Walking Through the Planets

This article offers an new twist on the classroom solar system model. Instead of using styrofoam or a beach ball solar system, students create scaled models, place them on skewers, and plac... See More

This article offers an new twist on the classroom solar system model. Instead of using styrofoam or a beach ball solar system, students create scaled models, place them on skewers, and place them in the ground at the correct scaled distance from the sun. The activity gives students an opportunity to work in groups and practice metric units. The article also outlines the types of questions teacher may expect students to ask and provides connections to standards.

Taking the model one step farther !

Great idea of taking the model out to the school ground on a larger scale. I was hoping the chart would give me better details on the scale Perhaps I was not reading it correctly. I teach my... See More

Great idea of taking the model out to the school ground on a larger scale. I was hoping the chart would give me better details on the scale Perhaps I was not reading it correctly. I teach my students to discuss the imitations of the models in each lab we use . It seems we are always using or making some kind of model .

Good Suggestions

This article made me think back to when I created a styrofoam model of the solar system and how the validity of the actual spacing between the planets and the sun was not a focal teaching po... See More

This article made me think back to when I created a styrofoam model of the solar system and how the validity of the actual spacing between the planets and the sun was not a focal teaching point. However, I agree that my students should be taught about the significance of models and they should "reflect on how a model might be different from the actual phenomenon" (Schuster 2008). This will promote a better understanding that models are a scaled down version of the real thing. What I appreciate about this article is that at the end of the article it states what standard the article might align with and what grade level it could be suited for.

Good Resource for Upper Elementary Students

This article provides instructions for a lesson on creating a scaled version of the solar system. What I like about it is the author's emphasis on having a follow up discussion with student... See More

This article provides instructions for a lesson on creating a scaled version of the solar system. What I like about it is the author's emphasis on having a follow up discussion with students on what their model can tell them and what it can't. This helps addresses any misconceptions students might get from looking a model that is only scaled for one type of measurement. It encourages critical thinking and incorporates math into the lesson as well.