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TEACHER’S GUI DE
TEACHER’S GUI DE
• Hunter, Rebecca. Light and Dark (Discovery Science). Raintree Steck
Vaughn,Austin,TX; 2000.
• Singer, Marilyn. On the Same Day in March:A Tour of the World’s Weather.
Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY; 2000.
Suggested Internet Resources
Periodically, Internet Resources are updated on our web site at
www.LibraryVideo.com
• seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/earth.html
Features a multimedia tour of Earth featuring a detailed mix of space history, mythology and current scientific knowledge, along with numerous links
to other informative sites.
• www.windows.ucar.edu/
This student- and teacher-friendly “Windows to the Universe” web site is an
excellent resource for information on the atmosphere.
• kids.msfc.nasa.gov/Space/
This portion of the “NASA Kids” site offers informative briefs of Earth, the
moon and other objects in our solar system.
The Earth
• starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
NASA’s “StarChild” site is a great place for young astronomers to gain important information on the solar system.
• www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/dinosaur.html
This site, developed as part of the NASA “Classroom of the Future,” allows
children to explore the environment during the reign of dinosaurs with
activities and lessons.
Paula J. Bense
B.S., Biology, M.Ed., Elementary Education
Schlessinger Media Curriculum Specialist
COMPLETE LIST OF TITLES
Teacher’s Guides Included
and Available Online at:
• SPACE TRAVEL
• STARS
• STUDYING THE SOLAR SYSTEM
• UNDERSTANDING THE UNIVERSE
800-843-3620
Teacher’s Guide Copyright 2006 by Schlessinger Media,
a division of Library Video Company
P.O. Box 580, Wynnewood, PA 19096 • 800-843-3620
All rights reserved.
he Space Exploration: Adi in Space series includes
eight segmented space science programs that ask the
everyday questions many children have about the world
around them. Animations and space footage, along with
clear illustrations, explain some of the many mysteries in
the sky above our heads. Designed to reinforce fundamental concepts in Earth and Space science, viewing
these programs also stimulates children’s interest in the
scientific process and helps them grow comfortable asking questions of their own.
This guide provides a brief synopsis of the program, background on the science concepts presented in the show,
discussion topics, activities, vo c abulary and additional
resources.
T
TEACHER’S GUIDE
• THE EARTH
• THE INNER PLANETS
• THE MOON & OTHER OBJECTS
IN THE SKY
• THE OUTER PLANETS
Grades 2–5
V6781
Program Summary
The Earth asks the following five questions about our planet and its place in
the solar system. Space travelers Adi and Woops help viewers clearly answer
each question using computer graphics and space footage.
Why is the sky blue?
The atmosphere looks blue because the mixture of oxygen and nitrogen in the
air fi l t e rs the sunlight and bl o cks out other colors of light energy. If the atmosphere we re made out of other gases, then it would have a diffe rent color.
What kinds of things can be seen moving through the sky?
Stars, planets, and the moon all seem to move slowly through the sky. Faster
moving things are satellites, spacecraft, rockets and shooting stars, which
aren’t stars at all, but are meteoroids.
What’s so special about the Earth?
Our planet is special because it contains conditions that support life. Earth is
known as the blue planet because it has a huge amount of water and an
atmosphere, and it’s the right distance from the Sun, so it’s not too hot or too
cold.All of this means that life — plants, animals and other organisms —
could develop.
Are the seasons and days the same everywhere?
No they’re not! Different regions receive different amounts of sunlight. Near
the equator, days and nights are each 12 hours, but closer to the Poles, the
length of day and night changes with the season.
Should we be afraid of meteorites?
We should not be afraid of meteorites! Rocks and dust that come from space
usually burn up before reaching the ground as meteorites. Sometimes, a giant
meteorite hits the Earth, but that is very rare.At night, meteoroids — also
called shooting stars — can be seen streaking through the sky.
Vocabulary
planet — A large body of solid rock, liquid or gases that revolves around the
Sun.
galaxy — Billions of stars, gas and dust that are held together in space by
gravity.
Milky Way — All of the planets, stars and other bodies that are part of the
galaxy to which our solar system belongs.
solar system — The Sun, the nine planets and their moons, as well as other
objects that orbit the Sun.
Earth — The third planet from the Sun, which features a breathable atmosphere containing oxygen and nitrogen, large amounts of liquid water and a
range of temperatures suitable for sustaining life.
atmosphere — The layers of gases that surround a planet.
oxygen — The gas in Earth’s atmosphere which all animals breathe in order
to survive.
inner core — A hot ball of solid metals at the center of Earth.
outer core — The layer surrounding Earth’s inner core, composed of very
hot liquid metals a nd rock, called lava, which sometimes comes to the
Earth’s surface in volcanic eruptions.
(Continued)
mantle — The third layer of Earth’s interior, made up of a very thick layer of
rock.
crust — Earth’s surface layer, covered with rocks, clay, sand and soil. It is thin
and broken into huge pieces called plates.
gravity — A mutual force of attraction between two bodies; the larger the
body, the greater the gravitational force.
plates — The moving slabs of rock that form the surface of the Earth.
meteoroid — A small piece of rock and/or metal that speeds through space.
It is called a meteorite if it reaches Earth’s surface.
Focus Questions
1.What gases make up the atmosphere?
2.What happens to sunlight as it travels to Earth?
3. Is the sky the same color all around the world?
4. Explain how dust causes beautiful sunsets.
5. How can you tell if an shiny object in the sky is a satellite or an airplane?
6.What are shooting stars?
7.What are UFO’s? Do they exist?
8. How are Earth and Mars alike? How are they different?
9.What are the seasons like at the North and South Poles?
10.What are the seasons like near the Equator?
11.What do scientists think happened to the dinosaurs? Explain why you
think the dinosaurs disappeared from Earth 65 million years ago.
Activities
• Have students make posters describing Earth’s ideal location in the solar
system, highlighting the features that make its location in space so important.
• In a year-long project work with students to measure the shadow lengths of
a meter stick every week at the same time of day.A comparison of these
measurements will show that the shadow lengths increase as winter
approaches, becoming longest on the shortest day of the year (about
December 21) and then decrease again until the longest day (about June
21). Have students topresent and analyze the data they gather and explain
their findings.
• Engage students in creative problem solving, by writing illustrated stories
about what life would be like if the physical characteristics of Earth were to
change as a result of a change in Earth’s orbit, the loss of Earth’s atmosphere or an increase or decrease in the rate of rotation of the planet.
• Create a 3-D model that illustrates why we have day and night, or why the
seasons change.
Suggested Print Resources
• Branley, Frank. The Sun: Our Nearest Star. Harper Trophy, New York,NY;
2002.
(Continued)