The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

Task 1:  Exploring the Sun

Step 1:

Click on the links below to learn some fun and interesting facts about the sun.  Be sure to take notes and answer questions on your student sheet.

Sun Facts

Step 2:

Click on the link below to complete a mission to the sun, moon, and earth.  When it asks you how many people are in your group- just press one. Once you get to the sun be sure to pay close attention to the information you learn, because you'll need to know some of the facts answer questions on your student sheet  For some extra credit fly your spaceship to the Earth and Moon and list one thing you learned about each on your student page. 

Interactive Space Game

 

Once you are done exploring answer the following questions on the student sheet:

    1. Is the Sun a star or a planet?

    2. How old is the sun?

    3. What galaxy does the sun belong to?

    4. How does the sun get hot?

    5. What is a sunspot?

    6. How many earths could fit in the sun? 

 

Step 3:

Click on the links below to watch a video on what makes day and night and the sun moving.

Video on Day and Night 

The Sun Moving

 

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Task 2:

3..2..1..Blast off!  You are on your way to an exciting journey to the moon.  Click on the links below to learn some fun and interesting facts about the moon.  Be sure to complete your student sheet.

Step 1

Moon Facts

This link will help you learn some interesting moon facts.  Once you are done reading answer the following questions in your space journal:

1.  Who were the first people to walk on the moon?

2.  About how many days does it take for the Moon to revolve around the Earth?

Step 2

Moon Calendar

Click on the Moon Calendar.  Enter the current month and year.  In your space journal record the name of the moon phase for today's date.  What will the moon phase be a week from today?  What was the moon phase 3 days ago?

Step 3

Moon Challenge

Do you think you know the Phases of the Moon?  Take this Moon Challenge to test your skills!

Step 4

Moon Phase Tracker

Travel back in time or into the future to track the Phases of the Moon!  Use the Moon Phase Tracker to calculate the Phases of the Moon as far back as the 1800's all the way up until 2199!  On your student sheet, record the name of the Moon Phases for:

 June 25, 1983 in the 12th hour of Eastern Time

May 17, 2110 in the 20th hour of Mountain Time

January 1, 1810 in the 4th hour of Central Time

Step 5:

What did you learn about  the moon? 

Answer these true and false questions on your student sheet

1. The moon is larger than the sun.  T  F

2. The moon has phases.  T F

3. The moon is oval shaped. T  F

4. There are people living on the moon.  T  F

5. The moon has two weeks of daytime and two weeks of

nighttime. T  F

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Task 3: Star Chasers

Click on the links below.  Explore the web sites to learn about stars. 

Step 1

Stars, Planets, and Constellations

Be sure to click on Stars & the Sun and the Constellations links on the left hand side to use the virtual telescope to see different constellations and planets up close! 

 

Match the Constellations

Match the constellations to the mythical characters they represent

 

Tonight's Sky 

Press "Play Movie" and get taken away to the things you can see in tonight's sky.  Learn which constellations are out during this time of year and what each of those constellations mean. 

 

Step 2:

Estimate the number of stars you see in the picture below.  Write it in your Space Journal.