About a month ago, I was at the library with Nora and she randomly pulled a book off the shelf and said “Take this book home!” so we did. It was called Our Stars, and as it turned out, Jonah was immediately interested. He read it many times and had a lot more questions about space, so the next week I picked up some more astronomy books. And the next week some more. And then some more. He just loves reading about planets!
He falls asleep reading these books.
He wakes up reading these books.
He draws pictures of planets (and the asteroid belt).
He labels and arranges planets.
(The long cardboard thing is his spaceship control panel that we made.)
He made a rocket.
And flies it around.
He drew a bunch of stars, glued on eyes, and painted them with glow-in-the-dark paint. Then we taped them on his ceiling.
He wrote me a mystery planet clue.
When he rides his bike, he’s a planet traveling in orbit, trying to avoid crashing into the meteors (Nora).
Then he took a break to draw a few planets.
And then the whole solar system.
I printed him a star chart and he wandered around in the backyard, mumbling star names, rotating the paper, and pointing, even though it was still daytime. He said he was “practicing.”
Sadly, in the month he’s been interested in stars, he’s only gotten to see a clear night sky twice. This weekend (maybe) looks promising. Keep your fingers crossed for him. ;) It sure has been fun watching him be so excited about learning new stuff!
Jonah –
You should ask your mom and dad to take you to Pine Mountain Observatory. It is near Bend. It is on top of a hill, but it feels like it is on top of the whole world. They have a HUGE telescope, and you can see the stars. If you call ahead, they might let you sleep in the cabins, since your dad works for the University of Oregon.
http://pmo-sun.uoregon.edu/~pmo/visitor_info.html
Also, Jonah – Did you ever read “Katie and the Big Snow” or “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel?” They are about big machines. The woman who wrote them was Virginia Burton.
She also wrote a book called “Life Story.” It has stars and planets and dinosaurs and the whole history of the universe and of planet earth. I like it a lot. You might like it too.
Don’t let up! Encourage that kid as much as you can!
Jonah, The stars, the Universe and all these wonderful things, and more, are so very interesting. Keep reading and learning and do get Mom and Dad to take you to Bend to the observatory. Also, dad has a telescope which, when the sky is clear, you should be able to see the stars more clearly. I am so proud of you and how you are learning. Enjoy your Planet book.
Love, Grandad
I love the falling asleep reading picture. That’s my boy! I hope his dreams are full of stars and planets :)