons come about. The big Outdoors The big Outdoors Going out on and look up up the is as good way teach astronomy as it helps any who is a visual leaner. And using visual aids is a good way of teaching sciences. Vacío Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world From your hobby to your career, your class notes to your final exam, your mood board to your runway show, padlets help you organize your life. padlet 📎 Video Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Programme website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q28 Brian Cox visits NASA's Space Power Facility in Ohio to see what happens when a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space. youtube Shape on Moon Shape on Moon The children love this Oreo biscuit activity. Space Place: The Moon's Phases in Oreos Space Place: The Moon's Phases in Oreos This article explains the monthly variations in the Moon's appearance as seen from Earth. Directions for using Oreo cookies to illustrate the four major phases of the Moon are provided. The article is targeted to children ages 10-12. nasa wavelength digital library Movement of the Moon Movement of the Moon This is a very good explanation - I then get the children to imitate this in a darkened room. Stargazing Challenge: Phases of the Moon (KS2), Series 2, Stargazing Live - BBC Two Stargazing Challenge: Phases of the Moon (KS2), Series 2, Stargazing Live - BBC Two Waxing, waning, gibbous? bbc Distance of the planets Distance of the planets This is a good activity. We then go out into the playground and look at the distances 40587-ESERO%20-%20Rosetta%20resource%20book%20%28Activity%2006%29.pdf 40587-ESERO%20-%20Rosetta%20resource%20book%20%28Activity%2006%29.pdf stem How we have day and night How we have day and night I tend to introduce this by using a globe with a lego character stuck on and a torch. I model how the character is in the light and night. I get the children to repeat this using a football and a torch. They have to explain to each other. The we go in a large area and arrange children in a circle, with their hands linked but facing outwards from the centre. I stand on the outside the circle holding a torch to represent the Sun. I get the children to move in an anticlockwise direction and as they pass me, they can see you the torch so it is day time and times when I am not visible at all (night time). You can develop it to introduce children ‘sunrise’ as they first see the Sun (torch), ‘midday’ when they are directly in front of the Sun, ‘sunset’ as they turn away from the Sun and ‘midnight’ when they are opposite the Sun and facing away from it. This is a good website, you will need to use flash earthandbeyond_b_stamp.swf earthandbeyond_b_stamp.swf 113 KB swf file manchester SWF Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... For children it now seems pretty obvious as they have access to so many photos from space. We look use BBC videos to introduce how scientists first worked out how our planet isn't flat. They then have to work in teams to make a TV programme explaining what they have learnt. One can be the "expert" and another can be the presenter and interviewer. I encourage them to use props to explain. BBC Bitesize - KS2 Science - How do we know the Earth is spherical? BBC Bitesize - KS2 Science - How do we know the Earth is spherical? The evidence for the Earth being round or spherical using Aristotle's reasoning. bbc I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge So in groups they have to discuss: Does the Earth move? How do we get day and night? Within these two questions, I give them various statements for them to discuss whether they are true or false. For example, the Earth stays still and the Sun orbits us. This gives me a good picture of where they are all a My experience will p My experience will probably be a little different to most people here as I work as a science interpreter at The National Space Centre in Leicester, teaching people of all ages about space. The best way to hook children is to put something physical that looks interesting out, as children naturally want to know what it is and why it's there (adults are A LOT more difficult to hook as they are nowhere near as inquisitive about the world.) When the child is interested, turn whatever you have into a game as children love playing and it will make them really think about you're saying as children are very competitive (especially if there is a prize for getting it right like a sticker!) Let them keep guessing and changing things until they get it right, as it encourages them to go with their instincts and that it's okay in science to not always be right first time and experimenting with things is good! Game of Marbles Game of Marbles I use a game of marbles with my youngest students to show how celestial bodies collide. Lots of fun! When teaching the sk When teaching the skills of the Nature of Science this is a great video I've used for observation Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit? Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit? Test your Awareness with Do The Test's Whodunnit. Who Killed Lord Smithe? TFL cycling safety advert! How observant are you? How did you do? www.dothetest.co.uk youtube Walking through it... Walking through it... Whenever demonstrating movement, although this is very tricky, I ask children to help act it out. I did this when we had a partial solar eclipse (child in the middle was the moon, another at one end held a torch as the sun and on the opposite side was a child as Earth) and for understanding orbits and rotation. It really helped us all understand how orbits are created and how they change what we can see from Earth. I haven't taught spa I haven't taught space yet as have spent the majority of my career in year 3. I will be teaching it this year though. I'm looking at some sort of WOW starter - hopefully an AR space experience - to get the children hooked. We also use mind maps for initial knowledge and then add to that at the end of the unit in another colour to show progress. I think that videos can be a great resource for this topic and we will take the children to the observatory as an end of unit trip. I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: To Scale: The Solar System To Scale: The Solar System On a dry lakebed in Nevada, a group of friends build the first scale model of the solar system with complete planetary orbits: a true illustration of our place in the universe. A film by Wylie Overstreet and Alex Gorosh alexgorosh.com wylieoverstreet.com Copyright 2015 vimeo Intro video 2: Intro video 2: Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Brian Cox visits the world's biggest vacuum chamber - Human Universe: Episode 4 Preview - BBC Two Programme website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q28 Brian Cox visits NASA's Space Power Facility in Ohio to see what happens when a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space. youtube add I've gone out onto t I've gone out onto the field and the children have enacted the planets circling the sun. Then we've tried to recreate the distances. That's always a fun one as you've got one child practically in someone's garden! We've made fabric planets, tie dying fabric and hanging the finished spheres (ish) relative distances apart. Again, most are close then you've got two (big ones) at the other end of the school. Good talking points. Different space ston Different space stones Auriga Dome Auriga Dome This mobile planetarium visits our Y5 pupils every year. The Proprietor, Dave is a member of the NASA museums program and actively involved in an International Astronomical Union program to improve the quality of Astronomy communication worldwide. He engages the interest of the children immediately and is a mine of information. http://www.auriga-astronomy.com 📎 Photo Going to space Going to space padlet.com/gdemarini/2qg532pwq7b4 I would like first t I would like first to introduce them to astronomy using this video. Techniquest Techniquest We might use a local science museum to enhance what we teach...Techniquest has brilliant resources and as resources may be an issue sometimes we may as well go where they have them! https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs https://youtu.be/K5mgTBkDaCs I Would play the above video to give introduction to the concepts. more_vert https://www.jp more_vert https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. I would start with a brainstorm using a picture of the solar system to elicit words they know. Then, by using pictures and relia I put everything together. The following class, I play this video and revise concepts. Finally, to close the topic, we make together a summary of what we have learnt. 📎 Video https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ I am not a teacher but know that NASA, in particular, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has some wonderful tools for teachers to use to educate about space. Check them out! The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion. Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse by biscuits A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day? Shadow of love Shadow of love Empty OCEAN WORLDS OCEAN WORLDS poster for students Motivation Motivation Show it to students 📎 Photo Meteorite Meteorite Astro famil Astro famil Fict Fict I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. I try to include as many current news articles as possible that involve space exploration, discoveries, International Space Station, meteor showers that are visible from our location etc. Children have delighted in investigating the progress of of space suits used since space exploration started and the reasons why each particular part of the suits were important for comfort/safety of the astronauts. They then designed suits that they thought they could wear on a trip to a space destination of their choice. This involved them researching conditions of destinations as well as needs to ensure their survival. Their favourite viewing includes the NASA you tubes about living on the ISS where astronauts male and female explain how they cope with daily chores. Homework! Homework! The children are actively encouraged to create a model of the solar system (to their own design). The teaching always starts by finding out what they know already. They study the planets and the phases of the moon. Teaching science Teaching science We use an inquiry model at our school. We introduce and excite students about a topic using a mystery box, object, video etc. then we use a KWL chart to help shape the unit. We also use student questions, wonderings, to help drive the learning making it more student focused. We then explore, sort and organise our information asking our questions and the unit ends with an authentic action. Create a video explaining a space concept to put on our school website, run a class info session for parents or invite other schools etc to explain our learning to. Create a universe in the classroom. We have a focus on skills, classifying, scientific drawings etc throughout the learning. Teaching the solar sytem Teaching the solar sytem I utilise IT as much as possible to bring it into the classroom, hands on experiences, using spheres in relative sizes paced out on the school oval, role play, wordlinks, investigations and much more. Recently we had a stardome visit and a nighttime guided observation with amazing telescopes to view stars, planets and the moon from our school oval. Our whole school visited the stardome and most attend the night guided viewing as there was no cost to families. This has given real experiences from which students have asked questions, sought information, pondered where they fit and so much more. Teaching about the solar system. Teaching about the solar system. I used a variety of techniques, such as videos, drawings, pictures, written text, creating models in groups worked best for me. I found it to be agreed topic for group activities. Another thing that I did was to get a number of balls of different sizes and labeled them with planet names. I then took the students outside and we recreated how they orbit the earth. Useful for explaining length of years. I used something like this I used something like this I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. I haven't taught at a school but I used to do a session with my Beaver Scouts (age 6 - 8) and I have scale models of all the planets plus the sun and we would go out into the field and place them a scale distance apart so they could get an idea of the size of the solar system. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. We start with a problem that needs investigating. Once the children are hooked, we filter in relevant information and use creative writing to record the knowledge. e.g diary of an astronaut using the correct vocab. I love to explore th I love to explore the planets with my students with real photos in this link Scaled down solar system Scaled down solar system I usually something along the lines of just how big or far away the planets are interactive notebooks interactive notebooks after practical activities and discussion, written work for their books like this makes it more memorable I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am only just beginning to teach astronomy. We started by building a model solar system. We are lucky to live in an area where we have a good view of the night sky, with little light pollution, so we have started star gazing, just recently, which has resulted in needing to know more. