Lesson Plan #:AELP-AST0002

Magic School Bus Lost In Space

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Kelly Anderson
Endorsed by: Don Descy
School or Affiliation: Mankato State University

Date: February 25, 1998

Grade Level(s): 2, 3

Subject(s):

Description:

The way the solar system is structured in the sky can be very confusing to a child. This lesson will help the students know exactly where each planet goes and what it is like on that planet.  The students will read about it, create it, and watch a movie about it.

Objectives:

The students will list the different planets in the solar system.  The students will place the planets in their proper place in their diagram.

Background Information:

This activity can be used with students that have little knowledge about the solar system.  The lesson teaches about the solar system and its structure.

Concepts:

Students will be able to:

  1. Understand the information given to them by the book and also the video.
  2. Create a solar system mobile placing all the planets in the correct areas.

Materials:

  1. Different sized styrofoam balls
  2. Cardboard
  3. Construction Paper
  4. String
  5. Balloons
  6. T.V and VCR
  7. Magic School Bus Lost In Space by, Joanna Cole (book and video)

Procedure:

  1. Read the story "The Magic School Bus Lost In Space" to the children.
  2. Have the students create the solar system mobile.
  3. Talk with the students about the solar system as they are making it.
  4. Have each child get the supplies they need form the front desk.
  5. Tie one end of the string to the cardboard, which is for the title "Our Solar System", at the other end of the string hang the balloon (sun).
  6. Have the students make all different planets with different sized balls, color or paint the balls the correct color.
  7. Take 10 pieces of string with five different sizes, tape the string to the different sized cardboard, there should be a piece of cardboard for each size string, the students can put the construction paper around the cardboard and string (use blue paper).
  8. Take each of these pieces and tie them to the planets, be sure that they are putting the planets in the correct order.
  9. Tape or glue the cardboard with the planets on them to the base string which contains the title and the balloon on it.
  10. By following all of these steps your students should have made a solar system mobile.
  11. After they have finished their solar system mobile show the video "The Magic School Bus Lost In Space".

Assessment:

  1. Ask the students if this is what a solar system looks like?
  2. Did everyone follow the directions?
  3. Observe each child's mobile to make sure that all the planets are in the correct order.
  4. Have the students do a self-evaluation