The largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter is a gas giant with 23 known moons, one of which, Ganymede, is larger than Mercury. Numerous moons and atmospheric phenomena including the Great Red Spot, a storm which has raged for 300 years, can become classroom study subjects. Jupiter provides a gateway for learning about the workings of the solar system, the complexities of planetary weather and the way astronomers gather information.
Classroom activities related to ongoing planetary studies including Jupiter probes are offered by organizations such as the Lunar Planetary Institute and NASA, which create learning packages based on actual research projects. Among these are activities based on Jupiter and its moons. After collecting information about Jupiter from a variety of sources, students work in groups or individually to create a poster or other visual representation of the planet and its satellites. Materials can include everyday objects and craft supplies as well as poster and other types of paper to indicate textures such as the surface of Jupiter's moons.
Using modeling clay, play dough or other substances, students can work individually or in groups to create a model of Jupiter and its moons, based on class information about their sizes and positions. Models can be painted or textured to depict what students have learned about the planet's appearance and composition. The project can be expanded to model the entire solar system, providing opportunities to explore relative sizes and distances between planets and the sun.
Activities based on imagination engage student interest and encourage discussion and critical thinking. Working in groups or alone, students can plan space travel to Jupiter, speculating on such questions as how long a journey would last and what they would need to take along. Students can keep journals of their trip or write letters home from Jupiter or one of its moons, imagining what they might see from space or on the surface. This type of activity encourages the development of language skills, critical thinking and mastery of course content about Jupiter and the solar system in general.