Student Section

The Big Idea

The earth is part of a solar system of planets circling a star in one of many galaxies of stars in the universe.

The solar system was born about 4.5 billion years age, when something disturbed and compressed a vast cloud of cold gas and dust-the raw material of stars and planets.  The disturbance may have been a collision with another cloud, or a shock wave from an exploding star.

Would you like to take an exciting journey to our universe!
Go on and read some letters from former and current space travelers.

    Long, long ago there was a class that wanted to go to space, but the teacher, Ms Maldonado didn't want to go.  The class insisted that the teacher go with them out to space.  But, Ms. Maldonado didn't want to go to the moon.  Then one night when Ms. Maldonado was in her house watching television when her students kidnapped her.  The class left into space and took Ms. Maldonado with them.  And they saw many beautiful planets and stars.  They had a blast!

                                                                                 By: Ricardo Hernandez
                                                                                 Grade - 5th

    Go to the solar system, it's great!  Don't believe what they say  about there being big ugly monsters.  It isn't true.  I have been there, and there are no monsters or ugly creatures.  You will discover lots of beautiful things.  You will learn lots about the solar system.   You will see how it looks, smells and how big it is.  Trust me, you will have a big smile when you leave the solar system, everybody does!

                                                                                  By: Rosa Pineda
                                                                                  Grade - 5th
 

                                         Exploring Solar System & Beyond

    You are going to experience something you never have.  Your going to collect moon rocks and keep them.  People are going to watch you on their televisions and your going to be famous!  You will be receiving a wonderful gift and see all the galaxies and beyond.  There are some really cool things to see.  Be prepared for the trip, and what you will see you there!

                                                                                   By: Edson Alvarez
                                                                                   Grade - 5th

So come and join us, but before you go, you must know some facts about our solar system.   You must complete the following activities before your final take off.  Be careful and follow all directions  given.

Now, lets learn some more about our solar system.  You are going to read an article titled All About Our Solar System.  After you read it, you must complete the interactive puzzle on the solar system.  Please print out your completed puzzle.  Go forth and become knowledgeable!
 

                                                    Our Solar System
 
 

You going to learn about this wonderful planet of ours.  Earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system.  Want to learn more?  Read the article The Earth.  Please complete the interactive puzzle and print out your result.  Also, please write a short summary of the article.  You can save the summary on  your floppy disk.  Go to file, then save as.  Then go to drive a - and save.  Be sure to give your summary a name that includes earth some where in it.  For example, cool earth.   Have fun!

                                                   The Earth
 
 

Activity Three

What is your vision of the future?  What will the world be like when you grow up?  What would pack for a trip to another planet?  What would you eat and drink?  What would you breathe?  What about life on other planets?  Do you think we will find some or will they find us?  You tell me!

Write a three paragraph futuristic story describing your vision of the future.  Click on Quotable Kids and write your story.  Please print out your story and share it with the class, and me of course.  So go forth, and may all the creative and positive forces be with you!

                                               Quotable Kids
 
 

How much do you weigh?  Your weight depends upon where you are.  If you were in orbit around the earth, far away from earth's gravitational pull, you would be weightless and would float.  Mass is the amount of matter that makes up an object.  The gravitational pull depends upon mass.  Even a pencil has mass.  Thus, it has gravitational pull, but since it is far less than the earth's mass, if falls to the ground when you drop it.

If you were to visit other planets and moons with more or less mass than earth's a scale would show that you weigh a different amount than you do on Earth.

So lets find out how much you really weigh.  Please print up your calculation and post the results by your name on the Weighty Matter Chart.
 

                                            Weighty Matters