Wish You Were Here

Send a postcard from space to show what you know about the other planets.

• 1.

  With one or two other classmates, agree on a planet to visit. Research what you might encounter on your way to the planet. Find out about the planet's atmosphere and terrain, and what it would be like to be there. Calculate how long you would be gone on a journey to visit your planet. How would you feel about being gone so long and so far away?

• 2.

  Create a postcard describing what it's like to travel through space and see the planet you chose. Draw a line down the middle of white construction paper with Crayola® Metallic Colored Pencils to separate the message side from the address. Write your message detailing your observations and feelings in colored pencils to the left of the line. Address the postcard on the right side. Design a solar system postage stamp in the upper right corner.

• 3.

  On the other side of the postcard, use Crayola Metallic Crayons to draw a vivid scene you might see while traveling through space. One way to make a circular planet is to peel the wrapper from a crayon, then lay it flat on the paper. Grasp the crayon in the center and rotate it to create a fill-in circle. Add clouds and rings to make the planet look realistic. Fill in areas of the image with color to represent mountains, craters, and canyons.

• 4.

  Use Crayola Scissors to cut a space vehicle from cardboard. Add twinkling, colorful designs with Crayola Markers, Metallic FX Crayons, and Crayola Washable Glitter Glue. Attach it to the planet image with Crayola School Glue. Add streaks of smoke and fire from the base of the spacecraft with glitter glue.

Benefits

• Students work in small groups to research information about planets in the solar system.
• Students create picture postcards from space, drawing images they imagine they would see while traveling to a planet.
• Children write personal messages describing their observations and emotions on a pretend journey to the planets, and properly address the postcards.

Adaptations

• Create a series of postcards describing an adventure as you travel to and visit your planet. Include facts on each card. Compile into a book to share with classmates.
• Take a field trip to a planetarium. When you get back to school, create postcards to send to the planetarium describing what it was like to "travel" through space and thanking the guides for your visit. <liImagine that Metallic FX Crayons are colors foun
• Younger children and those with special needs may need assistance writing postcard messages and adding addresses. Work in pairs or enlist the help of classroom volunteers.