Galactic Academy Slides Galactic Cadet Academy
Flight Level: Grades 1 & 2
MISSION: SPACE DISCOVERY
Put on your space helmets! Today we explore our giant Sun, changing Moon, rocky planet neighbors, and shining stars!
Target 1
The Sun
Target 2
The Moon
Target 3
Earth & Mars
Target 4
Star Patterns
Station 01
The Sun: Our Powerhouse Star
Cosmic Energy
The Sun is a STAR!
It looks big and bright because it is our closest neighbor star. All other stars are far away!
Heat & Light
Earth would be freezing cold and pitch black without it. Plants need sunlight to grow!
The Orbit Loop
Earth travels in a huge oval loop around the Sun once each year (365 days).
Cadet Safety Rule!
Never stare directly at the Sun! It can hurt your cadet eyes.
Cadet Training Manual • Chapter 1 Key Word: STAR
Station 02
Our Neighborhood: Rocky Planets
Inner Solar System
Mercury & Venus
Super Scorching!
Mercury is closest to the Sun. Venus has thick clouds that trap heat like an oven!
Too hot for liquid water!
Planet Earth
Just Right • Goldilocks
Our home planet! Liquid blue oceans, breathable air, and millions of living plants and animals.
3rd rock from the Sun!
Mars
The Red Planet
Mars is rusty red, cold, and dusty! Robotic explorer rovers roll across its rocks and red soil.
Target for cadet missions!
Cadet Training Manual • Chapter 2 Key Word: ORBIT
Station 03
The Moon: Earth's Night Companion
29-Day Cycle
Giant Space Mirror!
The Moon does not make its own light. It reflects sunlight straight back to Earth!
Craters & Footprints
Space rocks smashed into the Moon making bowl-shaped craters . There is no wind or weather!
Moon Phases
As the Moon orbits Earth, we see different sunlit parts. It appears to change shape over four weeks!
New Moon (Dark)
Crescent (Silver sliver)
Half Moon (Quarter)
Full Moon (Whole circle)
Station 04
Connect the Dots: Constellations
Sky Map Patterns
What is a Constellation?
Long ago, stargazers gazed into space and connected stars like a giant dot-to-dot puzzle!
They saw brave heroes, mythical animals, and handy tools in the stars to tell stories and guide explorers across oceans!
Cadet Mission: In your Flight Log, you will map your own secret cadet constellation!
Famous Sky Shapes
The Big Dipper
Looks like a giant cosmic water ladle or soup spoon with 7 bright stars!
🥣
Orion the Hunter
Famous for 3 bright stars straight in a row making up his shiny belt!
🏹
Cadet Training Manual • Chapter 4 Key Word: CONSTELLATION
Final Check
Cadet Knowledge Flight Check!
Mission Ready
1
Is the Sun a planet or a star?
Think back to our briefing! What makes it glow with so much heat and light?
Answer: It's a STAR! ⭐
2
Does the Moon make its own light?
Where does all that silvery glow in the night sky really come from?
Answer: Bounces SUNLIGHT! 🪞
3
What is a star pattern called?
When you connect the dots in the night sky to make a picture...
Answer: CONSTELLATION! ✨
Cadet Briefing Complete!
Prepare your Cadet Space Log and pencils at your flight station.
Launch Logs
Cadet Space Log Cadet Space Log
Galactic Cadet Academy • Mission 01
Cadet Name
Flight Date
Call Sign
Flight Briefing: Complete each station checkpoint to earn your official Junior Astronaut Wings!
Level 1-2
1
Station 1: Space Object Identifier
Choose words from the bank
Word Bank: Sun Earth Moon Mars
The giant glowing ball of hot gas at the center of our solar system.
Our home planet! Has blue water oceans, green land, and fresh air.
Earth's rocky neighbor covered in craters. It reflects sunlight to us.
The rusty red planet where robot rovers search for signs of water.
2
Station 2: Moon Phase Observatory
Use pencil to shade
Cadet Mission: Use your pencil to shade in the dark part of each Moon to match its phase!
New Moon
Completely dark!
(Shade all)
Crescent Moon
A tiny sliver glows
(Leave sliver white)
Half Moon
One half shines
(Shade left half)
Full Moon
Big glowing circle!
(Leave all white)
Mission Checkpoint 1 • Turn over for Constellation Mapping!
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Cadet Space Log • Flight Deck II
Cadet Status: In Orbit
3
Station 3: Create a Cadet Constellation
Connect the stars
Connect some or all of the stars below with straight lines to create a new secret shape (like a spaceship, animal, or star saber!).
