Gazing at the stars has been a pass time throughout history. Stars are what guided explorers to new lands and guided the African Americans along the Underground Railroad. Watching the skies help people develop a calendar and to tell time. Help your child (or classroom) learn about our Solar System and beyond! This study will have both Christian and secular resources. You may want to prescreen the links and the resources before you allow your child to use them to make sure they are appropriate for your family.
Contents at a Glance
Astronomy Textbook
Exploring Creation With Astronomy (Young Explorers)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2009)
This is the book that I am basing my study on. If you plan to study Astronomy with elementry age children (or even middle school children), I highly recomend this book. I will warn you, though, it is blatantly Christian and is based on Creation Science, so if that is not your thing, you may not like this book. I happen to like that fact about the book!!!
Astonomy is...
the study of space or the actual translation is "knowledge of the stars" (Exploring Creation with Astronomy, pg. 2).
General Astronomy Links
- Astronomy Pages
- Link to Astronomy notebooking pages, lapbook printables and worksheets. Many of them go along with Exploring Creation with Astronomy. I highly recommend you check out these pages!!!
- Solar System Printout/Coloring Page: EnchantedLearning.com
- Solar System Printout/Coloring Page.
- Solar System Coloring Book
- PDF Format
The Sun
The sun is a star and not a very big one at that. The sun is actually considered a medium sized star. A star gives off their own light and is made up of gas. Sun Links
- Sun Information
- Information from Enchanted Learning
- Parts of the Sun coloring page
- From Enchanted Learning
- Sun Unit Study
- School Express
- Sun as a Star
- NASA Curriculum
Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It does not have very much atmosphere so it fluctuates in temperature greatly. During the "day" it gets very hot, but during the "night" it gets extremely cold. It also has a lot of craters from being hit by meteorites since they don't have much of an atmosphere to burn up in. If you don't consider Pluto a planet, then Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System. Mercury Links
- Information about Mercury
- This is information from Enchanted Learning.
- Mercury Printout/Coloring Page: EnchantedLearning.com
- Mercury Printout/Coloring Page.
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the sun. It has an extremely thick atmosphere that traps in the heat so therefore, it is the hottest planet in the Solar System. It is sometimes called Earth's twin because it is similar in size as the Earth, but slightly smaller. Venus Links
- Information about Venus
- Enchanted Learning
- Parts of Venus Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
Earth
Earth is the only habitable planet in the Solar System. It is the 3rd planet from the Sun and the 4th smallest planet if Pluto is not included. It has an ideal atmosphere to support life. Earth Links
- Information about Earth
- Enchanted Learning
- Parts of the Earth Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
- The Earth Is Unique
- Information about Earth from The Institute for Creation Research.
- Earth Unit Study
- School Express
The Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. The moon has no atmosphere and is pockmarked with craters from various space rocks. Because the moon takes as long to rotate as it does to go around the Earth, the same side is always facing the Earth. The Moon Links
- Information about the Moon
- Enchanted Learning
- Parts of the Moon Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
- Earth and Moon Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
- Study moon Phases
- Creation and phases of the moon explained.
- The Moon Unit Study
- School Express
- Field Trip to the Moon
- NASA Curriculum
Mars
Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun and is smaller than the Earth. It is not habitable in it's current condition, but it is the most likely planet to someday support a contained Earth colony. It does have a thin atmosphere, but not enough to be breathable. Mars appears red because it is covered with iron element that has rusted. It is the last rocky planet before the astroid belt and the large gas giants of the Solar System. Mars Links
- Information about Mars
- Enchanted Learning
- Parts of Mars Coloring Pages
- Enchanted Learning
Space Rocks
There are various types of space rocks in our Solar System. One of the most noticeable types is comets. Every so often throughout history, humans have been able to witness comets in the sky. Other rocks, such as astroids are not so noticeable. Our Solar System is filled with such rocks made of rock, metal and ice. Space Rocks Links
- Astroid Belt Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
- Label the Comet
- Enchanted Learning
- Comets
- Information about a comet and coloring page.
