Eight Planets Around the Sun...

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope everyone is having a great start to their work week!

Last week, I posted a poem titled Planet Roll Call. You can find that printable HERE. I decided this would make a super cute little Reader's Theater for my firsties. 9 different parts...I can get all of my students participating if we do it 2 times through. Perfect!

I made little planet hand puppets....I guess you can call them puppets, but they don't do anything but slide over the little hands of my firsties. :)

We will use these for our reader's theater. I think overall they turned out pretty cute! The kids love them and that's all that matters!

I modified the Planet Roll Call poem to be read as a reader's theater. Feel free to download! It messed up the original font I had, but it works. :) Enjoy!

Planet Readers Theater

We also read this book today:

And made this graphic organizer about astronauts -- inspired by Abby at The Inspired Apple!

Out Of This World Art Activity!

Sharing more of the space unit I've been teaching this week! Check out this fun planet art we made today:

Directions:

1) I traced different sized circles onto an 11x17 piece of paper. I ran this through the copier, and each student used watercolors to paint the planets. They tried to paint them how they were shown in our science text. Once dry, cut out the planets.

2) Take a 12x18 sheet of black construction paper, some watered down (washable!) white paint, and a toothbrush. This is the best part! Flick the toothbrush to spatter the 'stars' across the black sky!

3) Once dry, glue the planets on the black paper.

Star Walk App -- a Must!

We continue our study on space with stars. After learning about stars and constellations, the students made their own constellations. Super easy activity, but one that really made them remember that big "college" word -- constellation!

Then we set outside to see some real constellations! I am lucky to have an iPod touch in my room for class use. The Star Walk app is one of the best --- and for only $2.99, it's well worth the download! With this app, "users are able to easily locate and identify 20,000+ objects in the night sky. The 360-degree, touch control star map displays constellations, stars, planets, satellites, and galaxies currently overhead from anywhere on Earth." (vitotechnology.com) It uses the GPS in the iPod touch to show constellations that you should be able to see on a clear night from your exact location. SOOOOO cool!

This is an example of the on screen display:

"OOOOH There's Ursa Minor!"
"I see Mars!"

 "Cool! There's Pegasus!"

What are some of your favorite apps for school?

"When Can We Paint?!" :)

Pretty sure I've been asked this question a GAZILLION times since we unpacked those brand new vibrant watercolors on the first day of school. I decided today was the day.

We started our unit on the Sky and Space today. Today's focus was on the sun:

 

Then we FINALLY broke out those watercolors and got busy painting the sun. What wonderful artists I have this year! This really helps brighten up the dull wood paneling my room is rockin'! 

 

Tomorrow we move on to the moon and stars! I just LOVE teaching this unit!