Jessica Cuevas-Rowland

3rd Grade Science

Objective:
The student will be able identify all the planets in the solar system in order with at least one
characteristic 90% of the time.

TEKS 3.8 Earth and space. The student knows there are recognizable patterns in the natural
world and among objects in the sky. The student is expected to:
D. Identify the planets in Earth's solar system and their position in relation to the Sun.

Objective:
Students will be able identify all the planets in our solar system and their relation to the Sun.
They will also be able to name at least one characteristic of each planet.
Materials needed:
•Styrofoam spheres in 9 different sizes
•Tempura paint in a variety of colors and paint brushes
•String
•Paperclips
•4x6 note cards
•Spinning in Space: A Book About the Planets by Meachen Rau
•What's Out There?: A Book about Space by Lynn Wilson
Procedure:
1. After reading a picture book about the planets in the solar system there will be a review of
what students know about the planets and the solar system. Divide students into groups,
totaling 9 groups. Each group will get a set of paints, paint brushes and a styrofoam sphere.
2. Teacher will assign each group a planet. Each group will have a painter/s and a scribe. Each
group will paint their planet according to the facts and characteristics found in the book that
was read. The scribe will write an info. card (4x6) about their planet based on the facts the
group came up with as a whole.
3. Once all the planets are painted and have dried, each group will present their planet. They
will state the planet’s name, how big it is in relation to Earth and its distance away from the
Sun and one interesting fact. Students are strongly encouraged to listen carefully and take
notes, if they wish. After all the planets are presented and an assessment has been done,
they will be hung from the classroom ceiling, respectively.

Assessment:
Students will be given a fill-in-the blank worksheet/quiz with facts missing about each planet.
The worksheet will also have a picture of the solar system and the students label it
appropriately.

Extension:
Students can read What's Out There?: A Book about Space by Lynn Wilson. The book also has
facts about stars (constellations), and moons. Students can be given an extra activity of creating
the moons of different planets to be hung along side the planets in the classroom.
 Jessica Cuevas-Rowland

Song:

The Planet Song by Dr. Jean and Friends

I bought a Mercury Oh Dear, Oh My

To visit friends on Venus
But how on Earth
Will I ever visit Mars?
Jumping Jupiter
Saturn’s party is Saturday
Uranus and Neptune
WIll ride in a space car
The planets in the sky
Let’s learn them all in order everybody try
(repeat first verse)
Oh happy day, what will we say?
We learned all the planets in order
Hip-Hip-Hip- Hooray!