I would like to plan a lesson on the planets. I would use Norah Patten’s book, Shooting for the Stars’ as a stimulus.
To start, I would assess the students’ prior knowledge by asking them what they already know about the planets and space. Then we would read “Shooting for the Stars,” sharing Norah Patten’s inspiring journey as an Irish scientist and aspiring astronaut. I think the planet song would serve as an excellent brain break. It would help them remember the names and order of the planets in a catchy way.
Following the song, we could create a large solar system model. The children could be divided into small groups and tasked with making a representation of a planet using a range of materials. We could then sing the song again and place them in the correct order from the Sun while discussing their unique features.
To integrate math, we could compare planet sizes using objects to represent their diameters, helping the students understand scale and proportion. We could end the lesson with a “space walk” where each group presents their planet to the class, sharing interesting facts they learned.