Sun Earth Moon Connections
Kit 1 focuses on activities and experiences that better help patrons understand their place in space, and how the Sun and Moon impact our planet. Major content areas in this kit include: modeling both lunar and solar eclipses with easy to use tools, detecting ultraviolet light in a creative way, using sorting cards to explore concepts relating to size, distance, and temperature, and an experiential activity that allows for a greater understanding of the vast scale of our Solar System.
Patrons Will Be Able To:
Model both lunar and solar eclipses with easy-to-use tools
- Detect ultraviolet light in a creative way
- Use sorting cards to explore concepts relating to size, distance, and temperature
- Create a scale-size model of the Solar System
- Safely view the Sun with Sunoculars
Activities:
Modeling Meaningful Eclipses (PDF)
Using simple materials, participants create 3D models of the Earth, Moon and Sun and demonstrate solar and lunar eclipses. This method uses 3 steps that allow learners to engage, explore, and make meaning.
UV Kid!
In this activity, children use common craft materials and ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive beads to construct a person (or dog or imaginary creature). They use sunscreen, foil, paper, and more to test materials that might protect UV Kid from being exposed to too much UV radiation. Includes background for facilitators. This activity is part of the “Explore!” series of activities designed to engage children in space and planetary science in libraries and informal learning environments.
Sorting Games: How Big? How Far? How Hot?
In How Big? How Far? How Hot? library staff facilitate these sorting activities in large or small groups, with patrons from Pre-K to adult. These simple and engaging activities introduce younger patrons to concepts such as size, distance, and temperature, and allow older patrons to explore these concepts further. They are excellent engagement activities for learners to begin thinking about our place in space.
Jump to Jupiter
Participants jump through a course from the grapefruit-sized “Sun,” past poppy-seed-sized “Earth,” and on to marble-sized “Jupiter” — and beyond!
Kit Science Tools:
- UV Flashlights
- Sunoculars