Worksheets on Planet Names and Group Activities

Learning about the planets in our solar system provides a framework for understanding how the Earth fits into the larger universe. It allows children to contextualize other scientific concepts related to space, such as orbit, gravity, celestial bodies, and astronomical phenomena such as solar and lunar eclipses. Use this packet of printable worksheets to teach about the eight planets significant to our solar system. These engaging activities integrate essential educational standards while providing an immersive exploration of planetary names.

Earth is First in Alphabetical Order :

The cut-and paste worksheet challenges students to practice alphabetizing to the first or second letter. Students will sharpen their alphabetical skills while mastering the planet names. 

Counting Syllables in the Solar System: 

Use the cut-and-past worksheet to count syllables with the planet names. Students will classify one-, two-, and three- syllable words, enhancing their phonemic awareness and vocabulary skills.

Planet Names Anagrams:

Unscramble the letters to reveal planet names. These anagrams reinforce word recognition and handwriting abilities in a fun and interactive way.

Planet-Name Crossword Puzzle:

This activity engages students with a crossword puzzle featuring clues for each of the eight planets. It reinforces knowledge of the planet names in an enjoyable, problem-solving format.

 

Memory Matching Game:

Use the planet name cards to create an entertaining memory-matching game. Print the cards on cardstock paper and use tow colors to aid younger children in matching pairs. This activity fosters memory retention and collaborative gameplay.

Collaborative Learning Activity: 

Organize students into teams to analyze planet groupings. Then, designate a spokesperson from each group to present their findings to the class, including the rationale behind their grouping choices. I organized the planets based on letter count - four, five, six, and seven characters. However, teams may propose differing categories. Accept any reasonable responses as long as students can justify their choices. This activity encourages team work and critical thinking skills by challenging students to determine the organizational manner in which the planet names are on a completed graphic organizer.

 

Access Your Astronomy Unit Supplement Now!

These free printable worksheets complement your solar system unit with various activities. Click the image below to download the worksheets and enjoy using them in your classroom today! Remember the solar eclipse happening on Monday, April 8th, 2024!

 

Want something more? Click on this blog post to access a space capsule pattern:  MOON LANDING.

 

Copyright 2019, All Rights Reserved

Molly McMahon, Lessons by Molly

Eight Simple Activities to Commemorate the Moon Landing with Kids

Over 50 years ago, astronauts landed on the moon.  Those of us who are old enough to remember witnessed it on television.  It's an event that you can never forget.  On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.  It was the day when the meaning of the word "impossible" lost some of its influence over us.  We exceeded our own expectations for the twentieth century.  We allowed our imaginations to lead us.  And so they did - to the moon and back.

The moon landing anniversary is the perfect time to promote children's natural curiosity about the moon, the Earth, and the planets within our solar system.  The activities listed below are sure to be a hit with preschool and elementary school-aged children.  Best of all, they are inexpensive and require little or no preparation.

1.  Pretend Play
Get a large empty box.  (Household appliance boxes are great!)  Make an opening in the box to represent a window or hatch.  Cover the exterior of the box with aluminum foil or use silver spray paint.  Write "Apollo 11" on the box.  The children can play inside the box and pretend to be astronauts on a voyage to the moon. 
2.  Books
Go to a local library and check out picture books about the moon.  Schedule a storytime or a book browsing time on the anniversary of the lunar landing.
3.  Craft
Make a space capsule with gray construction paper or silver craft paper.  Have the children decorate it with windows, gears, and a hatch.  Click the image below to get a space capsule pattern.

4.  Watch It
Watch a replay of the moon landing.  Here is a website where you can see it happening:  Apollo In Real Time
5.  Take a Trip 
Schedule a trip to your local planetarium.  Not sure about a planetarium in your area?  Contact the science department at a nearby university.  Check to see if they offer shows that are open to the public.

