LibGuides: Briarwood Elementary Science Resources: Space Science

Astronomy Resources

Astronomy, or Space Science, is in Dewey Decimal 520-529. Briarwood Elementary check out a lot of books about Space, so this website will help our school library by giving our students more places to learn about space. This area meets the Next Generation Science Standard's Earth and Space Science Discipline. They explore the history of planet Earth and parts of our solar system and galaxy that scientists have learned about. New discoveries happen every day, so keeping up-to-date is important. Below are links that are trusted to provide true information and to update their videos and articles.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or JPL, is in California. That's where the Mars Rovers and Juno missions were built! Learn from NASA JPL online through this link.

The National Air and Space Museum shares the history of space exploration.

Khan Academy has videos and articles about space science for us to share. It is a subscription site, which means they ask for a log in to save progress. Always ask a parent or teacher before logging into a website.

ALMA Kids (the Atacama Large Millimeter Array) has pictures never recorded anywhere else. Their website is trusted updated regularly. This website is in Spanish, Mandarin, and English.

Videos About Astronomy

If you learned something about the moon by watching the video above, cite it. Write:

National Aeronautics and Space Agency Goddard. (2018, April 9). Tour of the Moon in 4K. [Video file]. https://youtu.be/nr5Pj6GQL2o

The video above came from National Geographic. If you use the information in a paper, let your teacher know, but citing it as:

National Geographic. (2018, March 1). Origins of the Universe 101. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/HdPzOWlLrbE

Books about Astronomy

Explore My World Planets by Becky Baines
Call Number: 523.2 BAI
ISBN: 9781426323232
Publication Date: 2016-03-08
Amazing photography with glossaries and text features made to help young children learn, Planets explores the solar system. Reading Level AR 3.7, $4.99, 32 pages. Meets ESS1C Standards, Earth and the Solar System. "VERDICT Quality information for younger readers; purchase for collections needing beginning research and browsing material." -- School Library Journal
How the Meteorite Got to the Museum by Jessie Hartland
Call Number: 523.51 HAR
ISBN: 9781609052522
Publication Date: 2013-10-08
It came from outer space and crashed onto bookshelves! This book traces how a rock broke from its billion-year orbit to fall from space, then to natural history museums. Reading level 1030L, 40 pages, $17.99. Meets Next Generation Science Standards ESS1: Earth's Place in the Universe. "Back matter includes information on Dr. Mark Anders, the first scientist who viewed the meteorite in Peekskill, and additional facts about meteorites. This engaging work is well suited for reading aloud or for budding geologists, scientists, or curators. As the Common Core State Standards place increased emphasis on nonfiction for young students, this groundbreaking effort fits the bill and does it well." - School Library Journal
Icy Comets by Chaya Glaser; J. Clark Sawyer
Call Number: 523.6 GLA
ISBN: 9781627245722
Publication Date: 2015-01-01
These giant balls of ice, mixed with rock and dust, orbit the Sun. List price $25.64, 24 pages, AR 2.1. Meets Next Generation Science Standard ESS1C: Earth and the solar system requirements. "The photos effectively complement the descriptive text and will have readers eager to turn the page to discover what's next. Challenging vocabulary words are highlighted and can be found, along with their pronunciation and an identifying image, in the glossary." - School LIbrary Journal
La Luna/the Moon by Martha E. H. Rustad
Call Number: 523.3 RUS
ISBN: 9781429685528
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Photographs and simple text introduce the features of the Moon, Earth's only natural satellite. Engaging images for young readers. Meets Next Generation Science Standards ESS1B: Earth and the Solar System. $5.95, AR 1.0, 24 pages. Meets Next Generation Science Standards ESS1B. "Although the reading is appropriate for young children, the vocabulary and content are kept scientifically accurate. The illustrations explain concepts that are often hard for children to understand." - School Library Journal
Los Planetas by Penelope Arlon
Call Number: 523.4 ARL
ISBN: 9780545458887
Publication Date: 2012-09-01
Welcome to a tour of the major planets, moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas that orbit the sun. The latest NASA and European Space Station images, many unique to this book, combine with space experts information. Por eso este libro lleno de actividades, fotografías y datos fascinantes les brinda la maravillosa oportunidad de visitar el espacio. Meets Next Generation Science Standards Earth and the Solar System Disciplinary Core Ideas. AR 5.4, $27.99, 80 pages. "A unique feature of this series is an accompanying digital book, accessed via a code, that includes videos, quizzes, and so on. This highly browsable title should spark plenty of interest for classroom and personal reading." - 2010 Booklist
Older Than the Stars by Karen C. Fox; Nancy Davis (Illustrator)
Call Number: 523.1 FOX
ISBN: 9781570917875
Publication Date: 2010-02-01
Discusses the Big Bang, billions of years ago and the concepts of atoms. Told in verse to tie human beings to the beginning of the universe. Simple, informative prose provides additional facts. Reading level 800L, 32 pages, $15.95. Meets Next Generation Science Standards ESS1C Standards, Earth and the Solar System and PS1A: Structures and Properties of Matter. "Fox explains the fascinating-yet-true concept that the atoms that make up our bodies, our earth, and even our universe are the same that have existed since the Big Bang." - Horn Books
Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space by Dominic Walliman; Ben Newman (Illustrator)
Call Number: 520 WAL
ISBN: 9781909263079
Publication Date: 2013-11-26
Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space will tell you everything that there could be to know about our star, our planet, our solar system, our galaxy, and our universe. 1140L reading level, $24.00, 64 pages. Meets Next Generation Science Standards ESS1: Earth's Place in the Universe. "Cute characters (such as the titular Professor Astro Cat and his assistant Astro Mouse) give a humorous, conversational tone to this nonfiction book's information about space, our solar system, and changing space exploration technology. Like the text, the book's browsable layout encourages readers to keep exploring. Overall, a great book to nurture interest in and wonder at the infinite possibilities of space." -The Horn Book
Seven Wonders of the Solar System by David A. Aguilar
Call Number: 523.2 AGU
ISBN: 9780451476852
Publication Date: 2017-05-30
Travel the near and far reaches of the solar system! The planets we know and Planet 9, an unseen giant lurking in the far outer regions of space are explored. List price $18.99, 79 pages, AR 7.2, but many images. Meets Next Generation Science Standards ESS1: Earth's Place in the Universe and ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System. "Aguilar weaves together a narrative of science and imagination—readers can envision what it would be like to set foot on these distant lands . . . Students will be fascinated and educated at the same time." —School Library Journal

Get Involved

Scientists ahve a lot of telescopes in space that take pictures and send information back to us every day. Not every space agency has enough people working for them to find all the information in those images. Sometimes citizens like you and I are able to help. Be sure to talk to your teacher or parents before contacting anyone on the internet.

The American Museum of Natural History and NASA have teamed up to find more planets in our solar system. With the help of people everywhere, they are doing just that. Lear more and ask your family if they want to help by learning more at Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 to share the search.