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I am not currently teaching astronomy but if I did I would ask lot of questions to see what everyone thought it was, what it includes and take it from there. I have not I have not I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I start with a brain storming session to see what the kids have in mind.. I display some pictures maybe videos to explain I let them draw the space Teaching About the Stars Teaching About the Stars I always do a brainstorm session with my first graders to find out what they already know about stars and what they'd like to learn. I use lots of different kinds of stories - fiction and non-fiction to try to answer their questions. We also talk about the importance of stars in history and how travellers used them to navigate. As having access to a planetarium is very difficult for my age group in Paris, I decided to make my own. Out of large, black garbage bags and strong tape, I made a planetarium. My garbage bag planetarium has a long garbage bag tube that is connected to a fan which when turned on, inflates in the form of a large pillow. One adult and three children can enter the pillow through a slit on the side. Inside, I have decorated the roof with glow in the dark stars to create the night sky. As we learn about the different major constellations, I invite my students to try to find the constellations inside. It's great fun for the class as well as the parents! TO TEACH ASTRONOMY TO TEACH ASTRONOMY USING PRACTICAL OBJECTS THAT WILL INTEREST THE STUDENTS Teaching The Solar System and Space Teaching The Solar System and Space Check out my Padlet on "The Solar System" at https://padlet.com/lswanepoel1/3g4pt5r8nhgl Dark Sky Ranger Dark Sky Ranger I take people stargazing. It is great as there is lots to see and discuss. As I also do outdoor learning we often have a fire and I use this as the sun for a scale model of the Solar System using lights. I can use torches too for things like moon phases. Clear Skies, Elizabeth Tindal Ok Ok Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! Haven't taught it yet and that is why I am learning on this course! TEACHING ATRONOMY TEACHING ATRONOMY We teach astronomy through graphics on whiteboard. I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've just taught phases of the moon using Oero biscuits the kids loved it and it reinforced the work we'd done in the previous lesson I've also done scale models of the solar system using toilet roll and fruit L m L m Teaching Space Teaching Space We are fortunate to have a local observatory... One of the highlights of the school year is our night time field trip. Papier-mâché planets Papier-mâché planets Good science CPD Good science CPD http://www.reachoutcpd.com/ it's free - just sign up and do online modules. Experience phases of the moon Experience phases of the moon I do this with a swivel chair- get one student on the swivel chair to be the earth and recap that it takes 24h for the earth to spin on its axis. Get one student to hold the torch (sun) and reiterate that the sun doesn't move. As you move the ball around the chair the student is sitting on, they can clearly see the phases of the moon. You can also model a solar and lunar eclipse in this way. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Just wanted to use Padlet for the first time. Some fascinating ideas here. Lisa Art lesson, which th Art lesson, which the scale was better Learning to teach Learning to teach As an undergraduate student, i am yet to have any experience in teaching primary science. But in terms of teaching generally, I like to give students opportunities to learn themselves thus would like to use lot of resources. Solar System Solar System The youtube channel of Dr. Binocs is wonderful. I use plenty of videos from you tube and I encourage my students to work on their own exploration and investigation about planets and the solar system. Lunar Phase Simulator Lunar Phase Simulator http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf Good link to work on lunar phases with older children. What not to do! What not to do! Try not to do too much - Phases of the Moon has just appeared in the lower secondary school curriculum in Ireland. Don't try to cover everything in one go - allow time for reflection, discussion and consolidation before doing more. Spiral the ideas over two or three years. So I do 1. size of earth and moon and distance between them then 2. orbits (so that they understand that typical model of Earth as your head and Moon as your fist - needs an arm that is the length of the classroom) 3. then phases 4. then eclipses 5. then why not eclipses each month. Frances / BCO Scale model of the solar system Scale model of the solar system With a little knowledge (e.g Earth and Venus are the same size as each other, Jupiter is the biggest planet, mercury is the smallest... etc) this is quite a fun task to put the fruit on their tables and get them to guess which fruit represents which planet, then put them in order. New to Teaching New to Teaching I have not had the opportunity to teach this subject yet. I do like using children as resources in their own learning, so maybe construct a solar system using the students. Blast off!! Blast off!! I usually use songs as a motivation, then we go to more "serious" activities like making models or watching videos. I love the Oreo biscuit activity to explain moon phases. Solar SYSTEM Solar SYSTEM We can make Students more interested by using the models such as using different size of balls as planets and using stones as asteroid belts and meteoroids. Solar system Solar system Mission X Mission X This was a great activity for to get the children interested and curious about space. Lots of great resources and opportunities too Starting Out Starting Out I have not taught this topic yet so am looking forward to using what I have learnt. We use Primary Connections, but I would love to use other ideas and resources as well. Moon phases Moon phases Students as planets! Students as planets! Using students with planets and the playing fields as the universe. This is a great resource to help you work out the relative distances etc http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/ They especially like using the toilet paper idea! the position of the planets the position of the planets Making models, of rough sizes using balloons for gas planets and plastercine for rock planets. All hung with strings from the ceiling. They are on a diagonal coming out from a sun in one corner in order to get a perspective of the vast distances involved between some of the bodies (the fact the planets are not evenly spaced in orbits around the sun. Rotation and revolution Rotation and revolution Last time I explained that, U told my students to stand up and spin, first, and move around their tables, later. I was surprised, because some of them decided to do both movements at the same time. Library Resources Library Resources We've got some great readers in our school about the solar system. I usually start with the one about our planets together to gauge students' understanding and then let them explore the collection on their own. Solar System Solar System Day and night Day and night I have only ever taught day and night to younger children so I used 2 balloons ,one blue and one yellow to show how the earth moves round the sun and how the seasons come about. The big Outdoors The big Outdoors Going out on and look up up the is as good way teach astronomy as it helps any who is a visual leaner. And using visual aids is a good way of teaching sciences. 📎 Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world 📎 Video Shape on Moon Shape on Moon The children love this Oreo biscuit activity. Movement of the Moon Movement of the Moon This is a very good explanation - I then get the children to imitate this in a darkened room. Distance of the planets Distance of the planets This is a good activity. We then go out into the playground and look at the distances How we have day and night How we have day and night I tend to introduce this by using a globe with a lego character stuck on and a torch. I model how the character is in the light and night. I get the children to repeat this using a football and a torch. They have to explain to each other. The we go in a large area and arrange children in a circle, with their hands linked but facing outwards from the centre. I stand on the outside the circle holding a torch to represent the Sun. I get the children to move in an anticlockwise direction and as they pass me, they can see you the torch so it is day time and times when I am not visible at all (night time). You can develop it to introduce children ‘sunrise’ as they first see the Sun (torch), ‘midday’ when they are directly in front of the Sun, ‘sunset’ as they turn away from the Sun and ‘midnight’ when they are opposite the Sun and facing away from it. This is a good website, you will need to use flash Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... Discussing how we know Earth is a spherical... For children it now seems pretty obvious as they have access to so many photos from space. We look use BBC videos to introduce how scientists first worked out how our planet isn't flat. They then have to work in teams to make a TV programme explaining what they have learnt. One can be the "expert" and another can be the presenter and interviewer. I encourage them to use props to explain. I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge I always start with a video to get them thinking and then pose a set of questions to get the children thinking and to assess their prior knowledge So in groups they have to discuss: Does the Earth move? How do we get day and night? Within these two questions, I give them various statements for them to discuss whether they are true or false. For example, the Earth stays still and the Sun orbits us. This gives me a good picture of where they are all a My experience will p My experience will probably be a little different to most people here as I work as a science interpreter at The National Space Centre in Leicester, teaching people of all ages about space. The best way to hook children is to put something physical that looks interesting out, as children naturally want to know what it is and why it's there (adults are A LOT more difficult to hook as they are nowhere near as inquisitive about the world.) When the child is interested, turn whatever you have into a game as children love playing and it will make them really think about you're saying as children are very competitive (especially if there is a prize for getting it right like a sticker!) Let them keep guessing and changing things until they get it right, as it encourages them to go with their instincts and that it's okay in science to not always be right first time and experimenting with things is good! Game of Marbles Game of Marbles I use a game of marbles with my youngest students to show how celestial bodies collide. Lots of fun! When teaching the sk When teaching the skills of the Nature of Science this is a great video I've used for observation Walking through it... Walking through it... Whenever demonstrating movement, although this is very tricky, I ask children to help act it out. I did this when we had a partial solar eclipse (child in the middle was the moon, another at one end held a torch as the sun and on the opposite side was a child as Earth) and for understanding orbits and rotation. It really helped us all understand how orbits are created and how they change what we can see from Earth. I haven't taught spa I haven't taught space yet as have spent the majority of my career in year 3. I will be teaching it this year though. I'm looking at some sort of WOW starter - hopefully an AR space experience - to get the children hooked. We also use mind maps for initial knowledge and then add to that at the end of the unit in another colour to show progress. I think that videos can be a great resource for this topic and we will take the children to the observatory as an end of unit trip. I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: I always try to start a topic with something exciting to grab the children's attention, such as a video or an open ended question that we will answer over the course of the unit. Additionally, we always use a title page, glossary, mind map (that the children put their initial ideas into and then revisit in a different colour pen to show progress) and concept cartoons that the children attempt to answer. I feel this sparks curiosity in the topic and really gives them a buzz about what they are going to be learning. These two are particular favourites: Intro video 2: Intro video 2:

