Annoyed with Kathryn's class

**Michelle** · 12-01-2005, 03:40 PM

She brought home her 4th project assignment of the year today. She needs to build a three-dimensional model of the solar system. It has to be "as realistic as possible when choosing color and size in the scaled down model". It needs to include the sun, the 9 named planets, Earth's moon, and the asteroid belt.

Then she needs to give an oral report about it.

Also required in the assignment is to record the moon's phases (with drawings) every day this month.

The worst part of all of this? It's due the day they come back from Christmas break.

**Missy** · 12-01-2005, 04:45 PM

What grade is she in?? I can't imagine that the teacher could expect too much for realism for any grades under the fifth really. I'd contact the teacher and get some clarification, that seems a bit extreme for such a young little one!

**mommy2many** · 12-01-2005, 05:09 PM

Sounds like the kind of projects my 5th grader is being asked to do this year also. And she has had a million of them also. I HATE school projects because they take up so much time and MONEY. Sometimes I think teachers just assume that everyone can run out to the store and buy a million things to make these type of projects and also that they have no life outside of school to "record" the phases of the moon all month....sheesh.....but I guess others will say that education is most important. But I think that some of the projects are too much!

**canadian gardener** · 12-01-2005, 05:13 PM

Some help? Try a wire coat hanger and cut out paper models of the orbital bodies and the sun out of printer paper that you print off the net in colour (same each side)

glue the sides together to make a big medallion representing the planet with some yarn or string in the middle.

but I agree if that is younger than about gr. 5 it can be a problem.

The teacher supply stores may sell this http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?R=9999901336B

It's Dinah Zike's Science pocket on the solar system.

I liked her stuff when home schooling. She has an entire kit inside the book which helps the child build their own solar system, and it's a whole unit study on the solar system.

Much like the hanger method but a tad more sophisticated.

I see at the link when I googled it, that they are out of print, or on clearance. You might be able to order it and use it over Christmas to make the project a lot smoother.

A book I liked is this one [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0920656668/102-9424427-6145706?v=glance&n=283155"]Amazon.com: Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners (9780920656662): Terence Dickinson, John Bianchi: Books[/ame]

which was part of the solar system unit.

**Early Bird** · 12-01-2005, 07:35 PM

I was thinking you might use those styrofoam balls at JoAnn's Fabrics.

Here are some links that might help her with phases of the moon, especially on overcast nights:

Many astronomy facts:
http://www.earthsky.org/

Current phase of the moon:
http://www.die.net/moon/

**Michelle** · 12-01-2005, 07:53 PM

Thank you all for your tips. I had considered doing them out of styrofoam balls, but then I thought geeze, I don't have this kind of money. Sure it's only stryrofoam, but considering this is the most expensive month of the year for most people, I think it's kind of rude of her to expect that I can just run out and buy all the supplies necessary for this project--especially when they also have a $20 field trip this month.

Oh, and the teacher's suggestion? Make the planets out of plaster of paris. Say what? Give me a break. And the kids can't have any help from their parents. Now I know she's saying that because some kids have their parents do their projects for them, but c'mon now. As if she can make anything like this on her own.

BTW---she's in the 3rd grade. The other 3rd grade class is getting off easier. Their teacher said that they could buy those solar system kits at Michaels, but K's said they couldn't. Hardly fair IMO.

**Michelle** · 12-01-2005, 07:55 PM

Last month she had a leaf project to do. She had to find 10 different leaves, mount them on paper, do a leaf rubbing, and then draw the leaf labeling its parts. She had one week to do that on top of her other school work.

I'm mostly annoyed at the timing of the project. This month is busy enough without adding something else to worry about. Kathryn is going to be spending a good chunk of her Christmas break working on this thing. Makes me sad when they don't get a chance to relax.

**Kimberlina** · 12-01-2005, 08:04 PM

Yikes- that is harsh for a third grade prohect, and you're right, the timing stinks. I'd be pretty annoyed as well.

**Mamaw** · 12-01-2005, 08:48 PM

And she expects a third grader to work with plaster of paris without adult help? That is crazy!

**dhmunoz** · 12-01-2005, 09:40 PM

My opinion only....but this is way too involved of a project for third graders, especially when it is supposed to be done without help. I was actually surprised when you said that....because it seems like every darn thing my kids bring home has a note attached insisting that parents "participate and help". I have FIVE kids...and if I have to "participate and help" on every project and homework worksheet they bring home, I have time for nothing else.
Our school district wants parents to work on every single thing. Right down to common, easy worksheets...and there is a little signature line on all papers where you have to sign to prove that you worked on the work with the child. If you don't, the teachers count it as incomplete....and this is from Kindergarten all the way up. I hate it. I think it makes kids feel like they can't do anything unless someone is sitting with them to help. What a way to grow an incompetent, dependent bunch of future adults

**Katybird** · 12-01-2005, 10:42 PM

Yikes! If this is what they expect from them in 3rd grade, what will the 5th or the 7th grade expect from them, a complete listing with pictures and descriptions of all life in the Pacific ocean? Or better yet, a living example

.

