Astronomy is another one of my favorite Science subjects. It just seems so amazing that we live on a little planet in a HUGE world. The project I choose was “Fly Me to the Moon Travel Agency.” I did a group project something similar to this in an Astronomy class I took a few semesters ago. It was a little more intense than this project but it basically entailed traveling to an expo-planet. As a travel agency group, 
we had to design a brochure explaining why traveling to our planet was the best. Not only did we have to study the conditions of the planet, but we also needed to know how we could travel (without taking years). It was fun and I think that students would love doing something like this.
Anyways, the project I choose is designed for Kindergartners and it helps them understand a little more about our moon. Students in this project research the moon (i.e. conditions, distance), and also understand traveling methods and materials. Similar to my experience, this scenario also has students design their own travel agency. The driving question for this project is, “What are the essential things we need to know for moon travel?” First, students take a virtual trip to the moon. (The tour wasn’t strictly limited to the moon. It only allows you to be there for a few seconds and then travels to other random space locations.) Additionally, a representative from AAA will come in and help talk about the designing a trip to the moon. 
Students will be creating a book answering basic facts about the moon and what people would need. Additionally, students make pictures, spaceships (rockets), or spacesuits. There are several embedded websites that allow students to explore and learn more facts to develop their own ideas. There are also several books that are included along with encyclopedias and a dictionary. Students will work in groups of 4 to answer these questions in their book. How long will it take you to get to the moon? What will you need to take with you? What will you see and do after your arrival?
In Kindergarten, students only know that the moon exists and is easily seen at night. Prior to the project, students should understand that the moon is reflected by the sun, travels around earth and changes shape because of the shadows created. During the projects students will learn the various conditions of the moon including temperature and environmental conditions (no wind, rocky). They will be able to describe those characteristics and different phases of the moon and know what accommodations are needed. The students are also using software to create their book (Kids Pix), websites to research and videos of the moon which helps prepare them with technology literacy.
The standards for this project include identifying objects in the sky, using sources to gather information, using new vocabulary, writing methods for expression, demonstrating an understanding for good team work and recognizing models are representations of real things. The rubric includes content and ideas (using prior knowledge, gaining new knowledge and applying it in real world activities), organization (sequence of travel), style/voice (using adjectives or descriptive sentences), and conventions (integrating ELA, English Language Arts).
I think this project is a great way to familiarize the younger students with our sky. It also helps students put real world activities in to context so they can use and apply their knowledge in situations. It also helps familiarize students with technology and provides literacy of computer skills. Very interesting and fun!
If you would like to view the project, here is the website.
http://wveis.k12.wv.us/teach21/public/project/Guide.cfm?upid=3266&tsele1=3&tsele2=100
JCarmell's blog 
HI Janice,
I don’t have too much experience with Kindergarten students, but this project seems nicely thought out! The only problem I see is that it seems a little advanced for Kindergarten? Again, I don’t have experience with Kindergarten, with students having to do research and so forth. Then again, my 4 year old nephew was able to put Buzz Lightyear as my background when I got my MacBook, and it took ME two weeks before I was able to figure out how to change me background again! I guess I keep underestimating the researching prowess these youngsters have! I mean, I can tell my nephew to find me a picture of a “minion” online, and he knows that he has to open up a browser and type into the search engine. Then, he’ll click on “pictures” to show me the possibilities. Anyway, taking an interesting subject for kids, I guess even for Kindergarten students nowadays, is not far fetched to figure they’ll be able to do research, albeit on a minimal scale.
Anyway, this is a good project that creates a quasi study guide for all students. Instead of taking days and days for a teacher to go over every plane in our solar system, the teacher can have students become masters of one planet and share that information with the class. Maybe for the upper grades, part of the assignment will be to provide a study guide for their peers, as to help familiarize themselves with other planets. The teacher could outline what needs to be on the study guide so the student has the important information.
Up until your post, I hadn’t thought we’d be able to use technology in such low grades, but using my own nephew as an example disproved that thought real quick!
I agree with Steven– this project does seem kind of advanced for Kindergarten students. I was thinking this sounds more appropriate for maybe a 3rd or 4th grade class (but then again I’m not really familiar with kindergarteners’ abilities either). But this project does sound really fun! It’s cool that it allows students to tap into their imaginations and “travel” to the moon. They can use what they learn about the moon to CREATE visual aids and it also places them as the expert on all things moon =) This is a very cool project… thanks for sharing =)
It does seem a bit much for kindergarten students, but a few simplifications would make it perfect for kindergarteners. My little Niece Ayla is in Kindergarten and I think that she could handle this lesson, but probably do better if it was modified to be less in depth. What is also kind of cool is this lesson could be modified for almost any age. It could be good for physics AP even. If you have the students look at how much energy is needed to leave the earths atmosphere, angles of flight, gravities effect and how to make it benefit your spacecraft. Its pretty crazy to think that the kindergarteners of today have not existed as long as the iPhone has. I’m kind of excited to see what kind of technological prodigies sprout up. I really like this project, nice choice! I can’t wait to see all of our book team members projects! Have a good one!