Family Space Day Overview - Venus

Family Space Day is a three hour event. The activities are set up so that children
and parents can select the order in which they undertake activities. Parents and
children are encouraged to learn, play, and explore together.

Objectives of the Day

Children will:

  • learn about Venus’ interior and atmosphere.
  • learn about the volcanos on Venus.
  • compare Venus’ atmospheric pressure to Earth.

Activities

  • Station 1: Venus Posters
    Children and their parents will view posters that provide information on what
    Venus is like.
  • Station 2: Edible or Non-Edible Venus
    Children learn about the different layers of Venus by building either an edible
    or non-edible Venus.
  • Station 3: Play-Doh Venus Volcanos
    Venus – like other planets and moons in our solar system - has volcanos at
    its surface. Children will learn how volcanos build up by a series of lava
    flows.
  • Station 4: Venus Pudding Volcanos
    Some of the volcanos on Venus look like giant pancakes; they are round,
    flat-topped, and have steep edges. Scientists debate the composition of the
    lava that made these volcanos. Children will create volcanos with pudding
    and compare the viscosity between thick and thin lava flows.
  • Station 5: Paper Plate Venus and Earth
    Children make a representation of Venus and Earth’s layers and
    atmospheres using paper plates.
  • Station 6: Feeling the Pressure
    Children experience the amount of pressure on Venus compared to Earth
    using bags of sand and Styrofoam cups.
  • Station 7: Radar Mapping: What’s in the Box?
    Children explore 6 different boxes to try to figure out what is being
    represented in each box.
    Copyright by the Lunar and Planetary Institute, 2009
    LPI Contribution Number 1485
    http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/space_days/venus
  • Station 8: Venus and Earth Matching Game
    Children recall what they’ve learned throughout the day by matching each
    statement to the planet it describes.
  • Station 9: Coloring Sheets and Games
    Children relax and color and play simple games related to Venus.
  • Station 10: Reading Room
    Children and their parents browse and read a selection of books about Venus
    (refer to book list for suggested reading).

Other Materials

Facilitator Information – Venus
Explore Venus– Book and Website References
All About Venus– A Venus Fact Sheet

 

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