Sorry that Kathryn is going to be stuck doing this over the holidays.

**canadian gardener** · 12-02-2005, 01:18 AM

Talk to the principal, she may be unsure of herself as a teacher or unaware of developmental stages, and reassuring herself by doing a lot of busy projects.

I agree kids should be doing hands on projects, it's a fun way to learn but they should be scribbling, cutting, pasting, having fun making mistakes to learn from without being scolded and definitely colouring OUTSIDE the lines. (I mean that last as a general concept)

Talk with the school. She may need some help implementing her gr 3 curriculum.

Which is a nice way to say, she may need to be mentored a bit by the more experienced gr 3 teacher, and encouraged to try some other less involved projects.

**Sara Noel** · 12-02-2005, 09:31 AM

I'd use clay.

**Michelle** · 12-02-2005, 09:55 AM

Originally posted by Sara Noel
I'd use clay.

Good idea, though I don't have any on hand, and it's too expensive for me to buy now.

**UPSyours2** · 12-02-2005, 01:36 PM

I can't believe what they expect of kids today to accomplish by themselves!

I've done this as a class project using paper mache, aluminum foil, cardboard, fishing line,wire, paints many years ago. I think I used a lightbulb to mold the paper mache on somehow

can't remember now all the details & I'm not sure what grade it was for but it was after 5th Grade that much I remember since I went to Catholic school until then, but tuition got to be soo expensive so I changed to Public school.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/sub...ties/coloring/

You can print out these pages on the Solar System and color them.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/calendar/solarsystem/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/

I think this is a simpler one for Kathryn to make!

Solar System Model

This is a model of our Solar System, picturing the Sun and the nine planets that orbit it: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) was a Polish astronomer who developed the Copernican system, a model of the solar system in which all the planets orbit the Sun.

Supplies needed:
A round piece of cardboard about 1 ft across (the cardboard from a frozen pizza works well)
Lots of colors of oak tag (or construction paper)
Scissors
Tape
String
Pencil, crayons, or markers
A compass (for making circles)

I found lots of these sites from my area's school website link!

http://www.shufsd.org/schools/middle...allwebpage.htm

They're may be other links here that may be helpful for more school help, etc.!...too many to list!

I think it's neat how they're all listed there on the website wall & have the planets as a background wallpaper.

http://www.planetscapes.com/

http://solarviews.com/eng/solarsys.htm

http://solarviews.com/eng/new.htm

http://www.seds.org/billa/tnp/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html

http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/space/project1.htm
Solar System Paper Mobile in a Box

You will need
1 large cardboard box
blue or black spray paint
posterboard or construction paper
colored foil wrapping paper
tape and string

Get an adult to help you do any cutting and painting

1.Select a large cardboard box.
2.Cut off the flaps and lay it on its side.
3. Spray paint the inside black or blue or line it with black or blue paper.
4. Use construction paper or poster board to make the sun and the planet models.
Make them according to the correct size.
5. Tape string to the planet models and hang in the correct order from the top of the box.
6. Cut stars from colored foil wrapping paper and glue or tape inside the box.
7. Make a Solar System sign for the top.
8. Your model of the Solar System is done

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/...StarChild.html
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/...ar_system.html

http://www.scienceproject.com/projec...mary/PX022.asp

Introduction:
Building a model of our solar system is a good way of learning about earth and the other planets in our solar system that revolve around the sun. At a primary level (Grades 1 -4), you build your model, paint and name the planets. At a Elementary level (Grades 4-6), you will also include the distances using small flags or a table attached to your project display. At a Intermediate level, you must try to build a scale model of the solar system.

http://estabrook.lexingtonma.org/Solar99/SolarS.html

Solar System Project by the Fourth Grade of
Estabrook School, Lexington, MA

Making a paper mache model of a planet. Similar to what I made!

A PROJECT THAT'S OUT OF THIS WORLD!!

The fourth grade students at the Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington have been studying astronomy and space exploration. Part of our work involved the construction of a scale model of our solar system.

We aimed for authenticity in our research, and we quickly realized that we could not possibly display an accurate model of our solar system within the confines of our school building.

Our first step was to discover the best size for our model of the Sun using proportional equations. The second step was to calculate how far Pluto would be from the Sun model. The final step was to calculate all the planets' sizes and distances from our 10 foot diameter Sun. This scale model accurately portrays the distances and sizes of the planets and sun in our solar system.

Working in groups students constructed 3-dimensional models of the planets (and a 2-dimensional model of the sun), designed signs showing interesting facts about each planet (using trade books and the Internet to locate information), and studied local maps to determine where each planet could be accurately situated in the community. http://estabrook.lexingtonma.org/Sol...atnPlanet.html

http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome.htm

http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Project...icSolarSystem/