In our Inquiry based classroom interest grew from a few children very interested in building rockets during a free creative time. This grew into questions and deepening curiosity and our curriculum has been building around the growing interest in rockets. We introduced origin tales of the constellations to give cultural context and they began writing their own stories and creating their own constellations. Some children then began creating models of planets and researching space in general. Observing this growing interest we invited an inflatable planetarium to our school and interest really has taken off from that visit. Now the whole class (which is multi age K-4) is engaged in research in small groups and creating their own short film based on a planet in the solar system. Props, research, models, music and stories are all being created based on facts, research and curiosity about our solar system.

2019-02-04 01:21:59 UTC

I read almost all of this experiences and enjoy about it Thanks to this course which gives me the opportunity for teaching space and astronomy

2019-02-05 17:09:49 UTC

teaching approach

cacosta13 — 2019-02-14 16:58:10 UTC

My approach to teaching science is by competencies, in this way, the student has to acquire certain performance from the area of development to obtain the appropriate level of achievement.

Rotation and revolution, a movement activity

2019-02-15 14:29:31 UTC

Well, for example when I teach the subject of rotation and revolution to 7 to 8 years old student, I usually this items, that are in the photo. We go out of the classroom at the playground area, I pick three students, one of them receive a sign (that is around the neck) of the sun, the other the sign of the earth, and finally a child represent the moon. So the other students represents the orbit, they move all together in their own and independently rhythm. We stop sometimes to view how the planet or the moon moves specifically. The unique problem when I put this idea into action, is that sometimes some kids annoy others because their to close, or perhaps they only like to play to mischief in the class. Other than that, is good option to engage the students simultaneously.

2019-02-19 10:56:42 UTC

it is so amazing....

My teaching approaches

2019-02-19 18:31:11 UTC

Moon phases - moons on sticks and lamps to visualise. Oreo biscuits to create moon phases on a plate.

My Teaching

2019-02-26 17:08:17 UTC

I would like first to make sure people watch a video explaining well what is our Solar System formed by. Like this link of an youtube video which is very pretty and makes sure you understand everything.

Scientific Comunication

2019-03-20 14:16:37 UTC

I´ve always love science and explain what I know and learned. Many times I´ve learned from diferent books, internet videos, podcasts or talks by famous scientific comunicators.
I often teach to my friends, partners and other people who wants to know about the universe or some other questions about the cosmos. It´s very passional for me, and I enjoy every sigle question.

My teaching approach

2019-06-03 05:17:11 UTC

To teach science I like to explain to my students the subject of the day, then using small videos found on Youtube I show them the basic concept. What I prefer and what is most effective for them is the experience part. For example, when we first studied volcanoes, I asked them questions: what is a volcano for them? What is it composed of? Why is there lava? Where do we find volcanoes, ...
Then I showed them the video on Youtube 'what is a volcano?' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCLUjU2Nm7A
After seeing the video I explain the vocabulary to them and answer their new questions.
Finally we finished with an experiment, to make lava flow outside a volcano built in class.

I let children rap this

2019-06-06 12:23:22 UTC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttS4IKUUtIA

I like to teach this science by making 3d versions of the topic to be presented to the class. For example, a solar system with the planets hanging on a string in class. Kids like videos but adding something tangible,like a model, allows them to get a better grasp of what has been said.

2019-06-08 07:30:36 UTC

2019-06-10 15:34:30 UTC

I prefer to try to do a practical / investigation first. This allows the children time to think about what and why they have done it. This leads to more empowerment and the children making the links rather than here's a lecture with an investigation to consolidate the learning. I use a multi sensory approach with carefully selected videos - lots of resources from stem.org.uk and courses from the Ogden trust.

2019-06-10 19:21:03 UTC

There are a range of different videos available online. Tigtag is a great website with a large number of resources. The NASA app for the iPads is another great resource.
I like carrying out practical activities especially in relation to planets orbiting the sun and day/night caused by the movement of the Earth.

I use videos and pictures to introduce lessons and concepts and always try to have an element of active learning incorporated in to the lesson, where the children are engaging in discussion and finding their own information.

2019-06-12 21:49:41 UTC

Thanks for sharing!

lara_cipelletti — 2019-06-16 09:56:47 UTC

Dear colleagues, you posted tons of interesting tips! I'll use my summer vacations to read them all :-)

Just a little contribution from my experience: I use role play to let the kids experience the orbits and the relationships between the Sun and the Earth ot the Earth and the Moon.

2019-06-21 14:00:32 UTC

we use labs
we go museums like the Planetarium
we invite scientists to school

Space Exploration

2019-06-30 07:23:47 UTC

Experience and exploration is a big thing for science so I would take them to the observatory or have them take a virtual reality tour like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwHBpykTloY

Students love anything to do with food, so to teach moon phases we used oreos to help students with observing what the moon looks like.

I use the Nasa kids website and Nasa's youtube channel as a helpful resource for learning.

2019-07-03 17:53:54 UTC

https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

I think children understand the solar system better if they recreate it using various different sizes of objects for each of the planets and then we recreate the different orbits on the playground. i have also asked chn to develop their own mnemonic for remembering the order of the planets.

2019-07-06 09:55:13 UTC

I do not teach science, but if I had to, I would try 1. To use reliable and authentic resources-I.e. the NASA website;2. Making the children learn through experiments that could apply their hypothesis about a fact, in order to verify their knowledge or suppositions

2019-07-23 16:07:04 UTC

I use different videos ,pictures about space to learn more information

2019-10-07 14:04:24 UTC

I normally start a class discussion to see what knowledge the students already have. We look at some videos. We demonstrate the movement of the planets with groups of students and a lamp to represent the sun. The students then have the opportunity to make models of the solar system with different materials. We investigate gravity by making parachutes and hopefully we will have resources to investigate light in the classroom this year.

2019-10-07 16:57:13 UTC

2019-10-09 03:23:10 UTC

I use videos for teaching about solar system. Merge cube is also useful to learn how planets move in our solar system.

Solar System and Planets

gulshan792011 — 2019-10-14 10:46:34 UTC

Hi,
I use my students as planets and make a circle by instructing them to stand in shape of a cicle to revolve around the sun. I make them a group of solar system and through this activity they learn more effectively.

I have given students a table of the relative sizes of planets and taken the students outside. They drew the planets to a much smaller scale using chalk on the ground. Students were suprised by the huge differences in size.

2019-10-21 12:44:18 UTC

2019-11-06 13:29:48 UTC

I use flash cards and picture books. As a starter I use videos to enthuse my pupils for the topic.

