Solar+System+-+Nueske

By Carrie Nueske
 * Nonfiction Books and Websites to Enrich a Third Grade Science Unit on the Solar System **

During this unit students learn about the sun, the planets, and other objects in our solar system. They learn about how planets and other objects move in space. They learn what causes night and day as well as the seasons. They also learn more about Earth’s moon –including its phases and eclipses.

The books on this list present information clearly and include quality visual features. It includes easier books that are visually appealing for struggling and reluctant readers. There are also books that provide more detailed information for higher-achieving students to explore. Many notable authors and publishers are included in this book list to assure reliable content. I have also chosen popular websites that are easy to navigate and contain appropriate information for the grade level.

Some of the books can be used as whole-group read-alouds to elaborate on information provided by the textbook. Others can be used for research purposes or independent reading. Some of these websites can be shared in class to help illustrate concepts and others can be explored independently in the computer lab.

**Books**:

**Baines, B. (2008). //Every planet has a place//. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.**~ This colorful picture book takes readers on a journey from the sun through the outer planets and tells and interesting fact about each along the way. Lexile: 720L

**Branley, F. (2005). //Sunshine makes the seasons//.** ~ This picture book is from the //Let’s Read and Find Out// science series. It explains how the earth’s revolution around the sun on its axis causes the changes in the seasons on earth. Lexile: 510L AD (adult directed)

**Branley, F. (1999). //What makes day and night//.** ~ This picture book is from the //Let’s Read and Find Out// science series. It explains how the earth’s rotation on its axis causes day and night on the earth. Lexile: 230L

**Branley, F. (1981). //The planets in our solar system//. New York, NY. Harper-Collins Publishers, Inc.** ~ This book uses fun illustrations and interesting text to tell interesting facts about the planets and other objects in our solar system. Lexile: 480L

**Cole, J. (1990). //The magic school bus: Lost in the solar system//. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.** ~ This book combines fantasy adventure with factual information about the solar system as Ms. Frizzle and her class take a field trip through the solar system, learning many facts along the way. Lexile: 480L

**Donnelly, J. (1989) //Moonwalk: The first trip to the moon//. New York, NY: Random House.** ~ This book is the story of man’s first walk on the moon and the events leading up to it. Lexile: 550L

**Gibbons, G. (1997). //The moon book//.** New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. ~ This well-illustrated picture book provides basic information about the moon including an explanation for the moon’s phases, solar and lunar eclipses, and moon exploration. Lexile: 740L, Guided Reading Level O. Lexile: 740L

**James, L. (2011). //Our solar system series//. New York, NY: Gareth Stevens Publishing.** ~ This series of books is written in larger text and an easy to read format and provides basic but important information about each planet. Lexile: 310L-440L

Other books in this series: **Mercury: The Iron Planet** **Venus: The Masked Planet** **Earth: The Blue Planet** **Mars: The Red Planet** **Jupiter: The Laregst Planet** **Saturn: The Ringed Planet** **Uranus: The Ice Planet** **Neptune: The Stormy Planet** **Pluto: The Dwarf Planet** **Comets and Asteroids: Space Rocks**

**Mitton, J. & Balit, C. (2001). //The planet gods: Myths and facts about the solar system//. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.** ~ This book describes the mythical gods for which the planets were named as well as provides facts for each one. Told in the first person point of view of each planet, use of descriptive language and colorful illustrations of the gods make this book appealing to read. (does not include informational text features) Ages 6-10. Accelerated Reader/ATOS: 5.5

**Murphey, P. (2006). //Why does the moon change shape?// New York, NY: Rosen Classroom Books & Materials.** ~ This book explores the moon’s movement, phases, eclipses and more in easy to understand text. Real photos help readers visualize these concepts. Accelerated Reader/ATOS: 4.2

**Stone, L. (2009). //Planets//. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publishing LLC.** ~ This easy reading book tells very basic information about each planet and incorporates fact boxes to easily gather information. Accelerated Reader/ATOS: 3.8

**Vogt, G. (2002). //Pluto//. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books.** ~ This book is part of a series called //The Galaxy.// These higher level books explore and in-depth look at objects in our solar system and include photographs and other text features to support understanding. Lexile: IG 670L

Other titles in this series: **Asteroids** **Comets** **Earth** **Jupiter** **Mars** **Mercury** **Meteors and Meteorites** **Neptune** **Saturn** **Stars** **Sun** **Uranus** **Venus** **Constellations** **The Milky Way** **Moons** **The Solar System**

**Weigl Publishers (no author listed). (2007). //Pluto a dwarf planet//. New York, NY: Weigl Publishers, Inc.** ~ This book is part of a series called //Exploring Planets//. It provides lots of higher level information about the planets. The incorporates of many visual text features makes these books appealing to readers. A good resource for higher level readers (gr. 4-5).

**Zappa, M. (2011). //Eclipses//. Edina, MN: ABDO Publishing Company.** ~ This book explores both solar and lunar eclipses and provided diagrams, photos, and illustrations to support the concepts. Accelerated Reader/ATOS: 4.4

**Zuchora-Walske, C. (2012). //Your Mission to Mercury//. Edina, MN: Magic Wagon.** ~ This is a book in a series called //The Planets//. The narrator describes the adventure of a boy and his dog as they embark on missions to the planets and explains facts about the planet as they go. Fun but unrealistic illustrations help keep the attention of the reader. Guided Reading Level: O, Accelerated Reader/ATOS: 3.8

Other titles in this series: **Your Mission to Mars** **Your Mission to Venus** **Your Mission to Saturn** **Your Mission to Jupiter**

//Astronomy for Kids// [] On this kid-friendly website, students can easily click on a planet or item of interest to learn a lot more information about it.
 * Websites**:

//The Moon Phase Song (ParrMr)// [] A fun song video with sing-along lyrics about the phases of the moon that goes to the popular tune of //Forget You// by Cee Lo Green.

//Planets for Kids// [] On this website, students can click on the name of each planet to get to a list of facts about the planet.

//Start Date (Moon Phase Calendar)// [] On this website students or teachers can choose a month and year to find a moon phase calendar. They can also find out what time to view the moon on certain dates as well as learn lots of information about the moon.

//Super Teacher Worksheets (articles)// [] With a paid subscription, teachers can print out informational articles about all of the planets and other objects in the solar system.

//What is a Lunar Eclipse?// [] This is a short educational video about lunar eclipses.

//What is a Solar Eclipse?// [] This is a short educational video illustrating solar eclipses.