Astronomy Presentations and Field Trip Ideas
Ranked #2,055 in Education, #48,465 overall
Astronomy Presentations, Star-Gazing Party and Field Trip Ideas
My lessons are geared toward 2nd-3rd grade level children and their siblings. These are lessons I created to do with a weekly homeschool co-op. We meet each week for 2 ½ hours and have 14 children between the ages of 0-12. Even if you're not meeting with a co-op, you can still use these fun lessons with your family or classroom!
If you'd like more information on how you can start your own homeschool co-op or if you're curious how I operate my co-op, check out my lens: How to Start a Homeschool Co-op.
Planet Presentations
Each child was assigned a planet. They each drew, painted, etc. their planet. For their presentations, they had to at least present 3 interesting facts about their planet. They could also dress-up as their planet (Roman warrior costume for Mars, pool noodles for Saturn's rings, hula hoop with blue sheet taped to it for Uranus, blue outfit for Neptune, etc.). Astronomy Songs
The children sang the songs they have been learning during this unit.
a. Sing Planets Go Spinning song.(Tune: "When Johnny Comes Marching")
(Revised version from Ranger Rick Naturscope: Astronomy)
The planets revolve around the sun in Orion's Arm. (Flex arm muscle)
The planets revolve around the sun in Orion's Arm. (Flex arm muscle)
The planets revolve around the sun (Twist index finger in a circle)
And spin on their axes every one. (Spin around in place)
As they all go spinning, (Spin around in place)
Around and around in the Milky Way. (Spin around in place)
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars (Terrestrial planets) (Hold up 1, 2, 3, & then 4 fingers)
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars (Terrestrial planets) (Hold up 1, 2, 3, & then 4 fingers)
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, (Hold up 1, 2, 3, & then 4 fingers)
All whirling and twirling among the stars (Spin around in place)
As they all go spinning, (Spin around in place)
Around and around in the Milky Way. (Spin around in place)
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune (The Gas Giants) (Hold up 1, 2, 3, & then 4 fingers)
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune (The Gas Giants) (Hold up 1, 2, 3, & then 4 fingers)
We now have to leave Pluto out of this tune (Hold out both hands, shake head, & frown)
As they all go spinning, (Spin around in place)
Around and around in the Milky Way. (Spin around in place)
b. Sing Day, Night, & Year song.
(Tune: " The Farmer in the Dell")
The Earth rotates around, (Spin around in place)
The Earth rotates around,
Once a day, in 24 hours, (Tap wrist like you're tapping a watch)
The Earth rotates around.
The moon rotates 'round the Earth, (Hold up 1 finger & spin around in place)
The moon rotates 'round the Earth,
Once a month, 29 days, (Tap wrist like you're tapping a watch)
The moon rotates 'round the Earth.
The Earth revolves 'round the sun, (Hold out one finger & wave around in a large circle)
The Earth revolves 'round the sun,
Once a year, 365 days, (Tap wrist like you're tapping a watch)
The Earth revolves 'round the sun.
c. Sing C-O-M-E-T song
(tune: B-I-N-G-O)
(Revised from this C-O-M-E-T song)
Comets are very cold (Cross arms in front of chest and shake like you're cold)
A "dirty snowball" I've been told (Pretend to pack and then throw a snowball)
C-O-M-E-T (3x)
Comets are very cold (Cross arms in front of chest and shake like you're cold)
The coma & tails shine like gold (Wiggle fingers in front of you like the tail)
The sun makes their gases explode (Raise up both arms to signal an explosion)
C-O-M-E-T (3x)
The coma & tails shine like gold (Wiggle fingers in front of you like the tail)
Ice, dust, and rock to behold (Hold out both hands with palms up)
An elliptical orbit Halley's Comet strolled (Move index finger around in an elliptical shape)
C-O-M-E-T (3x)
Ice, dust, and rock to behold (Hold out both hands with palms up)
Star Explosion Glow In The Dark
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 05/28/2012)
I decorated the tables with these. They were a hit! After the dinner, we took them home and hung them on the ceiling in our children's bedrooms. They love having glow-in-the-dark stars to stare at as they fall asleep each night.
Space Themed Dinner
We had a delicious space themed meal.
Amongst some regular dinner items, we had fruit salad with planets (melon balls & grapes) and stars (star fruit), star-shaped tortilla crisps, chicken and stars soup, "asteroid" meatballs, star-shaped sandwiches, constellation bar cookies, moon-shaped cookies, and "asteroids" (in the form of rice krispie treats and muddy buddy bars).If you'd like some recipes for inspiration, try:
Dora the Explorer Recipes For Star-Themed Foods
Edible Recipes from NASA
Space-themed Recipes Made from Tortillas
Star, Moon, and Sun cookie cutters or baking pans make your meal festive!
Star Gazing
After dinner we headed outside to look at satellites passing overhead. We used a telescope to see Jupiter and its moons, a galaxy, a nebulae, and more. You can just point out constellations and that would be exciting enough. We contacted our local astronomy society and had someone come out with their large telescope. Bestselling Telescopes on Amazon
Field Trip Ideas
We went to a star lab at a local Museum of Natural Science. You crawl into a large bubble and the night sky is projected onto the walls. The woman pointed out the constellations and told the stories of how they got their names. You could also visit a planetarium. Lessons in My Astronomy Unit Study
Like this?
Please take a moment to "like" this lens. That helps my ranking in searches, making it easier for others to find this lesson plan.
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Leave Me a Note or Ask a Question
I love getting feedback from you!
-
-
joekoeman
Dec 5, 2011 @ 1:24 pm | delete
- Thanks for the Lens. Interesting reading indeed. I guess children are more creative than adults after all.
Could you please visit my lens when you have time?
-
-
-
Hank
Aug 13, 2011 @ 10:28 pm | delete
- Nice ideas.
-
by iijuan12
I was an 8th Grade American History teacher and now I am a homeschooling mom of 5. I love finding activities that appeal to kinestic learners, storybo... more »
- 167 featured lenses
- Winner of 37 trophies!
- Top lens » Earthquakes Lesson Plan
Explore related pages
- Space Exploration Lesson Plan Space Exploration Lesson Plan
- Comets, Asteroids, Meteors, Stars, & Constellations Comets, Asteroids, Meteors, Stars, & Constellations
- Solar System Lesson Plan Solar System Lesson Plan
- The Sun and the Moon Lesson Plan The Sun and the Moon Lesson Plan
- Fun, FREE Hands-on Unit Studies Fun, FREE Hands-on Unit Studies
- Earth’s Layers and Soil Composition Lesson Plan Earth’s Layers and Soil Composition Lesson Plan
My Astronomy Lesson Plans
Check out the lessons in my astronomy unit!
My Astronomy Lessons & More Presetation Ideas
More End of Unit Presentation Ideas
