There are a few more left ....

I thought I saved this so you could see them the right way but I guess not.... These are 2 very unique ways to show the Solar System!

Here are a few more models....

More systems....

This model was very neat and the poles helped show the distance from the sun.

This model was smaller and used a shoe box as a base.

A solar system a day.....

This model is made of cake and ricecrispies!

Keeps the followers happy! I am going to be showing off the hard work of my students this week. They each had to made a model of the Solar System. I would have never expected thier work to be this wonderful. They all did a terrific job and I can tell they put alot of time into thier projects.

This model lights up!

Meteoroids, Meteorites, Meteors

Last Friday our classroom was on fire about the solar system and the objects in our system. 5th grade discover that there is more in our solar system than just planets. We learned about meteoroids, meteorites, and meteors along with asteroids. Before teaching this unit I really didn't know what these things were but now I have a full understanding of them all.
One question that really got my students thinking was; "Have you ever seen a shooting star?" Almost all of them had but they didn't know what it was. I was so excited to tell them. A shooting star is a meteor that is burning up in earth's atmosphere. (How cool is that)

So what is the next step in the learning process? (I have successfully had the students infer, now I have taught the material, next up is to do a hands on activity, right?)


I got out the stealwool, a lighter and away we went. As a class we created 3 meteor demonstarations. Here are a few pictures of our shooting star activity.

UP CLOSE

Make a wish!

Look at the ball of light.

Solar System

My students and I have been learning ALL about the solar system. This has been a really fun unit. The students are in charge of researching a planet and giving a planet presentation before the unit is over. So far the kids have learned so much about the planets on their own that I don’t know how I would ever teach the information.

Not only are the students responsible for making a power point explaining important details about their planet they are also working on a project at home. Each student is to make a solar system model. Because I wanted in on all the fun I made a solar system model for our classroom. No, mine is not 3-D but it is overly large and looks very neat hanging up in the room. The students love having it hang up because it is a constant reminder of what we are working on in science.

Here are some pictures of the solar system classroom model to scale!

The whole Solar System from a distance.

Close up of the sun (not to scale) and the first 6 planets.

The far 2 planets.

You probly noticed that the model is hanging over the windows. I don't think my classroom has a perfect design and there was not enough space unless I hung it over the windows. I think it fits great! I have to use problem solving skills just like my students!

I took the plunge

That's right I am now a proud owner of a new blog! I started this blog earlier (to use as a classroom blog to keep parents informed.) That really never took off with me. I only made one post and I never told the parents about it. I felt like I wouldn't be able to keep it updated with all the information the parents needed. Maybe that is something I will try later. But for now this blog is solely a classroom insight.

What is a classroom insight?

I will post picture of my classroom, fun things going on in 5th grade, ideas that I have, advice (if I find any good enough to share) and things like that. I recently started following another teacher and I REALLY enjoy her classroom insight so I thought I should maybe give it a shot. I am not promising ANYTHING. I am a 1st year teacher and I don't do things "right" all the time but I thought this might just be a cool idea.