Publisher Description

Age range 9 to 12Look up! What do you see? The sun, moon, stars, other planets? You're checking out the solar system!The Solar System: Out of This World with Science Activities for Kids invites middle school kids on a journey of a lifetime to explore the comets, meteors, asteroids, sun, planets, and moons that make up the solar system. Kids learn about the history of space exploration and discovery, along with the tools of astronomy that have made it possible to study celestial objects even outside our own solar system. While space seems far away, and really, it is, The Solar System brings it closer to the classroom with fun facts and engaging language kids will find exciting!Space has been fascinating to humans since we first looked up, and that sense of wonder is still very much a part of a young astronomer's experience. As the tools of space exploration become more and more sophisticated, the farther reaches of outer space become accessible to everyone back on Earth. Photos from the rovers on Mars, images of Pluto from New Horizons spacecraft, communications from Comet 67P via the Philae comet probe all bring the solar system up close and personal for anyone with an internet connection.The Solar System includes hands-on STEM activities and critical thinking exercises related to astronomy and space exploration. Fun facts, links to online primary sources and other supplemental material, and essential questions encourage readers to take a deep dive toward the outer limits of our home!

Author Biography

Delano Lopez is a member of the American Historical Association and has published articles on a wide variety of subjects, including the history of science. He is currently pursuing his PhD.

Table of Contents

Solar System Map Timeline Introduction: Our Solar System An Astronomical Unit Chapter 1: The Big Bang and the Birth of Stars A Beautiful Nebula Picture Chapter 2: Meet the Planets Tectonic Plates and Volcanism Create a Greenhouse Make a Planetary Rings Model Chapter 3: Earth's Moon Crater Maker The Moon Orbits the Earth Chapter 4: Beyond Planets and Stars Solar Wind Model Make Your Own Pulsar Model Chapter 5: From Ancient Astronomy to Telescopes Newtonian Telescope Galilean Telescope Chapter 6: Sending Spacecraft to Space Balloon Aerostat Design a Mars Rover Rocket Mark I Make a Robotic Lander Make Some Solar Power! Chapter 7: Future Space Exploration Magnetic Rail Launcher Build a Solar Wind-Powered Spacecraft A Space Elevator Glossary Metric Conversions Resources Essential Questions Index

Review

Praise for The Amazing Solar System by Delano Lopez

Children's Literature Review

"Both the history and the future of the field are explained in easy-to-understand detail. Even if the projects were removed, the book would be an excellent text on astronomy."
Richard Binzel, Professor of Planetary Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology "Perfect for the curious explorer who is eager to learn by reading and to learn by doing creatively inspired activities. A throughly engaging gateway into science, revealing what we know about our Solar System and the ongoing mysteries yet to be resolved. Sure to inspire a new generation of space explorers"

Review Quote

Richard Binzel, Professor of Planetary Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology "Perfect for the curious explorer who is eager to learn by reading and to learn by doing creatively inspired activities. A throughly engaging gateway into science, revealing what we know about our Solar System and the ongoing mysteries yet to be resolved. Sure to inspire a new generation of space explorers"

Details