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How can I help elementary students grasp and understand Earth and space science topics, for example the solar system or the life cycle of a Plant?

Hello Paloma, 

I've seen teachers incorporate Earth and space science to elementary students by making it fun! You can incorporate hands-on activities, visuals, and interactive learning strategies. You can let them plant seeds in small cups and observe how they sprout, keeping a journal of changes. Show short videos or NASA’s interactive website to help visualize planets' movements.Visit a botanical garden, planetarium, or even do a nature walk to observe plants in different growth stages. These are just some examples, hope it helps!

Hi! Something that helped me most as a child was visiting a planetarium. I was always very interested in the planets and going to a planaterium as a field trip was very educational and engaging. Something students also enjoy is the Solar System song on youtube. It has basic/fun facts that can be great for the younger grades (elementary). Another idea I had was maybe having them create a hands-on project where they can do some independent research, which is a great way to learn how to research topics as well.

Hi! This may be for a bit later on in elementary school (I can invison grade 3 particularly), but I love this interactive online model: https://www.solarsystemscope.com/