Earth Science--The Eight Planets

 We learned about the eight planets in our Solar System.  While the kids painted with watercolors, I sang this song from the Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum Website.  It's called "Family of the Sun" and has one verse describing each of the eight planets (plus Pluto, the dwarf planet).  It's sung to the Farmer in the Dell:  Here's the first two verses and the chorus:
1)Mercury is hot
and Mercury is small.
Mercury has no atmosphere;
It's just a rocky ball
CHORUS:
The Family of the Sun,
Its planets number eight.
Plus other rocky, icy worlds
That we appreciate
2) Venus has thick clouds
That hide what is below
The air is foul, the ground is hot
It rotates very 'slow.'

The kids got a lot out of this.  LD and ED looked very carefully at the photos of the planets and tried to replicate them.  ED just painted and painted and painted.  She was at it for more than an HOUR!!! 

Update: We have a free packet about the Solar System here (at our new location):

Thanks to My Montessori Journey who shared the song link and painting activity last year.