Category Archives: space science

The Solar System

 Introduction   The topic of space can be interesting and even thrilling when presented in the correct manner. In the fourth grade students are learning about our solar system. They will learn about the planets that revolve around the sun, … Continue reading

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Moon Phases

The topic covered is Moon Phases. Moon Phases fall under the SOL 3.8. Moon phases can be a tricky topic to teach without some great visuals. I have listed some of the best books, and online resources that I have found on the … Continue reading

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The Planets

The following resources are intended for a range of elementary grades but fit specifically with the VA Science SOLs 4.7 and 6.8. In the fourth and sixth grades students learn about characteristics of the planets, the moon and the sun, … Continue reading

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Teaching Earth Science with Children’s Literature: Don’t Know Much About the Solar System

  Don’t Know Much About the Solar System, written by  Kenneth C. Davis and illustrated by Pedro Martin, is an informative children’s book filled with interesting facts and cartoonlike pictures.  Motivated middle and upper elementary students might read this book … Continue reading

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Teaching Earth Science with Children’s Literature: 11 Planets!

  National Geographic’s 11 Planets, written by David Aguilar, is one of the best kid-friendly reference texts on the planets. Up-to-date and full of amazingly vivid computer graphics, 11 Planets teaches students about the new definition of the term “planet” … Continue reading

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Teaching Civics With Children’s Literature: Feathers and Fools

Feathers and Fools written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Nicholas Wilton is a story about two different flocks of birds living very close to each other.  The peacocks lived in the beautiful garden and the swans live on the … Continue reading

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Teaching Earth Science with Children’s Literature: The Magic School Bus Out of This World: A Book About Space Rocks

Introduction and Summary The Magic School Bus Out of This World : A Book About Space Rocks written by Joanna Cole, is another classic in the Magic School Bus series. Mrs. Frizzle’s class is putting on a solar system play … Continue reading

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Teaching Earth Science with Children’s Literature: So That’s How the Moon Changes Shape!

So That’s How the Moon Changes Shape!, by Allan Fowler, gives simple explanations to young readers about the different phases of the moon.  It explains that children may think that the moon changes it’s shape, but helps them to understand … Continue reading

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Teaching Earth Science with Children’s Literature: Our Solar System

Introduction: What are the order of the planets? How big is the Earth and how many moons does each planet have? All of these are important questions that students must be able to answer by the time they enter the … Continue reading

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Teaching Earth Science With Children’s Literature: Extreme Planets!

Extreme Planets written by Mary Kay Carson and is illustrated through NASA photos and several artists. The format is question and answer and covers a wide variety of questions such as: “How do planets move?”, “How fast is Earth moving? … Continue reading

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