I like to make sure that the children are able to create and experiment so that they have a hands on approach in the younger grades.

2019-11-20 11:03:01 UTC

2019-11-25 16:22:43 UTC

I recently started to use pictures (I made them with NASA photos printed on photo paper). Each kid gets a picture and they love it. I then use it to explain the difference between Galaxy, planet, star and moon. I lile to get everybody involved, I invite them to say put loud their answer to a question (all at once). I also make them use their hand to reproduce a phenomenon (formation of a star, Big Bang). I reproduce the relative motion of a moon, a planet and a star with kids turning around each other. I can then tell them about other stellar systems using the same image.

2019-11-30 20:15:54 UTC

I use models with torches and spheres. I usually darken the classroom for it so students can see better illuminated and not illuminated sides of the Moon and the Earth, for example. I also use apps, such as Sky View, and Stellarium (online version).

2020-01-29 21:33:21 UTC

Hi! I like to use every single tool that can become appealing to my students senses. Usually I use AR apps that show the sun and all the planets in bright colors. I dim the lights a bit to create expectation and we start talking of the incredible view. Then we have a sharing time, when all kids express their doubts or the things they already know.

Students create 3D planets and role play the movement of the Moon and planets around the Sun star. Mobiles are another way to do it in small groups.

2020-02-02 18:08:57 UTC

I’ve used balls of various sizes and torches and we made a model solar system and we have brought a “planetarium” into school.

2020-02-02 23:30:34 UTC

Borrow the Moon

2020-02-03 21:42:41 UTC

Loved doing this to support our Earth in Space topic.

Phases of the moon

2020-02-03 21:50:29 UTC

Usually do a bit with some black paper and chalks and this rap https://vimeo.com/85213151

Shadow length

2020-02-03 21:57:24 UTC

Usually do an observation over time like this with some chalk on the playground and a compass. The kids practise measuring length and direction, time and plotting a graph - excellent maths consolidation too!

Space Camp

katefrost2016 — 2020-02-03 22:19:34 UTC

Held a little sleepover at my school. With the help of a Stem Ambassador we did some star gazing and some other space-related activities. http://www.spacecampuk.com/

As a member of an astronomy club, we offer primary schools the opportunity to observe the moon, planets and other celestial objects through a small telescope.

2020-02-11 21:53:12 UTC

Orrery Model

2020-03-14 09:11:59 UTC

When introducing the topic of Earth and Space we got the children to create their own (non-mechanical) orrery models out of card and string, focusing on the fact that the planet movement is heliocentric (sun in the centre) rather than geocentric (Earth in the centre). The children really enjoyed creating their models and it helped remind them of the order of the planets, as well as reinforcing that the sun is at the centre.

2020-03-21 09:02:05 UTC

Hands on learning

2020-03-24 18:13:25 UTC

I like to use as many hands on resources/activities as possible. E.g. I've taught that the earth travels around the sun using a flashlight and children spinning in a circle to symbolise the earth.

Hands on approach

2020-03-24 22:50:08 UTC

Oreo moon phase - This works well and is really hands on. Chn enjoyed it.
Star maps- creating the under the tables
Drama - where possible to help understand concepts that can be acted out

Unfortunately with the corona crisis it was my bad that i would teach this topic for the first time ONLINE! wasnt so bad though. I showered them with plenty of videos, though i had planned an idea of letting them make it like a drama play with face masks of each planet telling its tale. Nasa provided the material on their website for kids. i would have just printed the masks and we would have worked on this drama play! it would have been awesome!!

2020-03-25 07:09:14 UTC

2020-03-25 10:55:28 UTC

We study the moon phases and look at how the movement of the earth affects night and day. We do lots of acting and practical activities to make the concepts real.

We have found a very practical approach helps - using oreos/toilet rolls has helped. We are also very cross curricular so we make sure to link our writing and book study books to our space learning to reinforce

2020-03-25 11:10:22 UTC

Oreos or Jaffas used show the phases of the moon. Brings the concept to life in a way that is fun and engaging. Another is using small globes and torches to show how the earth orbits.

2020-03-25 14:41:02 UTC

Playground solar system

2020-03-25 15:27:43 UTC

We measured out the gaps between the planets in the Solar System on our playground, and then modelled the planets using different size items.

I get students to re-scale the solar system, and to think about how they may represent this.

2020-03-27 01:50:19 UTC

See blog
http://pointofwonder.blogspot.com/2017/12/rescaling-solar-system_12.html

I build a human orrery and use this to model motion.

I also developed a card game to revise the different types of objects in the solar system
See blog
http://pointofwonder.blogspot.com/2017/10/solar-system-happy-families.html

2020-03-27 09:23:21 UTC

After making papier-mâché planets, we take them outside and children get to be the planets. We run around in the right order with some children travelling at different speeds.

I work in nursery or reception so making papier -mache planets is so much fun. It covers so many areas of the early years curriculum. Maths talking about sizes,speed positional language, EAD using different media’s, changing of colours while mixing paints. I.W.B. Solar system song. And so much more.

2020-03-27 10:20:49 UTC

Space Project ideas for a Year 2 class:

2020-03-27 12:51:27 UTC

How could we slow a space rocket? Explore parachutes.
A spaceman needs a torch - can you create a circuit to light a bulb?
A spaceman has dropped items in his space rocket. Sort objects that could be collected with a magnet.
Exploring space rocks - observations of meteorites, detailed drawings, making edible space meteorites (see Borrow the Moon)
Microbits- send a message to Earth from space (coding)
Flipgrid - send a video message to your friends about your day (link to book 'Man on the Moon'
Write an email as a visitor to the moon
Give Beebot simple instructions - one planet to another
Visit Techniquest
Have a Space / Explorer dome visit school
Ordering planets in solar system - making a simple model using decorated rocks
Design and make a lego spacecraft

STARS

2020-03-28 18:31:40 UTC

I'm glad to find this platform, and eager to learn then teach what I couldn't learn in my childhood. I have always been fond of space & astronomy. its a complete art .

I'm an ESL teacher, we drew a map of the solar system and as the children were unfamiliar with the names of the planets we sounded them out to practice phonetics. We then practised similes and metaphors using facts we had learned about space.

2020-03-28 21:56:51 UTC

Space

2020-03-31 09:14:47 UTC

I have seen children 'acting out' the rotation of the planets in the playground. I have used fruit to demonstrate an idea of the scale. BBC Bitesize has some simple videos.

2020-03-31 16:10:36 UTC

We visit our local planetarium.
We make a model of the solar system using balls of different sizes.
We investigate shadows throughout the day.
We learn about the seasons and the phases of the moon.

Trips

2020-04-04 11:59:20 UTC

We have had in a travelling Planetarium this gave all of the children an immersive experience and the chance to ask relevant questions.

Hands On Activities

2020-04-06 14:35:09 UTC

1-Print off a star field (white stars on a black page) and get pupils to connect the dots to make their own constellations.
2-Use a torch and a golf ball (moon) and tennis ball (earth) to show how lunar eclipses work
3-NASA have an Explore Mars game that you can build yourself in Scratch
4-Make a sundial to show changes in shadows and movement of the earth in space across seasons
5-Pack for Mars. get pupils to think about what they would take in order to consider things about living in space
6-Weather. there are loads of websites that show live feeds of weather data. can show impact of drought, floods etc

Practical Activities and Trips

2020-04-06 15:41:41 UTC

We visit our local observatory during this topic and have also managed to borrow a box of space rocks to have in the classroom from them. We make models of the planets out of plasticene and arrange them to show the distance between. We also measure shadows in the playground when possible. Phases of the moon are also taught, using a torch and a child on a swivel chair holding a ball. Reach Out CPD is an excellent website that explains and offers suggestions and is supported by great short films from TigTag. I have also looked at shooting stars and making craters using a large bowl of flour and marbles of different sizes and weights. Pupils need to think about the variables that cause different craters.

solar system

gerrybell1 — 2020-04-07 10:39:31 UTC

we use a combination of talks, film, pics and experiments , some explosive! all our shows and talks involve audience participation.
We use SOAS talks too - projecting images of different planets onto a large sphere suspended above participants heads.
ask probing questions to encourage debate and knowledge share.

2020-04-07 15:56:03 UTC

2020-04-11 21:29:56 UTC

WEBSITE

Astronomy and Space Science

2020-04-12 17:34:33 UTC

1. Taking a local trip to the National Space Center.
2. Using torches and golf balls, tennis balls to show the Earth and the Moon.
3. Using the children to reinact the solar system and how planets move around it.
4. Having blow up planets that hang from the ceiling to show where each planet lies in the solar system.

