Web Resources for Teaching/Learning about the Solar System and the Space Around Us

(4-5th grades)

1. "Space University." Scholastic. Scholastic, 2009. Web. 26 Oct. 2009.

<http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/space/level1/MoonOlympics.htm>.
This activity, Space Olympics, is extremely interactive and I believe would be an
engaging tool to give children to explore the concept of space. It is an engaging game and would
add excitement to the subject of space and our solar system. It allows children to investigate
different situations placed in space such as: jumping, lifting weights, and even playing golf.
Although children should have a basic concept of space before using this interactive site, I
believe it will show children that there is more to learn about space than the different planets. I
really like this website because it allows children to relate the new information to their
knowledge of activities on Earth.
2. Whitlock, Dr. Laura. "The Solar System." StarChild. NASA. Web. 26 Oct. 2009.
<http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/activity/planet_go.ht
ml>.

This website is dedicated entirely to exploration of the solar system. Teachers and
students both are able to explore facts and activities relating to the planets, asteroids, and other
various facts. Although this website is informative, a teacher must be aware of the wide range of
subject level. Some information is foundational and some activities are based on the basic facts
of the solar system. Besides this, the website offers a lot. On the main page, one is able to click
on the individual named planets to find information. Also on the main page is a link to four
activities. I like this link because it gives a variety of information. Although the range of
information may be dangerous in a teaching environment, it may be beneficial if children are
working alone. The higher level of knowledge may allow those students that are more interested
in the topic, to explore a little deeper and gain a better sense of the solar system.

3. Hipschman, Ron. "Enter Your Weight on Other Worlds." 1997. Web. 26 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html>.

This webpage allows children to enter their weight and find out how much they would
weigh on different planets, moons, and stars. The page is set up as children are able to explore
their weights first, and as they scroll to the bottom of the page, information is given on mass,
weight, distance, and gravity. I feel that this website catches the student’s attention, draws them
into the topic, and then teaches while explaining the reasoning to their new weights. This
webpage excites me particularly because I remember as a child looking at a webpage such as this
one. It fascinated me that you may weigh one weight on Earth, but a totally different weight on
Saturn. The peculiar concept seemed to excite me, and I believe it would do the same for my
future students.

4. Astronomy for Kids. KidPower, 2009. Web. 26 Oct. 2009.

<http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpower/astronomy.html>.

Information and facts are what is found on this website. There are various links that allow
children or teachers to obtain information about the planets, the stars, meteorites, comets, and the
moon, just to name a few. After choosing the link of interest, the user will then find information
in the form of bullet points. This allows the information to be easily read and understood. It
lessens the time needed to explore and understand the meanings of the different objects. I think
this website is perfect for teaching from. It is already set up in ways that children will
understand. Either as the teacher teaches from the site or just allows the children to explore, I
believe this website does a fantastic job of explaining the various objects in space.

5. Arty the part time Astronaut. 3 Pounds Media, 2008. Web. 27 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=10154>.

This website is dedicated entirely to space and all that is in it. The user is able to choose
one of three buttons: Explore, Action, and Games. Behind these three buttons is a variety of
interactive material. Behind the Explore button the student is able to explore information on
space, the planets, and the past history of exploration. Behind the Action and Games button are
multiple crosswords, puzzles, and interactive activities. Also found on the website is a link for
teachers. This takes the teacher to a site with lesson plans and teachers guides. I really like this
website because it has a something for everyone. It is set up to be easily navigated, is fun and
brightly colored, and is full of information to be explored.

6. "Interactive Solar System Facts." Free Elementary Science Activities Interactive

Educational Science Games Online for Kids. 2009. Web. 27 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.apples4theteacher.com/starwarp2.html>.

This particular webpage is simple but would be a great tool in teaching. Found on this
page is a simulation that looks as if one is flying throughout space with starts shooting by. At the
top are the 9 planets, the sun, and Pluto named within tiny rockets. As the user clicks on
whichever they are interested in, a short synopsis of the planet’s information shoots out
accompanied by a “shooting in space” sound. This information is a short paragraph giving
location, characteristics, and general measurements. I think this site would be a great one to look
at as a class. A teacher could present this website maybe before the lesson to give a glimpse of
the topics the students are about to cover. Allowing the students to choose which planet, star, or
moon to choose also would be a great way to get the students more involved.

7. "Teaching Tools." Amazing Space. NASA. Web. 27 Oct. 2009. <http://amazing-

space.stsci.edu/eds/tools/>.
 Amazing Space is a great website that teachers and students can both use. The user has
the option of choosing activities by specific topics such as: gravity, the solar system, or comets
and asteroids. The user has a second option to choose activities by type. This second option is to
be used specifically by either teacher or student. For the teacher there are classroom activities,
resources with educator guides, and Q&As to work with. For the student there are online
explorations, pictures & facts, and myths to explore. Behind each link are multiple resources to
investigate. I think this website is extremely useful because of the variety of topics that both the
teacher and students have available. Because of the option of finding activities by topic and type
allows easy navigation and quick findings.

8. "Solar System Simulator." Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology.

NASA. Web. 27 Oct. 2009. <http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpower/astronomy.html>.

This simulator allows the user to see different planets from different views. Options such
as what is viewed, where the object is viewed from, and the range of view is available. The user
is able to view different planets, stars, and moons from above, below, or even from different
planets. This site could be used both within in classes or by individual students. Because of the
extreme reality of the simulation, I think this website is great for giving visual knowledge to the
children. It allows students to assimilate their knowledge with pictures to give a firm
understanding of the topic.

9. Arnett, Bill. "A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System." The Nine Planets. 1 Feb. 2009.
Web. 27 Oct. 2009. <http://www.nineplanets.org/>.

This website is full of straight forward knowledge. Although it contains a large age and
ability range, I believe fourth and fifth grades could still take advantage of the facts. The site
includes common question and answers, facts of the individual planets, and even information on
other solar systems. Each planet is divided into many subcategories of detailed information.
Although for the elementary grades these details are advanced, it may be found interesting by
some and allow further exploration for those intrigued. Teachers could use this site either as
information for their lessons or possibly part of their lessons. Teachers could allow children to
explore the site and then ask questions of some of the facts learned. I think this site is useful
because of the depth of knowledge easily marked details.

10. "Our Solar System." Science and Space. National Geographic, 2009. Web. 27 Oct. 2009.
<http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system>.

I like this website specifically because it is split into two categories of the inner solar
system and outer solar system. The main page is a brightly colored and interactive. The user is
able to click on the planet they are interested in and dive into that particular planet’s information.
Another page appears when choosing a planet that displays: an enlarged picture of the planet, an
introduction paragraph, stats about the planet, and size comparison. The most interesting to me is
the size comparison. The site will show the particular planet chosen next to the other planets,
allowing the user to really visualize the size difference. I think this site is great because it not
only gives information in easily understood terms, but also gives real simulations allowing the
teacher or student to use all forms of understanding.