View

• Caillou - "Starry Night"
  A family dinner under the star-studded sky prompts grandpa to bring out his telescope and introduce Caillou to the constellations, planets, and moon.
• Arthur - "The Boy Who Cried Comet"
  Buster is convinced that he's seen real UFO's, and he uses Muffy's fancy new telescope to get the proof. What he discovers is much more terrifying -- a comet hurtling directly toward earth! Can Buster convince his friends that this sighting is real in time for them to save the planet?

Do in Class

• Between the Lions: High in the Sky - Go outside and talk about the night sky, then make starry wrapping paper or a night sky nightlight.
• Fetch!: Rescue Mission - Create a machine that will help rescue a space capsule.
• Jay Jay the Jet Plane: Let's Think About...Day & Night - Try these simple sun and moon activities as an introduction to outer space.
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: Night Sky - Develop imagination and learn about the moon, stars and the night sky by imagining and creating pictures of the nighttime sky.
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: Rocket Ship - Investigate the basic principles of flight. Discover how air moves an object.
• Reading Rainbow: Alistair in Outer Space - Design a space station with your family or make a diorama of the nighttime sky.
• Reading Rainbow: Space Case - Play a "count down" game with a deck of cards or build a junk spacecraft.

Play Online

• Caillou: Follow the Stars - Help Caillou repeat the pattern of the blinking stars.
• Cyberchase: Star Gazing - Help Digit find planets in the night sky using angles, measurement and estimation via a telescope.
• Dragonfly TV: Planetary Rescue Squad - Use angle and force to deliver needed items to space colonists in this interactive game.
• Dragonfly TV: So Many Parts - Repair parts on a virtual space station in this interactive game.
• PBS Parents Guide to Creativity: Stars - Choose a portion of the night sky, then connect-the-dots to make your own constellations.

Read

• The Planets in Our Solar System: Stage 2
  By Franklyn M. Branley and Kevin O'Malley
  Published in May 1998 by HarperTrophy
  First published in 1981, Branley and Illustrator Kevin O'Malley have given this book about the planets and solar system a facelift that's out of this world! Ms. Frizzle's class tour around the planetarium is complemented by a list of relevant Web sites and simple projects for students.
• The Sun is My Favorite Star
  By Frank Asch
  Published October 2000 by Gulliver Books
  In this poetic picture book, a child reflects on the sun and what it provides. Repetition and striking images make this a great introduction to a unit on poetry or the sun and the solar system.

*As most PBS children's programs offer one year extended taping rights for teachers, please feel free to tape them now and save them for use in your classroom during the school year.