They spent the last three weeks before school was dismissed studying the solar system as part of a cross-curriculum project in science, literacy and math.
“They did so much more than just learn about the planets and the solar system,” fifth-grade science teacher Rhonda Waterman said of the project. “Having the same focus in three different subjects really made them dig deep and do so much more than the typical research required for most science projects.”
The students learned to demonstrate and compare the properties of planets in our solar system by size, shape, density, atmosphere and distance from the sun, orbital path, moons, surface and composition of the objects.
The students began the cross-curriculum study in Waterman’s science class where they learned the order of the planets, what made each planet unique and about other space objects.
In Lola Condley’s and Dana West’s literacy classes, the students researched the planets in depth and were assigned a specific planet to write a persuasive essay about whether or not people should visit the assigned planet.
“It was really fun to read their essays,” Waterman said. “I think adding that aspect really made the project fun for them. They were learning and having fun at the same time.”
The math component of the cross-curriculum study included a review of the difference between mass and weight to help the students calculate their own weights on their assigned planets.
After researching the planets, writing their persuasive arguments and having out of this world math fun, the students created models of the solar system to present to their classmates.
“All in all I really think our cross-curriculum approach really added to the solar system rotation,” Waterman said. “I think we will definitely try this approach in the future.”