Jupiter
Jupiter is the 5th planet from the Sun and the largest planet in our Solar System. It is gas giant planet. It has a very thick atmosphere that is poisonous to humans. The giant red spot that shows up on Jupiter is a giant storm. This storm that is twice the size of Earth has been raging from at least 1665 when astronomers were able to see it through a telescope. Jupiter Links
- Information on Jupiter
- Enchanted Learning
- Parts of Jupiter Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
Saturn
Saturn is the 6th planet from the Sun. It is not the only planet to have rings, but it is the planet with the most visable rings. It is the second largest planet and is also a gas giant. It too has a very thick atmosphere. Saturn Links
- Information on Saturn
- Enchanted Learning
- Parts of Saturn Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
Uranus
Uranus is the 7th planet in the Solar System. Uranus has a strange rotation, it is lying on it's side and is rolling like a ball. All the rest of the planets spin like a top. Uranus is also a gas giant. Uranus's Links
- Information about Uranus
- from Enchanted Learning
- Parts of Uranus Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
Neptune
According to scientists, Neptune is the 8th and last planet of our Solar System. Use to Pluto was considered a planet and it was sometime the last planet, but Pluto was demoted, so Neptune is now the "official" last planet, but many people still despute this claim and want to believe otherwise. Neptune is sometimes out farther in the Solar System than Pluto is and it is the last gas giant in our Solar System. Neptune's Links
- Information about Neptune
- Enchanted Learning
- Parts of Neptune Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
Pluto
Pluto is a tricky one. In 2006 it was reclassified as a "dwarf planet". Before that, it was considered the last and smallest planet of the solar system. Many people still would like Pluto to be considered a planet and are not happy with the decision to reclassify it. Pluto sometimes switches places with Neptune because Pluto's orbit is very eliptical and travels inside of Neptune's orbit. This happens every 248 years. Pluto's Links
- Information about Pluto
- Enchanted Learning
- Parts of Pluto Coloring Page
- Enchanted Learning
Kuiper Belt
The Kuiper Belt is an astroid belt out beyond the planets. Pluto's orbit takes it into the Kuiper Belt at times.
Kuiper Belt's Links
- Information about the Kuiper Belt
- Enchanted Learning
Stars and Galaxies
There are many stars and galaxies beyond our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Unfortunately, because of light polution we are not able to see many of the stars. If you are way out in the country away from the city lights, you will see more, but it still is somewhat obstructed. Even the large telescopes on our earth have trouble filtering out the light, that is why a lot of telescopes are found on mountain tops. One of best telescopes actually orbits the earth and takes pictures from space. This is the Hubble Telescope. Stars and Galaxies Links
- Information about Stars
- enchantedlearning.com
- Information about Galaxies
- enchantedlearning.com
Space Travel
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first person to step on the moon. Several more lunar missions went forth before the lunar missions were discontinued in the early 1970's. In 1981, NASA introduced a new type of space vehicle, the Space Shuttle. Unfortunately, two of the Space Shuttles, the Columbia and the Challenger, were lost in terrible accidents. In a few years, hopefully will will have a new type of space vehicle. Space Travel Links
- Label the Space Shuttle
- Enchanted Learning
- Label the Space Shuttle Diagram #2
- Label the Space Shuttle Orbiter Diagram Printout #2.
- Space Programs Unit Study
- School Express
- Design Your Own Space Vehicle
- NASA Curriculum
- Space Food
- NASA Curriculum
Space Books
Astronomy Crafts and Projects
- Hands On Crafts for Kids - The 'Real' Solar System
- Crafts For Kids
- Solar System Model Craft - EnchantedLearning.com
- Solar System Model Craft.
- Lunar Prospector Model
- Make a model.
- Make a Cassini Spacecraft That's Good Enough to Eat
- You can construct an edible spacecraft with some of the major components of the real thing.
- Astronomy crafts are fun - Cool astronomy activities
- You'll learn some cool astronomy crafts that you can do at home.
- Sky Maps
- Down load a a sky map for the month.
Astronomy on eBay
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- daoine daoine Nov 10, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
- Lovely lens. Astronomy always seems to be a favourite topic for children.
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- StephanieB-Writer StephanieB-Writer May 20, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
- This is great page! My 11 year old sister will really like it while I'm studying college level stellar astronomy so she can see "what I'm studying".
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My name is Lynn (aka Lynn W, eclecticeducation, and lynnhsmomof2) and I am a Christian mother who homeschools her two boys. I am also a Work at Home Mom (WAHM) who does freelance writing (at Squidoo, eHow and Bukisa), affiliate marketing and designs products at Zazzle. When I'm not busy with my family, homeschooling or working online, I love to read, especially fantasy and sci-fi, watch tv and movies, and scrapbook. Some of my favorite movies are Star Wars, Narnia, Lord of the Rings and Spiderman. Some of the television shows that I watch are Heroes, NCIS, Psych, Monk and Royal Pains.
