Solar System Spectacular: Calling all Astronauts!

We just uploaded our new solar system unit on TpT- here is a sneak peek at some of the lessons and ideas! Most of the lessons are large, so we are selling them separately. However, we are also selling all of the lessons as one HUGE file, too! (More about that at the bottom of the post!)
We have a some super cute ways to build some anticipation and excitement about your new science unit on the solar system! Prior to starting your unit, place an astronaut trainee letter (an official letter from NASA!) in a special star stamped manila envelope. You won't believe how excited your students will be when they come to school and find them on their desk! From here on out, students are astronaut trainees and I (formerly known as the teacher) am now their crew captain-very official, with name badge and all!

After teaching any solar system lesson throughout the unit, I give my junior astronaunts a few minutes to write a reflection about what they learned. I have my kiddos keep their reflections (written on a star die cut for added cuteness!) in a baggie attached to astronaunt clip art. These daily reflections are a great way to review for their test and also provide a great informal assessment for me. I also remind my trainees that I will be reading them as proof that the'vey earned their entrance into the space academy- where the best and brightest go!

 I even glue their face in the space helmet!

Junior astronaunts use their schema (brain file!) to share what they know about constellations and then create their own constellation. Check out the pics below:

Click here if you are interested in the Crazy about Constellations file.

All junior astronauts must learn to work with other junior astronaunts- very important here on Earth and in outer space! Students work in groups to write acrostice poems and present their them to the class.

Crew captains will definitely have the attention of their junior astronaunts when they begin the next lesson with these yummy looking Milky Way bars on display!

And, yes, they do get eaten....AFTER junior astronauts learn about our galaxy and make a really cool art project to go along with it!

 Click on the picture below if you are interested in the Galaxy Galore file:

All astronaunts know about solar and lunar eclipses and junior astronaunts are no different! Below are some pictures from our Exciting Eclipse lesson!

Click on the image below if you are interested in our Exciting Eclipses lesson:

Astronaunts in training must know about how the Moon orbits the Earth and how the Earth orbits the Sun!

Click on the file name for Awesome Orbits

This unit also includes the assessment, a solar system comparison checklist, the solar system flip book, and the lunar cycles.

The solar sytem flip book and the lunar cycle are shown below:

Remember how I started my unit with the official letters from NASA?? Similarly, as I wrap up my unit on the solar system, we celebrate by passing out the astronauts' congratulations letter from NASA! I usually attach these letters to their final assessment- regardless of how they performed- I celebrate everyone's hard work!

As you can see....we really have some fun when learning about the solar system!! :)

We included all of the lessons that are shown above in one huge unit!

Solar System Spectacular ($10.00) on TpT

We are giving away 2 of our Solar System Spectacular: Calling all Astronauts units. The first two people (please leave your email address!!) to leave a nice, little comment will get this unit sent to their inbox! Did we say don't forget to leave your email address? :)

Happy President's Day!