Singing About Planets

This evening, we read a fantastic book about the solar system that used the melody of the song "Where Is Thumbkin" to teach kids about the 8 planets in our solar system! And it was so effective to help the Bees remember the order of the planets, even for Little Bee! 

I don't usually sing much (because I have no musical sense!) but as I was croaking the songs out, the Bees were enthralled, sitting quietly, listening to the songs packed with so much fun facts about the planets and our sun! Even I was very impressed - not by my broken singing, but by the book, of course! 

Other than the song, there were also little tidbits of easily digestible facts about each planet that got the Bees discussing excitedly about the solar system. 

Some excerpts of the songs here - just repeat the tune of "Where Is Thumbkin" for every verse.

1. See the planets! See the planets! 

In the sky! Use your eyes!

Planets in their orbits

Form our solar system.

Aren't they great?

There are eight!

2. Mercury is the first planet (you have to sing this real quick!)

Number one! Near the sun!

Mercury is tiny.

It has many craters.

Formed by rocks. It's so hot!

3. Uranus is planet seven.

Bluish-green! Rings are seen!

It is made of gas, and

Moons float all around it.

Brrr...it's cold. Freezing cold!

And some examples of the more captivating facts that fascinated the Bees and drew them into excited chatter:

1. A thick blanket of poisonous clouds covers Venus' hot surface. This blanket reflects light from the sun, making Venus shine brightly.

- We then discussed about the difference between planets and stars when we see them in the sky. Do you know we can see 5 planets (Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Saturn) with our naked eye in the sky? Amazing! Looks like we should be going star-gazing soon. 

2. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. Scientists believe Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a storm that has lasted more than 300 years. 

3. Mars has sheets of ice at its north and south poles, just like Earth does. 

The Bees could not bear to close the book tonight. Looks like I will be needing to sing a whole lot more every night!