My Constellation's Name:
It looks like a:
4
Station 4: Flight Knowledge True or False
Circle TRUE or FALSE
A.
The Sun is a giant, glowing star that gives Earth warmth and light.
TRUE FALSE
B.
The Moon shines brightly because it has its own battery light inside.
TRUE FALSE
C.
Earth travels around the Sun in a big loop once every year.
TRUE FALSE
5
Station 5: Cadet Flight Debrief
Write one exciting space fact you learned today:
Mission Commander Sign-Off
Badge Earned: Certified Starlight Cadet
Commander Signature:
Starlight Mission Teacher Guide Mission Teacher Guide
Galactic Cadet Academy • Space Science (Grades 1–2)
Pacing: 50–60 Min NGSS Aligned
Standards Alignment & Learning Targets
NGSS Focus:
1-ESS1-1: Use observations of the Sun, Moon, and stars to describe predictable patterns.1-ESS1-2: Relate daylight patterns to time of year.2-ESS1-1: Compare fast vs. slow planetary events.
Cadets Will Be Able To:
Identify the Sun as a star providing essential light and warmth.
Explain that the Moon reflects sunlight and identify 4 phases.
Recognize constellations as human-named star patterns.
Mission Supplies Needed
Interactive Whiteboard / Projector for Galactic Academy Slides
1 printed Cadet Space Log per student (2-sided)
Standard #2 pencils and black/yellow colored pencils
Optional demo: 1 flashlight + styrofoam ball or mirror
Target Space Vocabulary
Star: Glowing gas giant
Orbit: Curved path loop
Crater: Meteor bowl dent
Reflect: Bounce light
Phases: Moon shapes
Constellation: Star picture
Step-by-Step Mission Timeline (55 Min)
1. Cadet Blastoff Warm-Up (8 Mins) Engage
Have students mime putting on their space suits and helmets. Ask: "Look outside! What makes our sky bright right now? Is the Sun a planet or something else?" Record initial thoughts on the board without revealing answers yet.
2. Slide Briefing & Concept Flight (18 Mins) Instruct
Project Galactic Academy Slides . Walk through Stations 1 to 4. Emphasize that the Sun is our nearest star, Earth is the "Goldilocks" life planet, the Moon bounces sunlight like a mirror, and constellations are dot-to-dot sky stories.
3. Guided Flight Log Workstations (20 Mins) Practice
Distribute the 2-page Cadet Space Log . Guide Station 1 (Rocky Neighbor matching) as a whole group, then allow partners to complete Station 2 (Moon shading) and Station 3 (Cadet constellation drawing & naming).
4. Flight Check & Badge Ceremony (9 Mins) Assess & Close
Review Slide 6 quick check. Have students swap logs for a quick peer high-five. Teacher initials Commander Sign-Off box at the bottom of student logs as an exit ticket!
Cadet Mission Answer Key Cadet Mission Answer Key
Official Flight Grading Reference • Grades 1–2
Teacher Eyes Only
1
Station 1: Space Object Identifier (Page 1)
4 Points Total
A. Giant glowing gas ball Center of solar system
SUN
B. Blue oceans & green land Our living home planet
EARTH
C. Rocky cratered neighbor Reflects sunlight
MOON
D. Rusty red desert planet Rovers search for water
MARS
2
Station 2: Moon Phase Shading Visual Key
4 Points Total
New Moon
100% Dark Shaded Cadet shaded whole circle
Crescent Moon
Thin Sliver White Rest shaded dark
Half Moon
Half White / Half Dark Either side acceptable
Full Moon
100% Left White No pencil shading inside
3
Station 3: Constellation Map
Line Connection: Cadet connected 4+ stars with straight pencil lines to form a recognizable figure.
Name: Inventive space name (e.g. The Star Falcon , Captain Saber , The Giant Scoop ).
Description: Describes what the pattern represents with phonetic spelling accepted.
4
Station 4: True / False Key
3 Points
A. Sun is a glowing star: TRUE
B. Moon has its own battery bulb: FALSE
C. Earth orbits Sun in 1 year: TRUE
5
Station 5: Exemplar Cadet Debrief Answers
Grade 1 Exemplars:
"I learned that the Sun is really a giant star."
"The Moon is like a big mirror that bounces Sun light."
"Stars make pictures in the dark sky."
Grade 2 Exemplars:
"Earth takes 365 days to make one full orbit around the Sun."
"The Moon has craters because space rocks hit it long ago."
"Mars is cold and dusty and rovers look for water there."
Ready for rapid classroom check • Stamp student logs upon completion
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