Introducing space through role play

2020-04-14 10:58:14 UTC

Although we do not need to teach space in year 1 we introduce it as a topic. I created a spaceship role play area and we watched videos of astronauts (male and female) in space and on the international space station. We made our own rockets and completed other cross curricular space activities. The children enjoyed role playing in the spaceship and picked up various space facts that they can build on later.

tonysteinberg — 2020-04-15 08:57:08 UTC

I use this to explain the size of the earth, sun and moon in the school yard

2020-04-16 17:19:58 UTC

I use interactive and eye-catching lapbooks, aided by playful and didactic Nasa and Esa videos! I also do educational outings where we visit observatories and planetary.

We have used big blue balloons and the children have blown up their own earth, added seas and earth to the planet, and used other colour balloons to represent the planets and the solar system.

2020-04-20 10:51:14 UTC

Space resources

2020-04-21 12:12:27 UTC

For a Year 5 science week I've used a variety of sources, and linked it into the book 'Beegu.'
Also for moon camp challenge we linked to PSHE by doing the UN activity 'Wants and Needs'

https://www.esa.int/Education/Moon_Camp/What_is_the_Moon_Camp_Challenge

https://www.unicef.ca/sites/default/files/legacy/imce_uploads/rights_wants_and_needs.pdf

https://www.hamilton-trust.org.uk/science/year-5-science/earth-and-space-space-presenters/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/mission-to-mars-unit/

Models

2020-04-21 12:56:46 UTC

I made these with my class last year. The outcome was to create a model of the solar system which demonstrates the relative position of the planets. Children had to select which size of sphere was best for each planet, research their colour and paint them, and then decide how to depict their proximity to the sun. With older kids I would have gone into more detail with scale using maths work. This was done with Primary 5/Year 4.

Space facts

2020-04-21 13:43:14 UTC

I usually introduce the topic by using this worksheet to then open a discussion about fact and misconceptions and how can we know something is a fact and is it true.

Stars

2020-04-21 13:45:56 UTC

I have found that apps that show the constellations can be a really interesting hook for beginning a topic on space.

I

lauriortizruiz — 2020-04-22 09:14:28 UTC

Primary-

lauriortizruiz — 2020-04-22 09:14:44 UTC

I introduce the topic with some videos, and asking them what they know about the Solar System. They are really interested in this topic and they like to know more about it. A KWL chart would help us to know which is the initial point and what they want to know, fianlly we would have the final point and we could compare.

2020-04-23 14:40:49 UTC

Teaching Space

2020-04-23 16:56:25 UTC

I try as much as I can to find lots of different types of resources, from videos, apps, different websites. The children really enjoyed watching interviews of Tim Peake on the ISS as they were learning from a real astronaut.

I also try and make lessons as practical as possible. From using torches and ping pong balls to show the different phases of the moon, looking at shadows outside, making their own solar systems etc. We have also tried as much cross curricular activities as possibles, so we may start off with Guided Reading Comprehension about the planets, then decide what we want to learn more about and carry out our own research, then write our own Non chron reports. We also used PE to train like an astronaut.
The document below had some good ideas to draw from.

At a Museum:

2020-04-24 02:08:40 UTC

At the museum we have a planetarium which is an amazing resource. We use it to look at different things in the night sky above our city on any given day. We also use it to teach people how to find the stars/constellations when they are stargazing.

One of my favourite ways of teaching kids about the Sun, Earth and Moon is by setting up a model using balls, a dark room, and a torch. If kids can use that experience to inform their intuition then they will have a clear and accurate idea about how day and night happen, moon phases, eclipses, seasons and years.

I was due to teach this subject this term, with a visit to Hurstmonceaux Observatory. Due to Covid-19, this was cancelled, so I have not yet taught it, as I am new to Y5! It's a learning curve for me!

2020-04-24 11:30:39 UTC

RECEPTION

2020-04-24 15:35:05 UTC

In Reception last year I saw that the children learnt a lot through singing. They loved this song https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=The+solar+system+song&&view=detail&mid=8831D100262D1012CD5E8831D100262D1012CD5E&&FORM=VRDGAR

MONTESSORI

2020-04-24 15:53:53 UTC

It has been many years since I did this in the Montessori Nursery in which I worked (with no flame) but it is a lovely activity and memorable for the children if anyone has a Birthday during your learning. There are many examples on You Tube and it can be adapted for all ages. https://livingmontessorinow.com/montessori-birthday-home-simple-diy-celebration-life-ceremony/

2020-04-25 10:49:42 UTC

I introduce the topic by relating it to the tales that they hear from their parents.

ISS tracker

wacowskanna — 2020-04-25 12:21:58 UTC

It's a website, also an app to track the route and position of ISS. There are cameras to watch the Earth and Space from the ISS and also a map.

Planetarium Shows

2020-04-27 10:41:13 UTC

At the science centre we have a planetarium which we use for live science shows. This is a great resource for showing people how to identify objects in the night sky, how to find different objects (like Venus or the North Star) and how to find constellations and tell some of the stories (editted to be made more child friendly of course).

We also use it to visit planets, satellites, moons, nebulas etc. which is always really exciting. This also helps prompt kids in their questions, as it's a really different experience and everyone wants to know something about the planet your looking at.

2020-04-27 13:37:07 UTC

International Pre-School

2020-04-29 08:38:32 UTC

I introduced our space topic with this song, the students picked it up really quickly and loved to sing it.

We also take our older students to the local planetarium that put on special children's shows. I'm currently based in Japan so we try to go early July so the children can learn about the Japanese Star festival Tanabta!

Research

2020-04-29 12:41:56 UTC

Pupils research space history to expand their knowledge of the Space

Year 6

2020-04-29 13:48:36 UTC

A year 6 class I worked with created a downscaled solar system using themselves. They used their maths skills to scale down the measurements and used the playground, meter sticks and posters of the planets to show the scale.

We invite a mobile planetarium into school, to start off our topic.

2020-04-29 14:46:21 UTC

creating models of thes enj

2020-04-29 15:46:37 UTC

I mostly teach my students with the help of latest videos uploaded about space, my making powerpont presentations and sometimes my project making.

2020-05-05 23:55:28 UTC

I use videos and projects, and also have the children do their own research using the internet, books and any other accessible objects. I would love to be able to invite a planetarium to school, as I know there is one local to me.

2020-05-06 08:01:17 UTC

using models and pictures

2020-05-07 13:14:00 UTC

Getting the children involved in experiments and letting them think about science in their heads. Making sure that they understand it before we do a model

2020-05-12 14:25:36 UTC

I have not yet had the pleasure to teach an astronomy lesson, but as part of our world awareness week I used BBC Bitesize and other videos to explain climate change and led an art session using paper mache and other materials to create a world globe.

2020-05-12 14:25:42 UTC

2020-05-13 12:30:15 UTC

I have been teaching space for the spring term in science. We tried to make it as engaging for the children as possible. They would often do research about the planets and then had to create top trump style cards about their planets. We also made our own solar system using scrunched up paper and elastic bands to help children understand the scale of the planets compare to each other. We also involved DT by having the children make a solar system garland which helped the children to understand what the planets looked like.

2020-05-16 14:37:23 UTC

We watched video presentation, to be more realistic and engaging.

Year 5: I taught Space to Y5 in my first term as an NQT. I would definitely not presume that they knew certain key facts, such as the sun is at the centre of our solar system, and that the moon doesn't just "come up" at night. It was difficult to think of practical investigations. In one lesson, we went on the yard with different sized fruits and placed them in a line to show a scaled down version of the solar system. High quality videos worked well to explain difficult concepts.

2020-05-18 09:49:02 UTC

2020-05-31 12:21:18 UTC

Go right back to basics, maybe using a baseline assessment to see what they already know to inform planning. You can't assume the children will have the understanding they should for their year group. I use a lot of pictures, videos, models and practical activities.

2020-06-01 08:20:35 UTC

Start at the sun and work outwards.
I have a scale model cut out with distances to the neighboring planets. I think the sun is about 30cm diameter and the earth is a pin head. getting some poor kid to run waayyyyyyyy out to be Neptune would be great but our schools not big enough. I think I might try it on a string down the stairwell if I remember.
Kahoot is pretty good for checking at the end of a space unit.

Year 5 Space.

