5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Blastoff! Connecting Mathematics, Science, and Literature
Published in the Spring 2007 issue of the ACEI Exchange, pp 162 J
This Idea-Sparker was submitted by Jason McKinney, a graduate student at Southern Mississippi University and a 1st-grade teacher at Pisgah Elementary in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Designed for K-2 students but easily adapted to higher grade levels. Create solar systems in your classroom using one of your entire walls and ceiling. Students will enjoy these solar system lessons integrating math, language arts, science, social studies, technology, and the arts.

Let's Get Started: The first day, you will read about the solar system (refer to the librarian for age-appropriate text) and plant a seed by saying, "Tomorrow, you will come in and see one of our walls completely covered in black and we're going to create our own solar system in class." (If I were your principal, I'd allow you to paint the wall black and then the students can paint the planets. Othewise, you might use rolls of black paper or ask a parent to get you a giant piece of black felt.) The next day, have 8" by 12" sheets of black construction paper available for students, along with orange, yellow, and red sheets the students can use to create the sun at one end of their black construction paper. Every student will create a small representation of the solar system. Students undoubtedly will make mistakes, so be patient and put out models that they can see. Each day, thoroughly discuss the next planet in sequence from the sun, providing as many colors of construction paper as possible. Support creative thinking by encouraging students to decide on the colors of the planets. Pictures of planets can be observed through illustrations in books or Web sites (for example, at www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/venus/). As the students complete their planets (the size should be in appropriate scale relative to the sun, and the number of moons should be correct), allow them to create another, larger, planet, proportional in size to the sun on the wall, and attach it in sequence from the sun for the giant classroom solar system. After 10 days, you will add aliens your students created in detailed writing about the adventures they had in the solar system. Next, you will add the red giants, dwarfs, and other stars you explore. You can play math games by sequencing the planets in correct order. Please don't limit yourself to these guidelines-use this as a springboard, and enjoy your trip into space.

Family Involvement: Encourage your students to create a three-dimensional planet of their choice with their parents. Require the students to attach a hook to the model so that it may be displayed from your ceiling. Please do not punish the students who lack parental involvement. You will get plenty of displays. And for any of you teachers worried about fire codes or overly authoritative principals, using wire (99 cents for a spool of thin wire) and allowing two-and-half feet between the ceiling and the model should prevent any chance for a fire hazard.

Community of Learners: Invite the families of your students to school one evening after completion of both solar systems (wall, ceiling), when the kids can informally share their creations. Have their alien/space stories framed in construction paper, create small packets for sequencing planets, and add your other wonderful ideas. This also would be a great opportunity for a parent to bring in a telescope to observe Venus and other night objects. After the families complete their visits, have students invite all the classes of your school to visit your space museum. Your museum may be tiny, but you will have created a charming effect that may spark new interests for further investigations.