March 13: Planet Uranus Discovered (1781)

image from easyscienceforkids.com

Uranus, one of the bigger planets, was discovered on this day in 1781. How does it stack up in diameter compared to the other planets?

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Planets’ Diameters

Materials:

• Measuring tape
• String
• Ruler
• Sidewalk chalk

Directions:

1. What is the diameter of each planet in our Solar System? Check out EnchantedLearning.com to find out.
2. This is best done outside in a space where you can use sidewalk chalk, but could also be done indoors with string and tape.
3. Try different scales depending on space, but to offer some perspective, if 1 inch equals 1000 miles, Mercury is only three inches across while Jupiter is nearly three feet!
4. To mark a planets’ diameter with chalk, measure a piece of string to HALF the diameter of the planet.
5. Once a piece of string is cut to length, one person needs to hold one end steady while a second person holds the other end.
6. Keeping the string tight, the second person rotates around the first person, tracing a circle with the chalk as he/she moves. This represents the planet’s diameter.
7. Repeat for each planet.

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Science Activities for Kids (activity F10).

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Check out the full March calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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February 18: Pluto discovered (1925)

image from sciencefiction.com

Pluto was discovered in 1925. When it was still considered a planet, it was the farthest from the sun. This is a good day to explore just how far from the sun each planet is!

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Planets Distances from the Sun

Materials:

• Measuring tape
• String
• Ruler
• Objects to represent planets
• Masking tape
• Marker

Directions:

1. What is the average distance from the sun for each planet in our Solar System? Check out EnchantedLearning.com to see how far each planet is from the sun.
2. You can experiment with scale in different ways depending on space allowed, but to offer some perspective if 1 inch equals 10 million miles, Mercury will be less than six inches from the sun while Pluto would be over 300 feet away!
3. Kids can measure strings to certain lengths to make it easier to quickly figure distances. For example, they can measure out lengths of string to 10 inches, 100 inches, etc. Then they can use a ruler for distances under 10 inches.
4. Use an object to mark each planet. You may opt to just put down a piece of masking tape with the name of the planet written on it.
5. What do kids think once it is done? Did they think the planets would be closer together? Farther apart?

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Science Activities for Kids (activity F9).

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Check out the full February calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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November 28: Red Planet Day

image from theguardian.com

Since November 28 is Red Planet Day, try out this game about going to Mars.

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Going on a Trip to Mars

Materials:

• none

Directions:

1. Explain to kids that there is a trick to this game and to keep it a secret when they figure it out so it doesn’t spoil the fun for others.
2. The first child (the Martian tour guide) picks a theme and tells only an adult. For example, each person might be required to bring something on the trip to Mars that begins with the same letter as his or her first name (example: “My name is Dave and I’m bringing a dog.”).
3. The tour guide takes his/her turn and then the next child follows suit. If he/she brings an item that fits the tour guide’s critiera, then the tour guide says, “Okay, you can go with me to Mars.”
4. Play continues until all children are able to go on the trip.

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s 100 Game Activities for Kids (activity G5).

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Check out the full November calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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