6.  Computers or iPads
Test your knowledge of the moon with online activities.  Here's a quiz about the moon for older elementary children:  Moon Quiz
7.  Lift Off Reenactment
Children pretend their bodies are Apollo 11.  The teacher says, "We are go with Apollo 11.  Twelve, eleven, ten, nine.  Ignition sequence starts.  Six, five, four, three, two, one, zero.  LIFTOFF!"  Children jump into the air at the phrase, "Liftoff."
8.  Snack
Purchase Moon Pies.  Have the children spread peanut butter or frosting on the top surface.  Give each child a gumdrop.  The gumdrop represents a space craft.  Have children stick the gumdrop in the peanut butter or frosting.

View my next blog post and get freebies about about learning the planet names.  Find the post HERE. 

Copyright 2019, All Rights Reserved
Molly McMahon, Lessons by Molly

 

Kindergarten Caps and Gowns

If you teach kindergarten or preschool children you are probably hosting a closing ceremony for the end of the school year.  Perhaps your students are wearing caps and gowns for the event.  Here is a freebie that your students can enjoy if they wear caps and gowns for their graduation closing ceremony.  They'll need pencils and crayons to complete the worksheets which is great when you've already packed up your classroom for the summer break.   Click the image at the end of this post to get the freebie.

Children will need the following skills to complete the worksheets independently:

1.  Produce the voiced /c/ and /g/ sounds.  Identify the voiced /c/ and /g/ as an initial sound in the words "cap" and "gown".

2.  Count sets of objects in picture form.  Match sets of objects to the correct numeral.

3.  Identify color words.

4.  Create a bar graph that indicates two groups with one group having more when compared to second group on the graph.  Answer questions related to the graph.

Have a great end of the school year!

Molly
Lessons by Molly, Copyright 2019

Mother's Day Keepsake Box Craft

I go to my local supercenter in the hopes of buying chocolate at a discounted price the day after Valentine's Day.  Sometimes I can get small, heart shaped boxes of chocolates at 75% off the normal price.  Each box has about three pieces of chocolate.  I consume the chocolate and save the empty boxes for future repurposing.  

Recently I was going through a hodge-podge of craft materials and I came across a collection of heart shaped boxes that I had been saving.  This got me thinking about an inexpensive Mother's Day craft that children would enjoy making.  Mother's Day is three months away but the heart shaped boxes are a seasonal item.  They're only available at the stores a few weeks before Valentine's Day.  They're not as expensive as buying the heart shaped boxes at a craft shop.  Plus, there's the added bonus that they come with chocolate!  If you send notes to families requesting items such a empty oatmeal boxes, you can also add small, empty heart shaped boxes to your request list. 

I had some acrylic paint so I painted just the top surface of the boxes from my collection.  I allowed the paint to dry and added a second coat of paint.  I let the second coat of paint dry overnight.  Then I glued heart shaped gems on the same surface that I had painted.  I let the glued gems dry overnight.  Here's what the finished Mother's Day boxes look like:

First grade is the youngest grade that I would consider for this Mother's Day craft.  It takes coordination to glue the small gems on the surface of the box.  There's also a notification on the package of gems that says it's for ages six or older.  

There are three different sizes of gems in one package.  When children are creating collages with pieces of varying sizes, it's a good idea to instruct them to put the largest pieces on first, then the medium sized pieces, and finally use the smallest pieces are used to fill in the gaps.  Divide the various sized pieces equally among your students before having the first group work on the project.  If you skip this step, the first group of children will use all the big gem stones!

This Mother's Day gift idea is very affordable.  The children could make beaded necklaces to go inside the boxes, write a special note, or place a photo of themselves inside.  A great Mother's Day gift!

Materials:

1.  empty heart shaped cardboard boxes
2.  glue
3.  paintbrushes
4.  acrylic paint
5.  smocks
6.  newspaper to cover the tables

7.  one 600 count package of plastic crafting gems (This quantity is enough to decorate 16-18 boxes) - from Michael's

Lessons by Molly