Our Solar System Model

So the kids science curriculum this year is based around astronomy ( although we will probably touch on a lot of topics based on our propensity to want to learn about many unrelated things!).

Anyhow, Last week we read about what astronomy is, about what the universe is, and about our solar system. We made up our own mnemonic phrase for the planets (+ dwarf planet Pluto).

The kids made up "Maybe Very Early My Jumprope Sat Upon Nanny's Poptart" ... and despite it's silliness, it really has helped the kids remember the names and order of the planets!

Today we made a model of our solar system ( not to scale of course). The kids had so much fun painting the planets, then figuring out roughly how to place them in relation to one another. It was quite the motivator for them to plow through all their other school work in record time as well, because I said we couldn't paint until we were done, in case the table got messy.

On a side note, the kids ( especially Emily) bugged me all weekend about doing school.. every time I turned around... "Are we gonna do school now?", "Can we do school today?", "Can I go to the classroom?".... So cute.. guess they like it!

Here are some pics from making the solar system today!