Astronomy in 2nd Grade

[farmerjumperdon]

Want to share that there are places (I knew there were, but it is just great to see) that do this.

My 2nd grader's science class is spending a very good amount of time on the Solar System. Her just completed project is a game of answering questions and moving around a board that is a map of the Solar System. (Not to scale of course).

She is pretty good at it, and appears to be genuinely drawn to the topic. She now regularly pages thru my Astronomy gazing at the pictures.

My 10 year old knows many constellations and goes out at night on a regular basis to gaze at the sky.

Makes me proud.

[Matherly]

Back in the day, when I was in 2nd grade we made a paper mache (sp?) model of the Solar System. We didn't learn much about the planets beyond the fact that they exist, go around the Sun, and thier names. But that was a soild foundation for more in depth studies later.

[farmerjumperdon]

They are certainly ahead of what we did in my day too. Don't know how much will be retained, and that is not the emphasis for now. I think the emphasis for now is building a sense of wonder and interest in science.

For instance, they have learned:

<> That Uranus has been tipped on it's side.
<> The names of the biggest moons throughout the Solar System and how some of them are prime targets for discovering life.
<> Theories on the formation of the Moon & the asteroid belt.
<> The general composition of all the planets, as well as a few major features.

For the record, both my daughters strongly opposed the reclassification of Pluto. But then again they both wish Sedna would have been named Goofy.

[laurele]

They are certainly ahead of what we did in my day too. Don't know how much will be retained, and that is not the emphasis for now. I think the emphasis for now is building a sense of wonder and interest in science.

For instance, they have learned:

<> That Uranus has been tipped on it's side.
<> The names of the biggest moons throughout the Solar System and how some of them are prime targets for discovering life.
<> Theories on the formation of the Moon & the asteroid belt.
<> The general composition of all the planets, as well as a few major features.

For the record, both my daughters strongly opposed the reclassification of Pluto. But then again they both wish Sedna would have been named Goofy.


Kudos to your daughters for their strong opposition to the reclassification of Pluto. I hope their teachers are open minded enough to explain that there are two different views on this topic among astronomers and accept both as being "correct" or accurate.

I bought my four-year-old nephew a toy model of the solar system with a sun that lights up and electronic buttons to click on information for each of the planets. He immediately recognized Pluto, Earth, and Saturn even though he cannot read yet!

[KaiYeves]

Great stuff! My ten year old brothers follow several planetary probes (For fun, not at school) and I taught some constellations to a teenage friend in my school's Peer Helping group. But the cutest young space enthusiast is a three year old friend of the family who loves my rocket pen that "blasts off" two feet in the air when you press a button. He doesn't know how to count down yet, so he counts up before pressing the button!
8... 9... 10... Liftoff!

[farmerjumperdon]

Kudos to your daughters for their strong opposition to the reclassification of Pluto. I hope their teachers are open minded enough to explain that there are two different views on this topic among astronomers and accept both as being "correct" or accurate.

I bought my four-year-old nephew a toy model of the solar system with a sun that lights up and electronic buttons to click on information for each of the planets. He immediately recognized Pluto, Earth, and Saturn even though he cannot read yet!

It was kind of funny; because as she was laying them out on the poster size gameboard I said that Pluto was no longer considered a planet. She said the teacher specifically allowed them to treat it as they liked, and she likes it as a planet.

Very cute.

[HenrikOlsen]

I have fond memories of standing in a kindergarten with an 8" telescope doing show and tell during the 2004 Venus transit.
On average the kids knew more than the parents about what was going on. :)

Not my telescope, the kindergartens.

[Noclevername]

Man, I'm jealous. When I was in second grade all we had was

(I couldn't think of a way to finish the sentence, I guess because it was so unmemorable that nothing stands out.)

[Neverfly]

Right.:neutral:

I remember I had an accident in Second Grade.


But I won't discuss that... although I did see stars at one point... :whistle:

[KaiYeves]

I had an accident in third grade when I was visiting my brothers at Pre-K. I misjudged when I was running through an open gate and hit my chin on a support.

[Neverfly]

I had an accident in third grade when I was visiting my brothers at Pre-K. I misjudged when I was running through an open gate and hit my chin on a support.

My accident required calling my mom to bring a change of clothes.

[Gemini]

My accident required calling my mom to bring a change of clothes.


Maybe we oughta form support group. ;)

[Neverfly]

Maybe we oughta form support group. ;)

nahhh... in the past. I'm all over it;)

[Gemini]

Good to know, as am I.

[Jim]

When we lived in Baton Rouge, my son's teachers asked parents to come speak on topics of interest. Mine was on the life cycle of stars and was well received.

I looked forward to continuing giving presentations on similar topics when we relocated to Texas. Didn't happen... understandably. We moved to the JSC area.

When you can have your space science presentations made by real rocket scientists and astronauts, when class trips include Mission Control and Space Center USA, amateurs like me don't stand a chance.