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What are the wandering stars?

What are the wandering stars?
Scroll for prep
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Discuss: Were you surprised? Why or why not?

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Discuss: Which planets move the most quickly in their orbits around the Sun? Which planets move the most slowly?

Reveal answer

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Discuss: People used to think that planets were a type of star. Now we know that planets are worlds. Why did we change our minds about them?

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Discuss: In the old view of planets, would the Earth be considered a planet? Why or why not?

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Discuss: Okay so now you've seen real, close-up photographs from Mars, Venus, and Mercury. What planets are we missing?

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# Extensions
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity & Exploration which you just completed.

ELA Activity: My Very Educated Mother

This sentence will help you remember the planets in order, starting closest to the sun: My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos. Just think of a planet that starts with the first letter of each word: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and so on. Have students create and illustrate with their own sentences to help them remember.

Extra Activity: Age & Weight on Other Worlds

Have your students use online calculators to figure out their age on other planets and their weight on other planets.

Project: Travel Poster

Let each student choose a favorite planet and create a travel poster extolling its virtues as a vacation spot, using fun facts about planets. Two other useful sources of information include PlanetsFor Kids.org and NinePlanets.org.

Project: To Live on Another Planet

Have students write about the challenges of living on another planet. Prompt them to describe what the landscape on this planet looks like. What would the weather be like there? How long is a day? How long is the year? What would they need to survive on this planet?

Image & Video Credits

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Astronaut with plant by Denis Simonov
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Featured Reviews

“My students are still talking about this lesson. T”
· Carol · Teacher
“Since I home-school (just one student, my daughter, and less sidewalk space to work with), we made some simple adjustments; plus, we prepped the equipment together. The lesson was GREAT. Best part was my daughter measuring the AU's and drawing the planets with sidewalk chalk. Neptune ended up out in our lawn, so she put a pre-painted rock there to represent it. When we were done, she remarked about how fun it had been. :)”
· Annette · Homeschooler
“The students really loved the activity. By the time we finished, people from the local community were watching, wondering and younger kids were trying to join it. I think we may have educated many more folks than we set out to! ”
· Traci · Teacher

Lesson details

Grade 5

Earth & Space Patterns

Planets & Telescopes

Activity Prep

Print Prep
This Mystery introduces the “wandering stars.” Students will learn what it means to see them with their own eyes, and will learn some interesting discoveries about each one.
Preview activity

This instructional video is not for the student, it's for the teacher. It walks you through the prep you need to do in advance.

You’ll need:

  • an outdoor area that's at least 60 feet long where you can mark on the ground with chalk
  • 1 box of colored sidewalk chalk (order box)
  • 60 ft. of string, thick enough to make markings on (order ball)
  • 1 permanent marker
  • 1 toilet paper tube
  • 1 pair of scissors
  • the Distance between Planets reference sheet

Jump to

Exploration

20 mins

Hands-On Activity

25 mins

Lesson details

Grade 5

Earth & Space Patterns

Planets & Telescopes

Extend this lesson

Download this Lesson to your device so you can play it offline:
 
Astronomy Lesson 8: What are the wandering stars?

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