Lesson Plans for OUR SOLAR SYSTEM level S

Expand the Reading

Writing Connection
Writing a Cinquain Poem
Say: We are now going to work together to write a cinquain poem. A cinquain poem has five lines. The first and fifth lines have one word. The second line has two words, the third line has three words, and the fourth line has four words. The first line is the title. The second line describes the title. The third line expresses an action. The fourth line expresses feelings and the last line refers to, or is a synonym of, the title.
Have children supply words for a poem called "Mercury." Record them on the board. For example:
Mercury
Inner, little
Spins very slowly
Scary, weird, exhausting, freezing,
Planet
Have children work individually or with a friend to write and illustrate a cinquain about another planet.

Science Connection
Have children use the library and the Internet to further research one of the planets in more detail. Present their information as a big book or a series of overhead transparencies. Have children share their information with the rest of the class.

Reading Independently
Invite children to reread the book, Our Solar System, independently or with a partner. They could then look for and read other books about the solar system. Children should also read each other’s cinquain poems and their research books or overhead transparencies.


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