Friday, January 27, 2012

The Sun & Moon

First of all, TGIF!!!!

This week we started our space unit, and we focused on the Sun and Moon. We have read several nonfiction books about each (don't you LOVE Gail Gibbons??!) And I am not going to lie.. I showed two videos this week... *GASP* But they were GREAT! I remember Bill Nye when I was in school, and he still rocks! He had a video on the Sun and one about the Moon.  We recorded all the fun new facts we learned on our Sun and Moon anchor charts.



To do our Sun facts, I first had the kids finger paint the center of the sun. Seriously took 10 minutes for them all to do it, and the look really cool! They needed to dry most of the morning, so we did our writing that afternoon. I had them write five or six facts on the sun rays that they folded accordion style. Super cute and easy!



We also wrote our Moon facts today. We made these AWESOME moons. Each child needs a paper plate and a straw. You need to mix a little water, black paint, karo syrup and hand soap in a dish. Have the kids blow BIG bubbles with the straw, and push the plate on it. See the pics below....



It was VERY helpful to have our 2nd grade assistant pulling kids to do this :) It only took 10-15 minutes to get everyone done, and they dry super quick.


Once they are cut out, the moons look SO. COOL!



We also made this Pinterest inspired activity today! I decided to just do 5 oreos, because the one on Pinterest does waning and waxing phases, which look the same but are just opposite :) The kids flipped for this activity. Food is just SO. EXCITING.


Next week we will only get to stars and constellations because Tuesday is our 100th day celebration and we have a professional day Friday (woohoo!)

Happy weekend, friends!

11 comments:

  1. Add a little more paint to the moon bubbles, Lauren..that will help. But they looked fab!

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  2. Oh my goodness, I love all the sun and moon activities! :) They will be perfect for our upcoming space unit! Thanks so sharing!
    Lisa
    Stories From Second

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  3. Thank you for the wonderful ideas!! We study space in the fall, so I have them pinned for next year :)

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  4. THis is perfect... we are just starting the moon and I love to have an art/writing piece for their portfolio. Did you mix the ingredients in a bowl and then pour it out for each student or did you mix the ingredients on each student's paper?
    Thanks so much!!
    Lory
    Lory's Page

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    1. We mixed the ingredients in one bowl, and the kids got their own straw to blow the bubbles. Then my TA dipped their plates onto the bubbles. If you don't get the look you want, use more black paint, like honeybee830 said :)

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  6. I love this! I would like to do the moon art with my first graders next week, but I'm having a hard time getting the mixture to create the huge bubbles like your's did! Is there a trick as to how much of each thing to use? Thanks!!

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    1. I don't have measurements but you may try adding more soap and black paint!

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    2. I don't have measurements but you may try adding more soap and black paint!

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  7. What kind of black paint did you use? Acrylic, tempera, etc?

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