Blast off with an intergalactic glow using a space ship cut-out and Crayola® Colored Art Chalk.

• 1.

  Find out about conditions in space such as temperatures and distances. Where, and how, might people travel between galaxies in the future? Imagine meeting friends in outer space. What might space vehicles look like? Study contemporary flight vehicles. Observe their sleek, symmetrical design. What would need to change for intergalactic travel?

• 2.

  With a ruler, measure an oak tag or poster board rectangle approximately 4 by 6 inches (9 by 15 cm). Cut it out with Crayola Scissors.

• 3.

  Fold the rectangle in half. Design (on one half) and cut out a space vehicle with the paper folded. Unfold it to see a symmetrical design with the fold as the central axis.

• 4.

  Hold the vehicle firmly in place on black construction paper. Place the tip of a piece of Crayola Drawing Chalk on the edge of the vehicle. Stroke firmly off the edge onto the black paper. Continue stroking with the chalk around the entire shape.

• 5.

  While still holding the shape down, use a tissue to brush chalk from the shape outward, creating a galactic glow.

• 6.

  Lift the vehicle, move it, and repeat the process as many times as desired to develop overlapping vehicle effects that add a sense of space and movement.

• 7.

  Move the vehicle again. Without adding more chalk, brush the chalk leftovers off the shape to create a faint, distant-looking afterglow.

Standards

• LA: Read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grade level text complexity band independently and proficiently.
• LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
• LA: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
• MATH: Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system.
• MATH: Represent and interpret data.
• SCI: Support an argument that the apparent brightness of the sun and stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.
• SCI: Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.
• VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.
• VA: Select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of ideas.

Adaptations

• Possible classroom resources include: DK Eyewitness Books: Space Exploration by Carole Scott; DK Eyewitness Books: Earth by Susanna van Rosa; Kids to Space: A Space Traveler's Guide by Lonnie Jones Schorer; Space Travel (DK/Google E.guides) by Ian Graham
• Encourage students to investigate the concept of "space junk." How are humans polluting space? What steps can be taken to lessen pollution in space? Students use their research as a basis to create an electronic poster with a persuasive title encouraging people not to pollute space.
• Students collaborate in small groups to compose a short story about a trip into space. Illustrate significant scenes from the story. Share the story with classmates.