K2L27 Exploring the Cosmos

Lesson Duration: 45 minutes

Grade: K2

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Learning Objectives

1. Children will be able to identify and name the Sun, Earth, Moon and the planets in our solar system.

2. Children will be able to recognize the relative sizes of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

3. Children will be able to describe basic characteristics of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

3 mins - Welcome Time

• Sing the "Hello Song"

• Introduce today's topic: "Today we're going on a Cosmic Journey to explore space and learn about planets!"

7 mins - Discovery Chat

• Show a large picture of the solar system

• Ask: "What do you see in this picture?"

• Briefly discuss: "We live on Earth, which is one of the planets that move around the Sun."

12 mins - Hands-On Challenge 1: Hal's Space Adventure

• Tell a short story about a boy named Hal who builds a rocket and flies into space

• Use simple props or drawings to illustrate the story

• Encourage children to act out parts of the story (e.g., building the rocket, blasting off)

• After the story, ask: "What did Hal see in space? What planets did he visit?"

10 mins - Hands-On Challenge 2: Colorful Celestial Bodies

• Prepare outlines of the Sun, Earth, and Moon on paper

• Show pictures of each and discuss their basic characteristics:

- Sun: very big and bright, gives light and heat

- Earth: blue and green, where we live

- Moon: smaller than Earth, gray, circles Earth

• Give children dry pastels and let them color the Sun, Earth, and Moon outlines

• As they color, reinforce the names and characteristics of each

10 mins - Hands-On Challenge 3: Sun-Earth-Moon Assembly

• Prepare cut-outs of the colored Sun, Earth, and Moon and a large piece of black paper for each child

• Explain that the Sun is the biggest, Earth is much smaller, and the Moon is the smallest

• Help children stick the Sun, Earth, and Moon on their black paper, showing that the Moon is near Earth

• As they work, reinforce the names, sizes, and basic features of the Sun, Earth, and Moon

3 mins - Wrap-Up

• Recap: "Today we went on a space adventure with Hal, colored the planets, and put our solar system together!"

• Sing the "Goodbye Song"