2020-06-01 13:45:53 UTC

Mind map at the beginning, what do you know, what would you like to know.
Lots of clips from BBS bitesize and other educational sites (such as ROG) to investigate the Solar System. Create a mnemonic / silly sentence to learn the order of the planets. Using a comparison site to show the difference in size between two of the planets at a time (quite cool). Build the Solar System in different ways (in playground in school - looking at distances and sizes (using toilet roll and scale). Build a model in school (DT link). Discussing vocabulary: planet, star, dwarf planet, gas using games.
At the end of the unit we have a visiting planetarium which consolidates their learning.

3th grade to 5th grade

2020-06-01 22:07:08 UTC

Explain students that they are news reporter. Scientists have located an asteroid that will pass awfully close to Earth. They must have to explain to viewers:

What is an asteroid.
A list of events that could occur if the asteroid hits Earth
A drawing of how close the asteroid will pass

Moon phases

2020-06-03 14:34:36 UTC

I use balls and torches to show moon phases and how light/dark works.

2020-06-04 16:32:02 UTC

I use lots of videos and pictures to try and show scale. I try to include one fact to inspire awe and wonder.

2020-06-07 14:09:25 UTC

I teach this kind of topic by first getting them interested to the topic like letting them act as the whole solar system. Later on, they will watch a video that quite animated so that their attention will still be into it.

Learn the Planets.

2020-06-08 10:37:07 UTC

If you're a teacher who really wants to talk to students about the Solar System, you should try the following task:

Do some research on the planets in the afternoon to get a good idea on what you are planning to say at home, then make a presentation on them containing interesting facts, details and explanations (e.g. Mars is considered the Red Planet, but long ago, it was covered in water like Earth). Kids can learn a lot from this and could possibly become astronomers or Tim Peake clones when they leave school.

We run outreach sessions at schools and for other organisations. We have telescopes and binoculars available plus steps that young children can climb on to get a good view. Do this on a night when the Moon is on view and hopefully the International Space Station passes over!

annbonell — 2020-06-08 18:54:05 UTC

2020-06-09 09:29:26 UTC

I use practical ideas to show how the earth rotates (globes and torches) and how the seasons work. Children being planets and lining up in the playground. We watch lots of videos, books and search engines to find out information.

Lots of role play with tennis ball, ping pong ball and beach ball to show orbits.

karenchaplin — 2020-06-09 11:01:19 UTC

Lego-man, torch and globe great for showing day and night alongside this clip.

Year 5

2020-06-09 14:01:14 UTC

* hanging the inflatable planets up in order and come up with a mnemonic for remembering them in order.
*Working out a scale we can use to draw the planets in the playground.
*dropping 'meteors' from different heights and measuring craters.
*creating stop motion videos to explain moon phases
*listening to Holst the planets
*researching various Apollo missions and feeding back

European Space Agency Kids Website

2020-06-19 15:19:20 UTC

There are lots of wonderfal materials on the ESA Kids website, teacher resources, activity plans with background information about space missions, short videos for kids, insights from astronauts, animations with Paxi (a cute alien), and articles for kids to read. There are also online games and
competitions to get involved in! https://www.esa.int/kids/en/home

I haven't yet taught this subject but all these ideas are fantastic. Thankyou

2020-06-21 21:21:36 UTC

I have not taught astronomy, but when I have taught science in my class I show them through experiments.

2020-06-24 15:07:47 UTC

2020-06-28 12:43:41 UTC

At our science center, we use a variety of resources and hands-on activities to teach space science. Many come from the National Informal Science Education Network's collection of space science kits from various years that provide us with materials and facilitation guides. Besides these, some of my go-to activities for this subject are "Sizing up the Moon" which uses playdough to explore the differences between the sizes of Earth and her moon, "Pinhole Science" to explore light and telescopes, and "Moon Balls" which uses ping pong balls on skewers and a strong light to demonstrate the rotation and phases of the moon. -Marie

I don't teach science, but an exercise I have done with my children to help them understand the vast sizes and distances of our solar system is to build a model to scale. I did all the math associate with it, but after they new the numbers - the kids made the planets. It was fun and made me feel really, really small.

2020-06-30 13:11:01 UTC

I have not taught this topic as of yet but I am loving all of these ideas and teaching tips. Thank you so much. I have gained lots of ideas which will be useful in my own planning in the future when I do teach this topic.

2020-06-30 19:55:47 UTC

I havent taught astronomy yet and am looking forward to using some of the ideas on here

2020-07-04 06:08:14 UTC

Earth Science Activities. CR.

2020-07-05 14:37:40 UTC

KWL charts, static electricity and gravity experiments after discussing Big Bang, models of Sun Earth Moon showing orbit/rotation, Moon phases peephole box/torch, oreo phases of the moon, constellation pinholes in card, look at Aboriginals as the first astronomers (and the Greeks), scale model of planets, Bill Nye the Science Guy clips are fun, balloon rocket investigations, crater investigations, sundial/shadow investigations, NASA website,

2020-07-06 08:05:26 UTC

By using pictures and power point presentation

I have been teaching the dynamics of the four elements (Aristotle) and the fourfold nature of the plant to biodynamic agricultural students. How this relates to Lunar and biodynamic calendars for planning agricultural activities. For this reason I hve developed a magnetic geo-centric system (Ptolemy) with reference to the 12 constellations and four elements. Biodynamic Astrosphere. I have found this approach most helpful with young children as it gives them a sense of place within the cosmos.

2020-07-08 12:57:13 UTC

Biodynamic Astrosphere:

2020-07-09 09:28:58 UTC

Items to begin with an open question Explorify are good for these. EG what would happen if the Earth stopped spinning? This usually leads to questions , how fast is the Earth spinning, which way do we spin? Why don’t we fall off or get dizzy? Then I would play a clip explaining about the rotation of the Earth and day and night. I would ask groups to model day and night with torches and a globe and then draw a diagram to check understanding. Then I would follow up on children’s questions .

I am an informal astronomy educator and a planetarium volunteer. When I teach about Earth/Moon/Sun system I like to make the sessions as practical and interactive as possible, and I also like to talk about the relative sizes of the bodies and their distances, because those things are often misunderstood (although the extent you can do this depends on the age of the students.) Earth – students can “be” the Earth, stand up and show how the Earth moves ie spinning on its axis. Earth/Moon size – with a globe for the Earth, ask the students how big they think the moon is on the same scale? You can have balls of different sizes and they can vote for the one they think is the correct size, or they can cut circles out of paper to show the size they think. Earth/Moon distance – one student holds the Earth globe, another holds the moon ball, ask how far apart they think the 2 objects should be. Other students can also stand where they think the moon should be. Correct distance is about 30 times the diameter of the Earth globe.

2020-07-18 20:14:47 UTC

Sarah Abotsi-Masters

2020-08-05 17:32:29 UTC

not yet

2020-08-11 05:37:46 UTC

i haven't taught astronomy yet but hopefully this course will give me more confidence

Craters on the Moon

2020-08-13 06:21:40 UTC

The students and I focused on exploring how the craters on the Moon were formed.
Materials: crystal balls of different sizes and weights, flour, disposable plates

Procedure: pour flour into the bowls, students drop crystal balls of different sizes and weights on the flour, observe and record findings.

I have only taught younger year levels and was filling in for another teacher. I did a sun earth moon model using 3 different sized balls. I also sometimes got kids to get into groups of 3 and be the sun/moon/earth to demonstrate the rotating and orbiting. I found they understood it more after they did that with their bodies. My favourite activity is with year 3 where we got kids to make a playdoh model of the earth, and used different colours for each layer. The kids made the playdoh from scratch and the layers then cut a chunk out to make them visible. So cool

2020-08-13 08:46:25 UTC

The key is to foster imagination and investigation

2020-08-15 08:07:09 UTC

By making our own observations!

2020-08-16 20:33:09 UTC

Line a telescope up and look at the rings of Saturn - that's a winner (me and my kids do but I'm not a teacher)! Otherwise those apps that use AR to show you the stars, planets (and ISS!) in the sky, including during the day. Plus all those crazy amazing big number to describe distance and size?! Ooh, and those YouTube videos that show relative size of planets that make our sun look itsy bitsy by comparison.

The Project Based Approach

2020-08-17 13:23:08 UTC

Space is vast and as a teacher I find it inhibiting to chose what part of space once should learn at this space and time. Instead start with observing what we know from space in our own homes, like observing the moon. I would encourage a moon diary and ask the children to draw the moon every night for a couple of weeks. The ongoing diary also teaches the skill of documentation and observation. I would then illicit what other facts the group knows about space. I would encourage the project based approach of understanding space.

