1. Planets Technology Listening Speaking Viewing Meaning Gathering Art
Reading
Writing
Drama
TEKS
Review Questions

2. Technology http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.html
Go to the official NASA website.
There are different activities for students.
Games
Art & Stories
Activities
Kids’ Club
Navigate through the website and learn more about planets and space.

3. Speaking The Family of the Sun
(to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")
The family of the Sun, The family of the Sun, Here are nine planets in The family of the Sun.
Mercury is hot And Mercury is small. Mercury has no atmosphere. It's just a rocky ball.
The family of the Sun, The family of the Sun, Here's another planet in The family of the Sun.
Venus has thick clouds That hide what is below. The air is foul, the ground is hot, It rotates very slow.
(Repeat Refrain)
We love the Earth, our home, Its oceans and its trees. We eat its food, we breathe its air, So no pollution, please.
Mars is very red. It's also dry and cold Some day you might visit Mars If you are really bold.
Great Jupiter is big. We've studies it a lot. We found that it has 16 moons And a big red spot.
Saturn has great rings. We wondered what they were. Now we know they're icy rocks Which we saw as a blur.
The family of the Sun, The family of the Sun, Here are two more planets in The family of the Sun.
Uranus and Neptune We don't know much about Maybe you will study them And then we'll all find out.
Pluto's last in line. It's farthest from the Sun.* It's small and cold and icy too. To land there won't bw fun.
The family of the Sun, The family of the Sun, There are nine planets and Now our journey's done.
The class will have time to interact together and come up with hand motions for each planet.
This will be performed for the parents at Parent/Teacher night.

4. Art
Each group will make a different planet out of model magic. After all the groups have completed their planets we will put all the planets together to create our own solar system.

5. Writing
Write a five paragraph paper comparing a fiction and a nonfiction planet.
Choose a non fictional planet and research it during the reading center.
Create a fictional planet. Be very creative with this. Be sure to include how life is on the planet as well as the physical aspects of the planet. Also be sure to include the planets past, present and future information if possible.
Include an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
The body should include 3 paragraphs… 1 about the fictional planet, 1 about the non fictional planet and 1 comparing the two planets.

6. Dramaturgical Devices
Planet Roll Call
Nine planets around the sun, Listen as I call each one: Mercury? Here! Number one, Closest planet to the sun. Venus? Here! Number two, Shining bright, just like new! Earth? Here! Number three, Earth is home to you and me. Mars? Here! Number four, Red and ready to explore! Jupiter? Here! Number five, Largest planet, that's no jive! Saturn? Here! Number six, With rings of dust and ice that mix. Uranus? Here! Number seven, A planet tilted high in heaven. Neptune? Here! Number eight, With one dark spot whose size is great. Pluto? Here! Number nine, The smallest and the last in line!
Meish Goldish

7. Reading

8. View the movie The Magic School Bus Gets Lost in Space
Viewing
View the movie The Magic School Bus Gets Lost in Space

9. Listening
Teacher reads The Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole

10. (D) cooperate and interact with others in dramatic play.
TEKS
§ English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 3.
(11)  Reading/text structures/literary concepts. The student analyzes the characteristics of various types of texts. The student is expected to:
(B)  distinguish fiction from nonfiction, including fact and fantasy (K-3);
§ Social Studies, Grade 3.
(3)  History. The student understands the concepts of time and chronology. The student is expected to:
(C)  describe historical times in terms of years, decades, and centuries.
§ Theatre, Grade 3.
(3)  Creative expression/performance. The student applies design, directing, and theatre production concepts and skills. The student is expected to:
(D)  cooperate and interact with others in dramatic play.

11. Review Question What is the solar system? What is a planet?
List three ways the outer planets are different
What is the order of the planets?
List three ways the inner planets are alike
What is special about each of the planets?
What is the color of each planet?