Gifted and Talented Curriculum - Space Unit Third Fourth Fifth Grade

This unit contains both a printable packet version AND individual JPEG files for each document so that you can easily upload to Google Classroom. Since they are in JPEG format, students should be able to write on the documents in Google Classroom.

Additionally, this unit now includes a PARENT INSTRUCTIONS edition that you can easily pass on to parents when students are out of school. The instructions are easy to follow and allow parents to work with students just as you would in the classroom! This also makes it super easy to send home additional materials for students that need extra enrichment outside of your classroom!

This Space mini-unit was developed for a Gifted and Talented classroom, but could also be used in the regular classroom. It is designed for grades 3-5 but could be adapted for other grades as well. Every activity is common core aligned and the standards are listed on each activity intro page.

Included in this mini-unit:

Journal: Teaching Aliens - Students will write descriptively to explain to an alien how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, understanding that the alien doesn't know anything about the ingredients or utensils. (GT: Creativity, Critical Thinking, W.3.2, W.4.2, W.5.2)

Razzle Dazzle Words - Students will use the given vocabulary terms (space related) and definitions to create a visual dictionary sheet (included) that includes the word, definition, picture, a sentence, and part of speech. (GT: Vocabulary, Creativity, Common Core Standards: L.3.1, L.3.6, L.4.1, L.4.6, L.5.1, L.5.6)

Name Aliens - Students will create aliens out of their names and follow instructions to decorate them according to things like their pets, birthday, and how many vowels and consonants are in their name (GT: Creativity, Listening, SL.3.3, SL.4.2, 4.G.A.1, 4.G.A.3, CCRA.SL.2)

Build a Planet - Students will create a paper mache planet for their alien to live on, then write about the planet and the alien in detail. (GT: Creativity, Listening, W.3.3, W.4.3, W.5.3)

Space Research - Students will choose from one of six options on a choice board to research different aspects of space and space exploration. Includes rubric. (GT: Research, Presentation, RI.3.1, RI.4.1, RI.5.1)

Would You Rather Jump Game - Students will answer Would You Rather questions by jumping to one side or the other of a tape line. (GT: Affective Development, Listening, SL.3.3, SL.4.3, CCRA.SL.2)

Constellation Races - Students will race to use play-doh and glow-in-the-dark stars to recreate pictures of constellations that you hold up (included). (GT: Affective Development, Competitiveness, SL.3.3, SL.4.3, CCRA.SL.2)

Galactic Number Order - Students will put giant numbers in order from smallest to largest to show each planet's distance from the sun and each planet's circumference. Then they'll determine which planet they are. (GT: Differentiation, Communication, Critical Thinking, M.P.1, M.P.2, 4.NBT.A.2, 5.NBT.A.3