Our space inquiry was great fun, and the presentation was the result of many weeks of hard work from the children. The process involved many steps, and we are now in the last stage - reflection. To begin our space inquiry, we asked the children, "What do you know about space?" A total of 11 responses were recorded and posted. We then asked, "What would you like to know/learn about space?" The number of questions asked by each child ranged from one to eight. Over the next several weeks, the teachers read books about space and asked the children to write and draw at least two facts learned. The children were also able to look through books on their own in search of the answers to their questions. We also visited U.H. to listen to Dr. Petersen who shared a lot of interesting information about space. After finding the answers to our questions, we discussed how we wanted to share our information with an audience. The children decided on taking their audience through space, with each child playing a part. Everyone then decided what information they wanted to share and wrote their own words. Sketches were made of costumes or backgrounds to go along with the information. 5th grade buddies helped the children type their information. Some Kindergartners typed their information by themselves. The teachers edited with "grown-up" spelling. The children were then given a choice to practice reading their parts from their hand-written work or from their typed pieces. All chose to read from their typed work. More than a handful of children memorized their words. All children practiced reading/speaking in a clear, loud voice with the understanding that would be speaking in front of an audience. We were able to present to our 5th grade buddies first, who then gave us feedback. They told us things that we did well, such as memorizing or speaking loudly, and they gave us suggestions of things to work on, such as sitting quietly when waiting for our turn, or smiling at the audience. We listened to the suggestions and practiced more! We then presented to our Kindergarten friends who also gave us feedback. We practiced again, and then we presented to parents! We are now in the final stages of the process which is to record what we now know about space and to reflect on the inquiry process. Below is the "script" of our presentation, followed by the videos of two of our presentations.

Space

There are galaxies, planets, the sun, asteroids, stars, blackholes, and comets. There is no gravity in space. There may be life in space.  

Mercury

Hello, I’m Mercury. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. No one has seen the other side of Mercury. Mercury is a small  rocky planet. It is the second planet in our  Solar System. Mercury is hot because it is  close to the sun. Mercury orbits the sun  faster than any other planet.  

Venus

I’m the hottest planet, Venus. I’m a little smaller than earth. I have lots of volcanos. Only the sun and the moon are brighter than me.  

Earth

We live on the earth. We live there because the earth has water and food. Earth is the only planet that has life. Earth has an atmosphere. Earth has a crust to walk on.

The moon   

Some people think Earth and Mars crashed and that made the moon. The moon lights up because the sun’s light shines on the moon. The moon is grayish white. It takes about 27 days to go around the earth. The moon has lots of craters.

Astronauts

Men and women all float when they are in space. They wear spacesuits so they can breathe oxygen. There are tubes and they connect to the space helmet. Astronauts have explored the moon. how they put the flag in the moon is they put  wire in it because there is no wind on the moon.

Space Station

The space station gets bigger because the astronauts build it. Inside the space station astronauts are working. Inside the front astronauts are driving.  There is a bed inside a shelf and a kitchen place to eat. The space toilets need to have bars so you don’t float off. And there’s a place to go to the shower and it’s so small they have to hold onto a handle so they don’t float away. They have an exercise place and a computer place to look in space.        

Mars

Mars is the 4th planet from the sun. Mars is red because of dusty iron. No one knows if aliens live on Mars. No water is on Mars.

Aliens

We don’t know if aliens are real or not.

Comets/Asteroids

Comets are ice and rock. Comets have a tail. In space there are millions of asteroids. Asteroids are rock. Some are small as potatoes. Some are big as cities, cars, and mountains. Asteroids orbit the sun between Mars and Jupiter.

Jupiter

Jupiter has 63 moons. Jupiter has rings. Jupiter is the biggest planet. Jupiter spins the fastest. Jupiter has a red and it’s a storm spot. Jupiter is made of gas.

Saturn

Saturn’s rings are made of chunks of rock.  Saturn has ice. Some of Saturn’s ice is bigger than a mountain or car and smaller than marbles. Saturn is the next biggest planet. 

Uranus

Uranus is the 7th planet from the Sun. Uranus is made out of gas. Uranus is red green and blue. Uranus is weather is - 129f. The rings go the opposite way of Saturn. Uranus travels around the sun once every 84 earth years. 

Neptune

Neptune is the fourth biggest planet in the solar system. About 60 Earths fit inside Neptune! Neptune has 5 rings. Neptune looks blue. Neptune is very cold, it is -320º F.

Pluto

Pluto used to be the farthest planet from  the sun. Pluto was the 9th planet from the  sun. Pluto is now a dwarf planet. A dwarf  planet is smaller than Mercury, our smallest planet. Pluto’s atmosphere is made out of frozen gases. Scientists think it’s cold on Pluto.

Stars

Stars are burning balls of gas. The sun is a star. Blue stars are the hottest stars. Red stars are the coolest stars. Stars don’t twinkle. When the light of the star bends in to the atmosphere it looks like it twinkles.  Stars turn into a black hole when they die.

Black Hole

When a star dies, it turns into a Black Hole. You can’t see the Black Hole.  Black Holes have lots of gravity.  Black Holes suck up stars.  No light can escape from a Black Hole.   

Beyond Space

What’s beyond space? I think the answer is God’s castle. Dr. Petersen said no one knows. What do you think?