I once gave a seminar presentation on the use of Mathematics in Astronomy, during my graduation.

2020-08-17 18:28:17 UTC

I intrigued interest about the topic by using videos which showed the beauty of space. We turned the lights off. The audience became fascinated about the topic. I used different quotations to collaborate Mathematics with Astronomy, for instance "Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe"_Galileo Galilei. I still remember the quotation. 😄 By this, I intrigued interest about Astronomy, in the audience who were Mathematicians and who never knew about or were never interested in Astronomy. I used questioning and humor to engage the audience. I applied easy Mathematics to the space science to solve the problems like finding out the masses, distances, volumes, number of days, brightness, etc. of the celestial objects. I did this so that the audience could easily understand. It went well and after that some people told me that from then on they also became interested in Astronomy. Great achievement for me! Made my day!

R.M

2020-08-18 06:10:17 UTC

Currently I am not teaching science and the solar system to my class and have no resources. I have started bookmarking web sites and YouTube videos and including NASA and now Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

i love teaching space science cuz its broadens my students mind and kept their mind busy on imagination...they always wait for this topic to reveal...

akashsunuwar94 — 2020-08-18 10:48:30 UTC

2020-08-18 20:57:09 UTC

I am not a science teacher. But in our curriculum we have science classes. Normally I use big posters, flashcards with a picture and some interesting information.We watch videos. I ask parents to install SkyView applicattion on their devices. So now, they can not only observe but also know exactly what they see in the sky.

Teacher in training!

2020-08-22 17:18:19 UTC

What an amazing time to become a teacher - all these amazing resources and people willing to share. I will certainly 'Magpie' many of these super ideas!

2020-08-24 09:20:32 UTC

Moon phases - ball and torch. Then kids will create the moon phases using Oreo biscuits (remove the white stuff from the biscuit according to the phases). They also create a model on the movement of the Earth/Sun/Moon.

The Project Based Approach/MI THEORY in action

2020-08-24 12:51:38 UTC

Hi I am such a big fan of the MI theory where children are capable of being intelligent in 9 different ways. To be inclusive to the learners, I will tailor lesson plans that resonate/reflect each type of intelligence.

Then I would like the learners to be as involved in their learning of space as much as possible as they adopt a project and work on it over the term. This is open ended, yet it aims to be inclusive and fosters others skills such as research, problem solving, and critical thinking.

The Solar System

2020-08-28 05:08:45 UTC

Teaching the solar system requires visuals. When teaching this topic I would use engaging videos or songs. A model of the solar system is also great as the children are able to observe and manipulate.
Engaging the children in creating their own models is also very motivating and exciting for them. It provides first-hand learning!

I am a kindergarten teacher from Argentina

2020-09-15 21:32:06 UTC

Children usually find this project really interesting and, believe it or not, it is incredibly meaningful for them. They love space and I use songs, videos, role playing: We pretend we are astronauts and we fly to Mars!
I always plan the activities in order to include all children s abilities and senses, to give all my students the opportunity to get involved in the topic.

The Solar System Song

2020-09-16 09:11:08 UTC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ-qLUIj_A0
This is a beautiful, slightly melancholic song and simple animation. It introduces, in turn, the sun and the eight planets, each with its own verse of key facts. It is great for teaching younger children, who love learning it and singing it themselves, but could also help older ones.

The Solar System

2020-09-25 09:43:48 UTC

As a practitioner in early years i found that the children found this topic very interesting. The use of visuals, animations and videos brought the topic to life. The children particular enjoy watching Chris Hadfield video's on youtube. There are so many engaging activities relating to this topic.

2020-10-14 19:24:30 UTC

I'm just learning Astronomy in a day centre for young adults with disabilities.

We like to relate space science to our place here on Earth. We live in Australia under the Southern Cross so that is always a great starting point.

2020-10-18 01:43:11 UTC

Earth & Space

2020-10-27 16:06:54 UTC

This will be my first time teaching about space and the solar system.... The children are very excited, as I am.

Solar system in my pocket

handrews38 — 2020-11-15 23:10:43 UTC

On a CPD day we looked at drawing the planets onto a long strip of paper so we could see a scaled distance between the planets. I helped to put it into perspective and I will try it with the Year 5 and 6 children in my school.

2020-12-02 09:29:11 UTC

2020-12-02 09:36:38 UTC

This video will help my students to understand more our topic. Science is very interesting subject. We should used different techniques or methods to make our topic interesting. It is depend on us.

I show them videos and images from space, solar system, planets, and then we discuss some details about them. At the end of the lesson we usually make a craft like a rocket made of paper.

2020-12-09 17:02:51 UTC

2020-12-20 22:08:08 UTC

Hi I am such a big fan of the MI theory where children are capable of being intelligent in 9 different ways. To be inclusive to the learners, I will tailor lesson plans that resonate/reflect each type of intelligence. Then I would like the learners to be as involved in their learning of space as much as possible as they adopt a project and work on it over the term. This is open ended, yet it aims to be inclusive and fosters others skills such as research, problem solving, and critical thinking.

Visual Learning

2020-12-28 22:57:11 UTC

I like to provide visuals to accompany complex astronomical topics. I work at a science centre where I use a planetarium to display the universe and illustrate it's workings.
Recently, I have participated in making videos that explain sky science and space exploration topics. These videos utilise local astrophotography to showcase sky sights.

Teachers aim to teach science as a core subject in ways that are imaginative, purposeful, well-managed and engaging. Our science curriculum teaches children a balance of knowledge content, practical investigative science, mathematical application and collaborative group work. Our curriculum is mapped out into a ‘Core Learning Document’ which highlights prior knowledge, key points of learning, deeper learning opportunities, essential vocabulary and progressive skills coverage.

2021-02-04 13:03:56 UTC

I am currently teaching it for the first time via online learning and finding that visual demonstrations are very effective. I have also challenged them with researching a chosen planet to help foster more excitement in their learning- for some they have really managed to go above and beyond what I asked of them and presented their findings in creative ways.

lsmith749 — 2021-02-06 22:50:23 UTC

Using NASA's website, as well as the NSO and ESA have been great to provide interactive and interesting resources. Also using virtual reality to visit Mars is very exciting for my pupils working from their computers.

2021-02-11 02:00:05 UTC

I use a lot of images and models that I have crafted during my teaching years.

I use a lot of websites and videos, and have a good collection of books and display resources. I like to link to other areas of the curriculum, particularly English, DT and art. Practical activities are trickier - they usually involve a torch.

2021-02-21 18:03:32 UTC

I use a mixture of clips and videos, up to date space news from NASA and ESA. I also do a lot of practical activities. Fruit Solar System, Toilet Roll Solar System etc. I use Flipgrid for children to present research and we design a Mars Lander or Moon Base most years.

2021-03-01 08:44:03 UTC

We teach the planets, solar system and humans in space using videos, interviews, making top trump cards of the planets and the sun. I start off as if we're on a journey and the children use their imagination as we travel to the various planets. Since delving into enquiry based learning I have other methods to try next time I teach this topic. We also keep a calendar of the moon to look at it's phases.

igusmao1_1 — 2021-04-25 15:45:19 UTC

HAVING AS MUCH FUN AS WE CAN IN CLASS.

2021-06-06 07:37:54 UTC

We do experiments, watch interesting videos, and always ask our children what they already know ( to check any misconceptions). They share their ideas, and the teacher encourages the children to participate. Their answers are always welcome, no matter if they were right or not. Then, go through the lesson and see what we already knew and which thing we did not get right. They also love to work on their projects. Finally, they take a test, and they can use their notes.

Textbook

2021-06-06 07:47:06 UTC

Using primary connections science books in Australia really helps to teach scientific concepts. In my experience I haven't been required to teach much science because and some schools it is a specialist subject where another teacher will teach it.

Visual learning

2021-06-12 10:47:14 UTC

Using experiments, visual aids, videos, trips, hands on learning to help engage children in science. I use songs to help memorise planets and elements.

Soe Myint Tun from Myanmar

2021-06-27 16:42:59 UTC

I use audio-visual aids so that students can see and listen when they learn. I use videos, images and simulation apps. I also use websites when needed. I ask students before each lesson to test their prior knowledge and brainstorm them. Then, we discuss and learn the new lesson. After each lesson, we reflect what we learn and summarize our lesson.

This is the first time I am going to teach this topic in class, that is going of the reasons of taking this course.

2021-06-28 18:25:17 UTC

Usually I'll start with simple activities such as tangram, then I'll do the explanation through power point which I also encourage them to ask question. We will do a bit quiz after that to test their understanding.

