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Exploring the Solar System: A History with 22 Activities (25)
Winner of the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Children’s Literature Award.
How do we know that Mars is covered in rusty dust, that a day on Venus lasts longer than its year, and that Neptune has 13 moons? Human exploration! Exploring the Solar System relates the rich history of space exploration using telescopes, satellites, probes, landers, and human missions. This book has been updated to include the recent discovery of Eris, which, along with Pluto, has been newly classified as a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union. In addition to history, this book contains 22 hands-on projects to explore the planets and other celestial bodies from right here on earth. Exploring the Solar System also includes biographies of 20 space pioneers, details of specific missions, a time line, and a 20-page Field Guide to the Solar System with detailed scientific data on each of our celestial neighbors and the historic missions to visit them.
Download the free teaching guide.
How do we know that Mars is covered in rusty dust, that a day on Venus lasts longer than its year, and that Neptune has 13 moons? Human exploration! Exploring the Solar System relates the rich history of space exploration using telescopes, satellites, probes, landers, and human missions. This book has been updated to include the recent discovery of Eris, which, along with Pluto, has been newly classified as a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union. In addition to history, this book contains 22 hands-on projects to explore the planets and other celestial bodies from right here on earth. Exploring the Solar System also includes biographies of 20 space pioneers, details of specific missions, a time line, and a 20-page Field Guide to the Solar System with detailed scientific data on each of our celestial neighbors and the historic missions to visit them.
Download the free teaching guide.
176 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2008
8 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Mary Kay Carson
109 books43 followersMary Kay Carson is an award-winning children’s nonfiction author. She has written more than thirty books for young people about wildlife, space, weather, nature, and history. Her recent non-fiction titles include Emi and the Rhino Scientist, about the Cincinnati Zoo's famous rhino mom; Exploring the Solar System, recipient of the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Children’s Literature Award; The Wright Brothers for Kids; Inside Tornadoes; and the Far-Out Guide to the Solar System series. The author also gives presentations at schools and libraries about space, animals, history, and writing.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 23, 2018
While I have indeed been enjoying Mary Kay Carson's Exploring the Solar System: A History With 22 Activities (and have in fact also learned much about the history of astronomy as well as many interesting, sometimes even unknown to me facts and details about our solar system, its planets, moons, comets and the like), this book is also not in any manner perfection. For quite frankly (and for me personally) I do think that the author at times and frustratingly tends to shy away a bit too much from some of the more controversial and problematic scenarios, events and occurrences that have coloured and sometimes indeed rather negatively so the history of astronomy. Sure and for a certainty, Mary Kay Carson does indeed point out that Galileo had a multitude of issues with the Catholic Church, who absolutely considered his heliocentric model of the solar system heretical, but she does not go into nearly enough detail for me and also sadly does not mention that some of Galileo's contemporaries such as Giordano Bruno for example (who not only promoted heliocentrism but also speculated about the possibility of extraterrestial life) were actually killed, were basically murdered by the Church as supposed heretics (and that Galileo himself was in fact imprisoned for his views and theories for decades). And furthermore (and rather annoyingly for me on a personal level) Mary Kay Carson also does not delve in any manner deeply enough into the post WWII arms race and that especially Wernher von Braun certainly managed to escape being held to task for his role in Nazi Germany's rocket production program etc. because he got offered a very cushy post WWII job by the Americans.
However and the above all having been said, Exploring the Solar System: A History With 22 Activities is still a thoroughly enlightening and much more than basic introduction to the history of astronomy, to our solar system (geared towards older children above the age of eleven or perhaps even twelve or thirteen, with there not really being an upper age limit, as even adult readers should find the presented information and shown details educational and exceedingly well researched), with for me the absolute icing on the cake being the point form, note-like time lines on each of the planets etc. at the back of the book, as well as the included websites and book suggestions for further study and research. And while I personally will probably not ever bother trying out the accompanying twenty-two suggested activities, they do in fact and indeed look and seem factually engaging (providing a delightful and versatile combination of both simple and complicated suggestions, with detailed but still simple enough instructions, perfect for both at home and also in-school, classroom use, and indeed a lovely way to render astronomy not just theoretical, but a hands-on, an applied science). Three and a half stars for Mary Kay Carson's Exploring the Solar System: A History With 22 Activities, rounded up to four stars, as my personal quibbles with some of the informational gaps regarding Galileo, Wernher von Braun and the like notwithstanding, this is most definitely a throughly educational, engaging and yes, even potentially fun sojourn into both the solar system and the history of astronomy, the backstory of space exploration.
