Neptune

Neptune is the
Mercury coldest, windiest
Mercury is very dry planet in our solar
and hot. During the system. Brr! It has
day, it can get much 13 moons to keep
hotter than the it company.
highest setting on
Mars your oven at home!
Mars is a dry,
rocky planet. It is
sometimes called the
“Red Planet” because Venus
it looks red. The red Venus is very hot,
Earth Saturn
color is from dust on just like Mercury. It is
The Earth, our home, Saturn is a big
the surface. the second brightest
Uranus is the only planet planet surrounded
celestial object in our
Uranus is very cold in our solar system by beautiful rings
night sky—only the
and windy. Unlike Jupiter where life exists. made of ice and rock.
Earth’s Moon is brighter.
the Earth, it is made Jupiter is the biggest Unlike the rest of the It is often called the
of gas, so there is no planet in our solar planets, Earth has air “Jewel of the Solar
solid ground to land system. You wouldn’t we can breathe and System.”
a spaceship on. want to visit Jupiter water we can drink.
though, because
it is a giant ball of
poisonous gas.

© 2009 Imagi Crystal Limited

and Summit Entertainment, LLC
Original Manga © Tezuka Productions
Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Introduction • powerful • bottle caps Astro Boy possesses these superpowers:
This program, inspired by Astro Boy, uses science, history • robot • paper plates 1. X-ray vision.
and art projects to bring together lessons about our solar • rocket • plastic spoons and forks 2. The ability to fly using rocket boots.
system, Earth, and how the students can make the planet • science • string 3. Arms that transform into cannons.
and their community a better place to live. • technology • rubber bands 4. Ability to speak and hear “robot” language.
• unique • soda cans 5. A blue core self-sustaining power source, stronger
Activity sheets for each of the suggested • x-ray • water bottles than nuclear energy and infinitely cleaner. It’s pure
lessons can be found online at Other materials needed: Scissors, crayons/colored pencils, positive energy.
www.planetnewsandviews.com/teachers.html 4. What it Takes to be a Hero glue and tape. 6. Threat Analysis H.U.D.(Heads Up Display): Astro
Teacher and students talk about heroes and how someone Boy can view and assess the danger level of a threat at
Teacher demonstrates how children can build a robot from
1. Learn About Our Planets becomes a hero. Teachers can have pictures of heroes to great distances.
these materials and shows a picture as an example. Sample
Earth is just a small part of a larger solar system and has a refer to (i.e. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, If you could have one superpower what would it be?
photos are provided on the activity sheets online.
special place within the universe. Use the poster to lead a Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Write down your one superpower.
discussion on our solar system, discussing the eight planets Mandela, and Neil Armstrong, etc.) For example: Soup cans, paper towel tubes, plastic spoons Tell us why you picked it.
and the Sun, and why Earth is the only planet that humans Materials needed: Paper and crayons/colored pencils and forks can be used for the arms and legs. A paper plate
How would you help others with your special power?
can live on. or cup can be used for the head. Students can also cut up
Topics for Discussion:
a. Discuss the characteristics of each planet with a cardboard carton for each part of the body. Hair can be How would you use your superpower to save the world?
• What is a hero?
students. (i.e. there is no atmosphere on other planets, made from rubber bands or string and eyes are represented
• What positive qualities do heroes possess? Teachers may end the lesson with this message:
humans need oxygen which can only be found on by bottle caps or buttons.
• For example: Astro Boy is a hero because he is selfless. • Even though we may not have superpowers, we all
Earth, the moon has no gravity, etc.) Teacher may supplement this activity still have great powers inside of us. We have the
He thinks of others and always tries to do the right
b. Hand out activity sheet with planets. by explaining the big picture: power to help others less fortunate than ourselves, to
thing. Astro Boy uses his powers to help other people
Materials: Pencil, crayons/colored pencils. • It is important for us to find ways to reuse and recycle help people in need, and to make the world a better
and save Metro City.
Have children color in the planets and write one word the items we use every day. Items such as the ones place for everyone. We all just need to take steps to
• Discuss national heroes.
under each planet that describes it (i.e. Saturn has we used in our robots can be used again in school help our planet flourish, like Astro Boy does.
• W hat has each hero done and how does it make them
rings, Mars is red.) projects, at home, and with your friends. By recycling
a hero?
• Children should discuss community or personal and reusing materials, we are helping to conserve
2. Build an Astro Boy Solar System Mobile our valuable resources and make a better world for
heroes (i.e. policemen, firefighters, educators,
The class will create mobiles that show the correct everyone.
neighbors, family members.)
placement of each planet in order by its distance from the
• Students can discuss, “What makes them a hero to Teacher to discuss the following:
Sun.
me?” a. W here does pollution come from and what is it doing
Materials needed: Scissors, string, coat hangers, and • “What do you do that makes you a hero?” to our planet?
crayons/colored pencils. b. What are the benefits of recycling?
At home, students and family members pick out or draw a
a. Students color the elements on the activity sheets c. W hat are alternative energy sources and why do we
picture of their hero to discuss in class.
provided, including the planets, Sun, and Astro Boy. need to use them?
b. Students cut out objects on sheets that will be used to The next day students show the picture and discuss in class
d. W hat can each one of us do in our communities to
make the mobile. why that person is a hero to them.
“Go Green” and help save the planet?
c. Students then write the name of each planet and
character on the cut out elements. Back to School Night Integration:
5. Build Your Own “Go Green” Robot
d. Students tie Astro Boy character and planets with Teachers are encouraged to showcase this lesson and the
Teacher provides a list of recyclable materials. Children
string and fasten them to the coat hangers. students’ robots at Back to School Night to show
bring in whatever they can from home, supplemented by
e. Students can take their mobile home to share with parents that their children are being educated
teacher’s materials. Students build and decorate their own
family. about the issues facing our planet today and in
robot. Teacher should encourage students to be creative
the future.
with any recyclable materials they can bring from home.
3. Astro Boy Vocabulary
Students will match up definitions with words on the Sample List: 6. Superpowers: Class Discussion
activity sheets provided online. • paper towel and toilet paper rolls/tubes Special powers only become “super” when they are used to
• action • cereal boxes help others. Astro Boy uses his powers to help Metro City.
• adventure • paper bags Teachers lead the students in a discussion of how they can
• flight • soup cans and cartons use their personal powers to help others.