2021-07-09 07:36:06 UTC

Teaching Space

2021-08-11 13:49:52 UTC

I always start with asking the children what they already know. This could be in the form of a KWL sheet or post-it notes on a learning wall. I try to use as much visual material as possible (photos, PPT, videos etc.) to engage all leaners but especially EAL pupils. As we generally follow the principles of PYP, we usual begin with a powerful 'entry point' which could be a trip to a planetarium or last year we held a mock NASA training camp!

Teaching Our Solar System

2021-08-17 10:05:17 UTC

I'm still currently in university and I haven't had the chance to teach much of anything yet! Reading through this is certainly helpful though!

HANDS ON! Hands on is the very best way to teach and learn! In teaching science I have used videos, pictures, and books but the very best is making and using models, art, engineering, experiments and I have bought "space food" which they can suck from a bag like astronauts do. It was a huge hit as were the rocket launching experiments. I hated science as a child, it was looking at books and listening to a teacher drone on, it wasn't until I became a teacher myself that the wonderful world of science became known.

2021-08-25 19:53:23 UTC

I painted myself the solar sistem, and I use lots of books.

2021-09-12 17:03:30 UTC

How we teach our solar system

2022-01-13 06:57:28 UTC

I get information from websites, get images about solar system and find demonstrations online.

As a science museum we offer different lessons on all aspects of science geared to primary school, high school and some for students who are becoming teachers. Most of the resourses are in Dutch, so not very helpful to share.

2022-01-29 13:30:43 UTC

Brain Pop is one of my favourite websites to use when starting a new topic and the Science videos are very good. There is a quiz after every video to check for understanding, as well as vocabulary review and an activity you can print off. Brain PopJr for K-3, and Brain Pop for 4-8 grade

2022-05-10 15:06:16 UTC

Get the children involved in creating models of the solar system and use that throughout the whole unit....so show the scale of the sun, moon, planets, etc. Show the children how to use the model to explain what causes day/night, seasons, years. Encourage them to share this informatio with their parents.

2022-05-10 15:09:34 UTC

2022-07-07 11:55:14 UTC

I get the children to be planets themselves. the physicalness of the lessons can help with imagery, and with remembering the different facts.

I introduce space science to the children by using videos and creating models also playing some games to make it interesting.

2022-08-02 13:02:21 UTC

Teaching Space

2022-09-05 11:50:08 UTC

I use a a range of resources including models, videos, website and text books. It can also be fun to get the kids up and moving while they act out the movement of the plants in the solar system

Show a lot if images, get students to start thiking by asking many questions. Take them to a planetorium, museum.

namrathalily — 2022-09-19 15:03:42 UTC

I haven't taught it yet, but a thing I've done from time to time is give them the original meanings from Greek and Latin. It worked for a number of kids who would get confused on what a planet actually is.

mchatzidima — 2022-10-11 11:37:53 UTC

I HAVEN'T TAUGHT PROFFESIONALY YET BUT I WILL SOMEODAY I ONLY TEACH TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURIOUS AND ASK FOR IT.ILIKE DOING THAT AND THE MORE I TEACH TO SOMEONE ELSE AND SHARE MYKNOWLEGDE THE MORE I GET GOOD IN THE PARTICULAR TOPIC/SUBJECT AND EVEN MORE CONIDENT.

2022-10-27 09:35:23 UTC

Teaching Astronomy and Space Science

2022-10-29 22:57:46 UTC

I support Teaching by asking pupils questions around topics I have researched.
Questions get them thinking and talking.

Making a tricky questions to attract their attention and curiosity then start a discussion about our topic with slides and videos and finish our class with some funny paper activities or crafs.

2022-12-01 20:08:31 UTC

I have not teach the subject yet, but I ma really keen to go back to the basics of the sciences of space to fully comprehend the workings of our universe and beyond

2022-12-28 13:19:22 UTC

I discussed this topic once and I came up using a lot of videos that could help me explain the phenomenon on how solar system started

2023-01-07 08:06:57 UTC

2023-01-29 12:43:29 UTC

I enjoy starting our space science unit with students telling me their cosmic address, working backwards from universe to the exact seat they are sitting in. We the. Use Google Earth to locate the school, as we zoom out we make notes of things we can see (natural vs human made)from 10m 100m 1000m etc. eventually we see less and less human made objects and all natural.

Well, What I did it was show them a short video about the importance of knowing about our earth and universe. Then I applied different topics related to solar system through handicrafts and experiments in order to students engaged in the topic

2023-01-31 14:07:34 UTC

2023-03-07 15:19:32 UTC

Show them videos and perform role plays to introduce the position of planets

TEACH SPACE SCIENCE AND ASTRONOMY FOR KIDS

2023-03-29 23:51:48 UTC

For the teach of science to children is important make it in dynamic form or with anime form in videos, the children see this very interesting because increment the couriosity of student and genere can go more to deeped of theme for the student want know and understand about science.

HERE A SERIES OF VIDEOS SPECIAL FOR THE CHILDREN ABOUT OF ASTRNONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCE

I recommende this serie videos for the teachers and student of primary.

From European Space Agency

charissatan1_1 — 2023-04-13 08:13:06 UTC

I usually teach the subject on space using videos and models. If time permits, it would be great if the kids make their own model and learn by hands-on experience.

I ask students to give me information and questions they have about astronomy. These can be discussed and examined further. Some may be turned into experiments. I try to organise excursions and incursions which are space related.

2023-04-16 10:40:31 UTC

Modelling the solar system

2023-05-25 18:43:10 UTC

Here is a photo I took the other week of a lesson I did with my class. I gave them
Some chalk and string and got them to draw the orbits of the planets around the sun on the playground floor.

I like to give the children as many opportunities for practical work and modelling - particularly when concepts can be difficult. Space science also lends itself to research. One successful lesson, we'd researched the distance of the planets from the sun. We then used our maths skills to create a value in cm that we could measure on the playground. Then in groups, the students had to stick planets in a line, according to their distance from the sun (using the previous calculations).

2023-08-20 15:41:16 UTC

STEM - Space

2023-10-19 09:26:05 UTC

I teach STEM to ESL students in Vietnam. During ‘World Space Week’ students did a variety of activities, such as: a build a rocket engineering challenge, turning Codey Rocky robots into moon rovers which collected moon rocks, making ‘robot hands’ (for rovers) and learning the names of the planets and more about each planet. Students also learnt about the upcoming Artemis launch. 🚀

I would like to try this:

2023-10-24 17:42:55 UTC

2023-12-07 11:08:48 UTC

I teach circus to French children and adults. Recently I wanted to include space science through physical activities. We used the juggling balls in little coloured juggling scarves to make comets and planets.

2023-12-28 20:18:07 UTC

I use a curtain like cloth that has a space picture on it with the moon in the center and we put light weight balls on it and shake it up and down. When the children shake it too much the balls roll off and go all over the floor like asteroids or stars in a solar system.

I think we can have 3 tiers of info

2024-01-23 17:40:48 UTC

Tier one- videos

Tier two- explore physical models

Tier three- Creation/participation (chalk or light activities)

2024-02-02 10:13:33 UTC

Videos, and if we do have same materiels or others we can do some experiments !

using a telescope and explaining how it works ( the simplest way of course )

Maybe doing some kind of puzzles( with big pieces) of solar system, so they can create one !

sun, moon, and earth

2024-03-30 13:16:39 UTC

I use a variety of resources, but still love a Styrofoam sphere as the moon, a light as the sun, and a ball of clay on a small stick as the earth. Students learn a lot by rotating and revolving these objects.

Ii

2024-06-08 04:58:46 UTC

I teach the solar system through modeling of the sun moon and different galaxy. I equally us discussion method make the students part of the lesson.

2024-06-08 05:01:20 UTC

2024-10-29 23:02:02 UTC

I think a great way to engage in learning is by using physical models or getting the students to move around and understand the scale of the solar system. A method that does not help them learn is by just lecturing them or just showing videos without getting them to reflect on it.

The only right way, is to engage.

2025-01-23 16:35:13 UTC

I am a teacher candidate and have not had many opportunities to teach yet. However, when I worked in the early childhood field, I did do a week unit on space. We made rocket ship kites and space slime. But, my favourite activity of them all was the water bin I made. I used large styrofoam balls and painted them to resemble planets. The water was dyed dark purple/blue and had some glitter in it. It was a hit! The children loved it. So, with such a beautiful subject such as space and astral science, the only wrong way to teach it is to not teach it at all, or solely lecture on the topic. Make it engaging! Have the children inquire and explore!