Our students will be studying the observable patterns of the solar system from the planet Earth. Students will analyze rotation and revolution and the patterns that they create on our home planet. Some of these patterns include day and night, the change in length and direction of shadows, and the different positions of the moon and stars, as the Earth rotates and revolves. Students will learn about the life cycle of a star and the distances of different stars from Earth. Our fifth grade astronomers will experiment with the force of gravity and its pull on matter.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
Try this activity from the Science Teacher's Almanac by Julia Spencer Moutran.
Weightlessness and Gravity
Background Information: When we work and play on Earth, we are influenced by the pull of gravity. Gravity actually helps make our jobs easier to perform. Not so in a spacecraft. Astronauts have found that working in a weightless environment requires more energy. Astronauts working in their spacecraft found that moving was more difficult. Bending down to pick up items wasn't as easy as they thought. Straightening themselves back up in a cumbersome space suit added to their difficulty. The astronauts continue to learn with each mission, resulting in improvements and changes in space suits and equipment.
What happens to objects in a "weightless" environment? Does water drip down or float up? How about food? Could this be dangerous? What does this mean in terms of planning and preparation prior to flight? See if you can find out more about how astronauts drink and wash in space. Write NASA, if you like. Scientists use the term microgravity to describe the small amount of weight people and objects actually have in space. This may be a new word to define for your vocabulary List. Think about the pull of gravity in the following investigation.
Curious? Take a look at this video to see weightlessness in space.
Fun in Space: Zero Gravity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coX1u2_KBsQ
Materials
Scholastic Studyjams: Gravity and Inertia
This video explains the force of gravity, weight, and other interesting facts about Gravity.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/forces-and-motion/fgravity-and-inertia.htm
Scholastic Studyjams Universe - Learn about all the celestial bodies in the Universe.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/solar-system/universe.htm
ESA for Kids: The Big Bang Theory- We are not talking about the television show! Read about the History of the Universe which scientists believe started with the Big Bang Theory.
http://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEMSZ5WJD1E_OurUniverse_0.html
Kids Astronomy.com: Learn About Stars - There are many different types of stars that you can learn about. Just click on this site and explore the world of dwarf and supergiant stars.
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/stars.htm
Suggested Reading
Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story : Book 1 (The Universe Series) by Jennifer Morgan. Take a trip back in time to when the Universe first began.
A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellation by Michael Driscoll. This book provides interesting fact about many of the objects that surround the planet Earth.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
Try this activity from the Science Teacher's Almanac by Julia Spencer Moutran.
Weightlessness and Gravity
Background Information: When we work and play on Earth, we are influenced by the pull of gravity. Gravity actually helps make our jobs easier to perform. Not so in a spacecraft. Astronauts have found that working in a weightless environment requires more energy. Astronauts working in their spacecraft found that moving was more difficult. Bending down to pick up items wasn't as easy as they thought. Straightening themselves back up in a cumbersome space suit added to their difficulty. The astronauts continue to learn with each mission, resulting in improvements and changes in space suits and equipment.
What happens to objects in a "weightless" environment? Does water drip down or float up? How about food? Could this be dangerous? What does this mean in terms of planning and preparation prior to flight? See if you can find out more about how astronauts drink and wash in space. Write NASA, if you like. Scientists use the term microgravity to describe the small amount of weight people and objects actually have in space. This may be a new word to define for your vocabulary List. Think about the pull of gravity in the following investigation.
Curious? Take a look at this video to see weightlessness in space.
Fun in Space: Zero Gravity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coX1u2_KBsQ
Materials
- 30 marbles
- Large plastic milk container (rinsed and dried)
- Scissors
- Wide Rubber Band
- Hang the plastic milk container by cutting and tying one end of the rubber band to the handle and the other end to a hook on the wall.
- Fill the container with ten of the marbles.
- Watch and observe the rubber band. What happens?
- Repeat steps 2 and 3, adding another ten marbles. Then add the final ten marbles and watch what happens.
- Ask your child the following questions:
- What happens to the rubber band? Why?
- How does this show the pull of gravity?
- How do you think weightlessness changes your body? Your height? Your appearance?
- Did you know weightlessness can make your shoes get loose and your waist smaller? Why do you think that happens?
Scholastic Studyjams: Gravity and Inertia
This video explains the force of gravity, weight, and other interesting facts about Gravity.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/forces-and-motion/fgravity-and-inertia.htm
Scholastic Studyjams Universe - Learn about all the celestial bodies in the Universe.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/solar-system/universe.htm
ESA for Kids: The Big Bang Theory- We are not talking about the television show! Read about the History of the Universe which scientists believe started with the Big Bang Theory.
http://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEMSZ5WJD1E_OurUniverse_0.html
Kids Astronomy.com: Learn About Stars - There are many different types of stars that you can learn about. Just click on this site and explore the world of dwarf and supergiant stars.
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/stars.htm
Suggested Reading
Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story : Book 1 (The Universe Series) by Jennifer Morgan. Take a trip back in time to when the Universe first began.
A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellation by Michael Driscoll. This book provides interesting fact about many of the objects that surround the planet Earth.