The document provides a project menu for a second grade space unit with activities tiered by difficulty into three columns. The first column contains more advanced activities, the second column contains on-level activities, and the third column contains novice activities. Students must complete at least three activities, which can be accessed at school during free time or at home. The activities include calculating weight on other planets, building a solar system model, writing planet advertisements, and more, and are designed to be educational while allowing choice for students of different levels.

1. Space
Adventur
e
Second Grade
Kelly Renee Pace

3. How Much Would You Weigh
On Mars?
Have you ever wondered how much you would weigh on another
planet? Find out by multiplying your weight on Earth by the planet’s
gravitation factor relative to Earth. Don’t know what that means?
Well here is an example: the gravity of Mercury is 38% of Earth's
gravity. To calculate your weight on Mercury, multiply your weight
by 0.38. Record your weights to the nearest whole number and
create a bar graph using the whole numbers on the corresponding
worksheet. Show your work on the back or on a separate sheet of
paper. Turn in when complete.

4. Space
Crossword
Visit the Kid’s Astronomy website to learn more
about our Solar System. When you are done
browsing, use what you know to fill out the
corresponding crossword puzzle sheet. Turn in
when complete.

5. Patterns in
space
Test your prediction
and algebraic
thinking skills by
playing this pattern
game on the Nasa
Kid’s Club site. Click
on the link below
and enjoy.
“What Comes Next?
” Game

6. Model of the
Solar System
Build a model of the solar system using string, clothes pins,
yellow construction paper for the sun, and print out pictures
of the planets found on the internet. Attach the sun image to
one end of the display using a clothes pin. Then clip the
planets onto the clothesline one at a time, using the
following measurements. Note: each measurement is the
distance from the planet before it, not the sun, so don’t be
alarmed if your model seems too big! Models will be hung
around the classroom!
Mercury .5”
Venus .75”
Mars 1”
Earth 1.5”
Jupiter 5.75”
Saturn 9.5”
Uranus 19”
Neptune 30”
Pluto 39.5”

7. Phases of
the Moon
we have been studying the
phases of the moon. Click
on the link below. Enter the
month and year of your
birth and find out what the
moon looked like on your
birthday. On the
corresponding RECORD
SHEET, color and label the
different phases of the
moon, as well as your
birthday moon. Turn in
when complete.
Moon
Connection

8. Planet for
sale
Pretend you are a space real
estate agent and are trying to
persuade people to come buy a
home on one of the planets.
R
esearch a planet of your choice,
and come up with a newspaper
advertisement describing your
planet; let people know why your
planet is the best and why they
should move there. Be sure to
decorate your ad and include a
picture of your planet. This can be
done on construction paper. You
may use books in the library or
approved internet resources. Turn
in when complete.
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9. The sun and
Four Seasons
I n class we r ead “The Sun”
by Paulet t e Bour geois.
Visit t he link below t o
lear n mor e about how t he
sun ef f ect s t he f our
seasons. When you ar e
done, f old a piece of
const r uct ion paper int o
f our s and illust r at e and
wr it e a sent ence about
each of t he f our seasons
in t he squar es. On t he
back br ainst or m r easons
why t he sun is impor t ant .
Tur n in when complet e.

10. Shapes in
Space
Brush up on your geometry by
playing this fun and educational
Shapes in Space game. Click on the
link below and enjoy!
Blast Off

11. Poetry in
Space
I n class, we r ead t he
st or y St ar Seeker : A
J our ney t o Out er Space.
Based on what we have
r ead, const r uct your own
shor t poem about out er
space. Make sur e t o
include sensor y det ails.
Use t he cor r esponding
Poet r y in Space
wor ksheet t o wr it e your
poem. When you ar e
done, t ur n it in t o t he
t eacher .

12. TEKS
How Much Would You Weigh On Mars?
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(3.4) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student recognizes and solves problems in
multiplication and division situations. The student is expected to:
(C) use models to solve division problems and use number sentences to record the solutions.
(3.5) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student estimates to determine reasonable
results. The student is expected to:
(A) round whole numbers to the nearest ten or hundred to approximate reasonable results in problem
situations
(3.13) Probability and statistics. The student solves problems by collecting, organizing, displaying, and
interpreting sets of data. The student is expected to:
(A) collect, organize, record, and display data in pictographs and bar graphs where each picture or cell
might represent more than one piece of data;
(B) interpret information from pictographs and bar graphs
Space Crossword
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(5) Reading/Vocabulary Development. Students understand new vocabulary and use it when reading and
writing.
(4) Information acquisition. The student uses a variety of strategies to acquire information from electronic
resources, with appropriate supervision. The student is expected to:
(A) apply keyword searches to acquire information; and
(B) select appropriate strategies to navigate and access information for research and resource sharing.

13. Patterns in Space
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TEKS
(1.4) Patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking. The student uses repeating patterns and additive
patterns to make predictions. The student is expected to identify, describe, and extend concrete and
pictorial patterns in order to make predictions and solve problems.
(1.5) Patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking. The student recognizes patterns in numbers and
operations. The student is expected to:
(A) use patterns to skip count by twos, fives, and tens;
(7) Solving problems. The student uses appropriate computer-based productivity tools to create and
modify solutions to problems. The student is expected to:
(A) use software programs with audio, video, and graphics to enhance learning experiences;
Model of the Solar System
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(8) Earth and space. The student knows there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among
objects in the sky. The student is expected to:
(C) construct models that demonstrate the relationship of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, including orbits and
positions; and
(D) identify the planets in Earth's solar system and their position in relation to the Sun.

14. Phases of the Moon
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TEKS
(8) Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among
objects in the sky. The student is expected to:
(D) observe, describe, and record patterns of objects in the sky, including the appearance of the Moon.
(8) Solving problems. The student uses research skills and electronic communication, with appropriate supervision,
to create new knowledge. The student is expected to:
(B) use electronic tools and research skills to build a knowledge base regarding a topic, task, or assignment.
Planet for Sale
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(19) Writing/Expository and Procedural Texts. Students write expository and procedural or work-related texts to
communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes. Students are expected to:
(A) write brief compositions about topics of interest to the student;
(A) understand and use the following parts of speech in the context of reading, writing, and speaking:
(i) verbs (past, present, and future);
(ii) nouns (singular/plural, common/proper);
(iii) adjectives (e.g., descriptive: green, tall);
(iv) adverbs (e.g., time: before, next);
(v) prepositions and prepositional phrases;
(vi) pronouns (e.g., I, me); and
(vii) time-order transition words;

15. The Sun and Four Seasons
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TEKS
(13) Reading/Comprehension of Informational Text/Expository Text. Students analyze, make inferences and draw
conclusions about expository text and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are
expected to:
(A) identify the details or facts that support the main idea;
(B) draw conclusions from the facts presented in text and support those assertions with textual evidence;
(8) Earth and space. The student knows there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among objects in
the sky. The student is expected to:
(A) observe, measure, record, and compare day-to-day weather changes in different locations at the same time
that include air temperature, wind direction, and precipitation;
(B) describe and illustrate the Sun as a star composed of gases that provides light and heat energy for the
water cycle;
Shapes in Space
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(2.7) Geometry and spatial reasoning. The student uses attributes to identify two- and three-dimensional
geometric figures. The student compares and contrasts two- and three-dimensional geometric figures or both. The
student is expected to:
(A) describe attributes (the number of vertices, faces, edges, sides) of two- and three-dimensional geometric
figures such as circles, polygons, spheres, cones, cylinders, prisms, and pyramids, etc.;
(B) use attributes to describe how 2 two-dimensional figures or 2 three-dimensional geometric figures are alike or
different;
(A) use software programs with audio, video, and graphics to enhance learning experiences;

16. Poetry in Space
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TEKS
(18) Writing/Literary Texts. Students write literary texts to express their ideas and feelings about real or
imagined people, events, and ideas. Students are expected to:
(B) write short poems that convey sensory details.
(8) Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Poetry. Students understand, make inferences and draw
conclusions about the structure and elements of poetry and provide evidence from text to support their
understanding. Students are expected to respond to and use rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration in poetry.

17. For my project menu, I did a thematic space unit for second
grade.
The activities on the home page at tiered by planet columns.
The first column is for my advanced learners., the second
column is for my on target learners, and the third column is for
my novice learners. However, students may take on any activity
they wish.
This project menu is intended for students who have completed
their school work and/or have free time. They can also access
this at home and complete activities when they have finished
their homework. Students must complete at least three
activities.