However and the above all having been said, Exploring the Solar System: A History With 22 Activities is still a thoroughly enlightening and much more than basic introduction to the history of astronomy, to our solar system (geared towards older children above the age of eleven or perhaps even twelve or thirteen, with there not really being an upper age limit, as even adult readers should find the presented information and shown details educational and exceedingly well researched), with for me the absolute icing on the cake being the point form, note-like time lines on each of the planets etc. at the back of the book, as well as the included websites and book suggestions for further study and research. And while I personally will probably not ever bother trying out the accompanying twenty-two suggested activities, they do in fact and indeed look and seem factually engaging (providing a delightful and versatile combination of both simple and complicated suggestions, with detailed but still simple enough instructions, perfect for both at home and also in-school, classroom use, and indeed a lovely way to render astronomy not just theoretical, but a hands-on, an applied science). Three and a half stars for Mary Kay Carson's Exploring the Solar System: A History With 22 Activities, rounded up to four stars, as my personal quibbles with some of the informational gaps regarding Galileo, Wernher von Braun and the like notwithstanding, this is most definitely a throughly educational, engaging and yes, even potentially fun sojourn into both the solar system and the history of astronomy, the backstory of space exploration.
May 12, 2017
Exploring the Solar System by Mary Kay Carson is a non-fiction book because it contains facts about what we know about our solar system. Herschel was an astronomer and wanted to see farther into the solar system. He searched for days, even weeks to find new things in space. For example. In 1781, William Herschel came across an unusual shining object that didn’t look like a star. Herschel tracked the path of what might be a comet over nights. Then when he kept researching it came out to be a new planet in our solar system. He found what we know now as Uranus.
I think that this book is a nonfiction book because it has all of the features. I know that it is important because nonfiction books are real facts. On an article I knew that it is nonfiction because it says, “drive you insane while some are purely in vain.” I know that it is nonfiction because that happens to me sometimes also. I know my book has this because, “He was exploring the heavens with a telescope.” Also, nonfiction books have real things that are happening today. Such as today in Newsela article it says, “Fidget toys are all the rage among kids, even those without ADHD and autism.” The article is nonfiction because everyone is wanting spinners because they are fun to play with. In the book, I know it's nonfiction because it says, “Herschel has discovered a new seventh planet, Uranus.” This shows that the book is nonfiction because it has real things that are happening in the world. Finally, nonfiction genre is organized in a certain way such as, information that is real. In another Newsela article it is organized by showing that there are more sharks in Southern California than usual. It is real because scientist did research on how many sharks are there now. Then in the book, I know it is non-fiction because it says that, “Herschel had built the biggest telescope ever.” This shows that Exploring the Solar System is a nonfiction book.
I enjoyed this book because it was an actual non-fiction book. I like reading about space because it is so interesting to look at what people made to get there and to see new planets. I think people who enjoy non-fiction and the solar system will like this book because it shows from the beginning of space ships until now. So if you are looking for a good book to read, I suggest you pick up Exploring the Solar System by Mary Kay Carson and read it now.
I think that this book is a nonfiction book because it has all of the features. I know that it is important because nonfiction books are real facts. On an article I knew that it is nonfiction because it says, “drive you insane while some are purely in vain.” I know that it is nonfiction because that happens to me sometimes also. I know my book has this because, “He was exploring the heavens with a telescope.” Also, nonfiction books have real things that are happening today. Such as today in Newsela article it says, “Fidget toys are all the rage among kids, even those without ADHD and autism.” The article is nonfiction because everyone is wanting spinners because they are fun to play with. In the book, I know it's nonfiction because it says, “Herschel has discovered a new seventh planet, Uranus.” This shows that the book is nonfiction because it has real things that are happening in the world. Finally, nonfiction genre is organized in a certain way such as, information that is real. In another Newsela article it is organized by showing that there are more sharks in Southern California than usual. It is real because scientist did research on how many sharks are there now. Then in the book, I know it is non-fiction because it says that, “Herschel had built the biggest telescope ever.” This shows that Exploring the Solar System is a nonfiction book.
I enjoyed this book because it was an actual non-fiction book. I like reading about space because it is so interesting to look at what people made to get there and to see new planets. I think people who enjoy non-fiction and the solar system will like this book because it shows from the beginning of space ships until now. So if you are looking for a good book to read, I suggest you pick up Exploring the Solar System by Mary Kay Carson and read it now.
February 5, 2017
We have been so impressed with this History of our journey and explorations of space! We're using it for our Science reading right now. It has some great ideas for projects and activities, as well as biographies of historical figures. Very good book!!!
March 9, 2012
This book is a great book for 4th grade students to study or learn about the solar sytem and the planets! This book has 22 hands on projects that I could or teachers could use for a science lesson on the solar system.
Kirkus Review Feb.1st 2006
Kirkus Review Feb.1st 2006
September 12, 2016
Very interesting! Taught me a lot about the universe.
September 19, 2016
very cool a fun way to learn about space! good for all ages 8 to 80!
December 11, 2022
very long but over all a good book about astronomy
Good it was definitly interesting for a book about astronomy g g g g g t g t y t
Good it was definitly interesting for a book about astronomy g g g g g t g t y t
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews