Download Edible Solar System

Edible Solar System
Objectives:
y Students will learn the order of the planets
y Students will understand the orbits of the solar system
y Students will gain knowledge of the color and characteristics of the planets
Suggested Grade Level:
First through second grade
Subject Areas:
Science
Writing
Timeline:
About 1 hour
National Education Standards:
Science #1: Science as Inquiry
Science #2: Physical Science
Reading/Writing: #2 and #5
Background:
Students will gain a spatial intelligence through the construction of an edible solar
system and lesson on planets. The activity will give students and understanding
of the order of the planets and basic characteristics of each planet. Though all
nine planets are roughly spherical, they come in different sizes. Looking at them
in the sky is no real help in comprehending their sizes because, at great
distances, even the giant planets seem to be just dots. In fact, a small planet
near Earth, such as Mars, can look larger than a giant planet that is far away,
such as Neptune. To understand the relative sizes of the planets, the teacher will
make a model based on planetary diameters.
Scaled Planet Sizes
Planet
Planet Diameters
(reduced by factor of 100
million)
Sun
1392 mm
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
4.9 mm
12.1 mm
12..7 mm
6..7 mm
142.8 mm
120.6 mm
51.3 mm
49.1 mm
2.3 mm
Food Representative
(be creative!)
Giant pumpkin
(can use a Halloween orange
pumpkin garbage bag)
Coffee bean
Large blueberry
Cherry
Pea
Large grapefruit or cantaloupe
Very large orange
Kiwi
Apricot or nectarine
Grain of rice
Materials:
• Fruit
• Paper plates
• Compass
• Different sized hard candies to represent the planets (butterscotch for the
sun; red hots, mints, etc.)
• Colored, large crystal decorating sugar (for the asteroid belt)
• Frosting
• Popsicle sticks
• Waxed paper
Lesson:
1. Begin the lesson by reading a short story about the solar system, such as
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System or My Place in Space.
You could also show a short video or part of a video about the solar
system.
2. Invite nine children to each hold a piece of fruit in front of the room. Ask all
the children what the fruit might represent in a model of our solar system.
(the planets) As a group, have the children work to arrange the children
holding the fruit in the proper order, starting with the planet/fruit closest to
the Sun and working out to the planet/fruit farthest from the Sun.
Ask children questions to promote observation and comparison:
Which planet is the largest?
Which planet is the Smallest?
Which planet is most nearly the size of Earth?
3. After the discussion and demonstration students will construct their own
edible solar system on paper plates.
4. Appropriate candies, popsicle stick, and waxed paper square are placed in
a ziploc bag - one per student.
5. Students will draw orbits for the 9 planets on the paper plates. A compass
can be used to draw the circles.
6. Give each student a paper plate, a bag containing the candy, popsicle
stick, and waxed paper.
7. Distribute about a tablespoon of cake frosting to each student. The
frosting will be the “glue” for the planets.
8. The first planet will be the butterscotch candy, representing the Sun. The
sun will be placed at the center of the plate.
9. Using the same method, have students place each of the nine planets to
its appropriate orbit. Instruct students at each step, and tell them a little bit
about each planet as they glue it into place. For example, note that Mars
is red, Jupiter is the biggest planet, Neptune is blue, we are using yellow
for Pluto, but no one knows for sure what color it is, etc.
10. Jupiter is the planet with a big Red Spot. Show the students a picture of
Jupiter with the spot Glue the red-hot candy on top of Jupiter (mint) to
represent the Red Spot.
11. Saturn is known for its brilliant rings. Have students pass the tube of
orange icing around the room; each student can "paint" Saturn's rings onto
the candy (yellow lemon-drop) using the orange tube of icing. You may
also want to point out that Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune also have rings;
they can use frosting to represent the rings. You can show them pictures
of the ringed planets.
12. After the students are finished making their edible solar system, they will
write in their journals about a planet they would like to visit. In their
journals they will include characteristics of the planet and how they will
handle the environment of the planet.
13. The students will take their edible solar systems home to share with their
families.
Extension:
1. Students can meet in small groups to discuss their favorite planets and
what makes it unique.
2. Students can work in small groups to assemble a paper solar system.
They will cut and color the printed pictures of planets and place them in
order on a large butcher paper.
3. Students can learn a planet song that includes the order and characteristic
of the each planet.
Evaluation/Assessments:
y Students did create their own edible solar system.
y Students did list the planets in order from the Sun.
y Students did know basic characteristics of the planets
Resources:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/solar_system/planet_sizes.shtml
http://www. nasa.gov
Space Foundation ‘Astronomy Principles for the Classroom’ June 25-29, 2007