v    “5,4,3,2,1 Liftoff, Destination Space!”

“Previously, you joined Max and Ms. Rumphius on a journey through countries of the world.  Did you decide which is your favorite?  This time you are invited to learn all you can about space exploration. We know traveling with Ms. Rumphius on Earth was adventurous, but wait until you see what the wacky Ms. Frizzle has in store for you. Join us on an awesome journey across our Solar System.”

Volume Two

Spacey Facts

Did you know that:

v      The Sun is in the center of our Solar System.

v      Earth is the third planet from the Sun.

v       Nine planets revolve around the Sun.

v       Jupiter is the largest planet.

v      Pluto is the smallest and it’s the farthest from the Sun.

If you want to find out more fabulous facts about our Solar System, visit:

www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm

To Infinity and Beyond!

Hop aboard! Embark on an extraterrestrial journey with Max. We are going to try to show you the size of the Solar System by taking an imaginary “walk” from the Sun to all the planets of our neighborhood.  This will be a special walk, since each “step” you take will equal one million miles. Our first stop will be Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun. Even though it is the closest, it can only be seen a few days out of the year. To learn more visit:

www.kidsastronomy.com/mercury.htm

Strolling Through Outer Space

v      Max’ second stop is Venus. Venus was named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. However, Venus has winds that blow constantly at hundreds of miles per hour and its temperatures are extremely high. If you want to find out more go to: www.kidsastronomy.com/venus.htm

v      Earth is the third planet from the Sun, but you know that, you’re experts. So we’ll continue our stroll through the neighborhood.

v      Destination Mars. Known as the red planet, it is much smaller than Earth. It is the fourth planet from the Sun. Recent research shows that it once had flowing rivers. Could there have been life on Mars? To find out, go to: www.kidsastronomy.com/mars.htm

v      Jupiter, the ruler of the night skies, is so large that over 1300 Earths would fit inside it! It also has its own miniature Solar System with its family of at least 16 Moons. For more information, go to: www.kidsastronomy.com/jupiter.htm

v      And now for the visually most stunning planet in our neighborhood, Saturn. Known as the ringed planet, Saturn’s giant rings are actually made up of small particles of dust and ice. For more exciting information go to: www.kidsastronomy.com/saturn.htm

v      This mysterious blue-green, gaseous planet known as Uranus is the only one on our Solar System that lays on its side.  If you want to know more, go to www.kidsastronomy.com/uranus.htm

v      Neptune is the 8^th and next to the last planet from the Sun. It is almost 2.7 million miles away from the center of the Solar System. Scientist believe that there is a large ocean under its clouds. To know more, go to: www.kidsastronomy.com/neptune.htm

v      The most distant planet of our Solar System, Pluto is the only planet that has never been visited by a spacecraft. If you want to know more, go to: www.kidsastronomy.com/pluto.htm

For links that are out of this world, visit the following sites:

Astronomy coloring book: www.kidsastronomy.com/fun/color.htm

Do an astronomy word search:

www.kidsastronomy.com/games/wordsearch/wordsearch.html

Play hangman with astronomy:

www.kidsastronomy.com/fun/hangman.htm

Do space libs, go to:

www.kidsastronomy.com/fun/spacelibs.htm

Project: All-About Book

You have been reading many books titled All-About different things. Now that you are an expert in the solar system, it is time for you to write your own All About a Planet book.

·         Pick your favorite planet

·         Illustrate everything your know about it. Don’t forget its moons, and special characteristics.

It’s time to write everything you know.

You’ll be working on this project all week. Remember to be ready to share with the class during the celebration.

Featured Authors - Tomie dePaola and Gail Gibbons

Tomie dePaola

Tomie dePaola wanted to be a writer and an artist since he was a young child.  He has been writing and illustrating books for over 40 years and has published over 200 books.  In addition to the books, Tomie has designed posters, greeting cards, and stage sets. Now he also sells his paintings in art galleries. His dream, he says, is that at least one of his books or pictures “will touch the heart of some individual child and change that child’s life for the better.” In the next few days, you will be reading two of his books, The Cloud Book and The Popcorn Book. To read more about Tomie de Paola, go to www.tomie.com

Gail Gibbons

Gail Gibbons studied graphic design at the University of Illinois. She later moved to New York City where she got a job doing artwork for television shows. While doing artwork for a children’s show, children asked her if she had ever thought of doing children’s books. Since then, over 100 books that she has written and illustrated have been published.  The types of books she writes are non-fiction books because she loves researching so much. Gail gets to travel and meet a lot of interesting people doing her research.  Now you will read Stargazer, The Moon Book and Beacons of Light. To find out more about Gail Gibbons, go to www.gailgibbons.com 

Featured Book: The Cloud Book by Tomie de Paola.

Did you know that the cumulonimbus clouds create heavy thunderstorms? And cirrostratus clouds just about blanket the Earth? This book provides scientific names of clouds in an easy to understand way.  The illustrations help to relate everyday objects to the different types of clouds. Tomie compares the cumulus clouds with a cauliflower or the cirrus cloud with mare’s tail. He also tells folktales and legends that go along with the clouds.

Once you have read The Cloud Book, why not check to see if you remember the names of the clouds. Go to http://www.ucar.edu/educ_outreach/webweather/cloudhome.html

Now, let’s play a matching game with the names of the clouds. Go to http://www.ucar.edu/educ_outreach/webweather/cloudmatch.html

Now, how about a concentration game.  Go to http://www.ucar.edu/educ_outreach/webweather/concentration/concern2.html

Way Out! Cosmic Trivia Game

You are now experts in the solar system. Why not test your skills? Find out how old you would be on another planet, play space games or even make your own alien. Go to http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/games/index.html

Spacy Phonics

What about some blends? Go to www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/clusters/blender/game.shtml

Ready to practice your “oo” sound? Go to www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem7.shtml

Focus on the FCAT

After you have read Back to the Moon, join Max in getting ready for the FCAT.

Think about the following questions, and answer them on paper:

1.        According to the article, how do scientists believe that the moon was formed? Use details and information from the article to support your answer.

2.       According to the article, how many times have men sent expeditions to the moon? Use details and information from the article to support your answer.

3.       How is the Apollo space program different from the Lunar Prospector? Use details and information from the article to support your answer.

Enjoy reading other books about space:

v      Spacebusters the Race to the Moon by Philip Wilkinson

v      Peterson First Guide to the Solar System by Jay M. Pasachoff, Roger T. Peterson

v      The Solar System by Jane Walker

v      Journey to the Planets by Patricia Lauber

Poetry Corner

It’s time for you to read a poem about the moon. Read and enjoy!

http://www.night.net/tucker/moon.html-ssi

How about writing your own poem. Try it, it’s not so hard. Why not write it about space? Go to

http://www.night.net/tucker/rhyme-time1.html-ssi

Non-fiction books

Non-fiction books deal with things that are real and may give facts or opinions. Some examples of non-fiction writing are lists of steps, how-to books, all-about books and recipes. Non-fiction books are written using easy language.

Also, don’t forget:

http://fcatexplorer.com 

Tell Max What You Think…

Now that you are an expert on our solar system, tell Max something you have discovered. Go to: