THE SOLAR SYSTE

LER 1980

GRADES 3-5

G
TO TEACHIN
™

e
™

S
E
D
U
-U
4
L
The step-by-ste N
C O AR
-T L
6
teacher's guid
I Y U
D B S
A A D
E C R
R O A
V C
Written by: Michelle Robinette, Ed.S.
Edited by: Karen Soll and Jennifer Boudart
Cover designed by: Holly Miller
Interior designed by: Bob Williams
Illustrated by: Tom Kelly

© 2002 Learning Resources, Inc., Vernon Hills, IL (U.S.A.)

Learning Resources Ltd., King’s Lynn, Norfolk (U.K.)

All rights reserved. This book is copyrighted. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without written permission, except for the specific permission stated below.

Each blackline master is intended for reproduction in quantities sufficient for classroom use. Permis-
sion is granted to the purchaser to reproduce each blackline master in quantities suitable for noncom-
mercial classroom use.

ISBN: 1-56911-031-X

Printed in China.
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T E M
A R S Y S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y S T
S Y S T E M S O L A R S Y S
S O L A R YS T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y ST E M S O L S
S Y S T E M S O L A R S Y
SOLAR Table SYSTEM of AR
SOLContents
S Y S T E M S O L A R S Y STE
OLAR SYSTEM SOLAR T E M S O L A R S YS
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA SOLAR SYS

Using This Book............................................................................. 3-4

1
2 Gather Great Resources .............................................................. 5-8

3 Speak the Lingo ........................................................................... 9-12

4 Set the Scene ............................................................................. 13-16

5 Plan a Project .............................................................................17-20

6 Teach Ten Terrific Lessons ..................................................... 21-72

7 Cross the Curriculum ...............................................................73-76

8 Tie in Technology .....................................................................77-82

9 Assess Learning ........................................................................ 83-88

10 Celebrate! ...................................................................................89-91

Answer Sheets .......................................................................... 92-93

Vocabulary Cards ................................................................... 94-101

 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L AR S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
S
E
T
M
Step 1
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
S
SOLARTHIS BOOK
OLAR SYSTEMUSING T E M S O L A R S YST
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA S O L A R SYS
This Book Was Designed for You —
a talented, yet busy teacher. We know that you want to provide students with the most interesting and
comprehensive units of study possible. We also know how much time it takes to fully prepare to teach
a topic. That’s why we developed the Ten Easy Steps series. We’ve covered all the bases. From planning
to implementation — it’s all here.

1 Using This Book 6 Teach Ten Terrific Lessons

This section contains a little background Ten complete lessons can be found
information on how to use this book and a peek within this section. Each lesson includes essential
into what you’ll be teaching during the 10 lessons. concept information, experiments, hands-on
learning activities, journal prompts, homework
2 Gather Great Resources ideas, and teaching notes on each experiment.
In this section, you’ll find a list of books to
use when teaching yourself and others about the 7 Cross the Curriculum
Solar System, a list of web sites that help explain the Take one great concept, teach it in
space topics you’ll be teaching, and a list of field multiple curriculum areas, and you’re sure to
trip and guest speaker ideas. There’s even a letter reinforce learning. In this section, you’ll find
for parents to help you find a great speaker! ways to extend the learning across all areas of
the curriculum, including social studies, reading,
3 Speak the Lingo writing, math, and art.
This is where you’ll find all the vocabulary
words and definitions specific to the topics 8 Tie in Technology
covered in this book as well as worksheets and In this section, we provide you with ideas
pocket chart ideas designed to reinforce the and project planning pages for a multimedia
vocabulary. presentation and web site creation.
4 Set the Scene 9 Assess Learning
It’s important to set the tone for the unit This section provides a variety of
of study. This means transforming your classroom assessment options. But don’t wait until the end
environment to reflect the concepts being of the unit to assess your students. This book is
taught. In this section, you’ll find great ideas filled with journal and homework ideas to assess
for interactive learning areas and classroom from the start.
decoration.
10 Celebrate!
5 Plan a Project Once you’ve completed a unit of study as
In this section, you’ll find plans for an compelling as this, you’ll want to celebrate. In this
ongoing project students will be working on section we’ve provided an idea for a great end-of-
throughout the unit of study. It’s a great way to unit celebration.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

apply what they’re learning each day.

A Note About the Internet

The Internet is a constantly changing environment. The sites listed as additional references were cur-
rent at the time this book went to press.

3
 INTRODUCTION TO THE SOLAR SYSTEM 1
Learning about the Solar System involves so much more than simply memorizing the names of
the planets in order, knowing that Mars is called the Red Planet or that Saturn has rings. In this unit
of study, students will learn all the parts that make up our great Solar System and our missions to
space!

LESS
ESSONS
LESSONS OTHER TO
OTHER TOOLS
TO
Each of the following lessons in Step 6 features a In addition to lessons and experiments, this book
quick informative mini-lesson, fascinating facts, contains many other tools to help you make this
easy-to-accomplish experiments and activities, a unit more complete, including:
journal prompt, and a homework idea.
• A list of books and web sites for you and your
1. What is the Solar System? students. (Step 2)
Objective: To learn about the elements that
• A vocabulary list of Solar System words and
make up our Solar System and how these
definitions, along with vocabulary worksheets,
elements interact.
puzzles, and pocket chart activities. The back of
the book contains a pocket chart card for each
2. The Sun
vocabulary word. You can use the pocket on the
Objective: To investigate properties of the Sun
inside back cover to store the cards once they’re
and understand its role in our Solar System.
torn out from the book. (Step 3)
3. Tilted, Rotating & Revolving! • Learning center ideas filled with information
Objective: To understand seasons, day and to help you set up a classroom Solar System
night, and our calendar. reporting center. (Step 4)
• An ongoing project in which students create a
4. Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth & Mars
scale model of the Solar System complete with
Objective: To investigate properties and
a tape recording of information. (Step 5)
characteristics of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
• Cross-curricular learning ideas to carry the
5. Outer Planets Part 1: Jupiter & Saturn study of the Solar System into other areas of
Objective: To investigate properties and your curriculum. (Step 7)
characteristics of Jupiter and Saturn.
• Connections to technology via a Solar System
FAQ’s web page project and a multimedia
6. Outer Planets Part 2: Uranus, Neptune & Pluto
presentation on the planets. (Step 8)
Objective: To investigate properties and
characteristics of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. • Assessment tools including rubrics, journals,
and tests. You’ll find plenty of tools and ideas for
7. The Moon alternative or traditional assessment of student
Objective: To learn about Earth’s Moon, its learning. (Step 9)
characteristics, its phases, and its effect on Earth.
• A celebratory end-of-the-unit event that allows
students to “show what they know” while
8. Our Night Sky
reinforcing the content covered. (Step 10)
Objective: To learn about stars, constellations,
comets, and galaxies.

9. History of Astronomy
Objective: To learn about early astronomers
and their methods, theories, and discoveries.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

10. Space Exploration

Objective: To learn about the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
and the history of space travel.

4
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L A R S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
S
E
TStep 2
M
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
STEM SOGREAT LAR S
OLAR SYGATHER RESOURCES
T E M S O L A R S YST
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA S O L A R SYS
Great Resources for You
It’s impossible to be an expert on every subject you teach, yet that’s exactly how your students see you.
Before you begin teaching this Solar System unit, spend a few nights reviewing the following web sites
and books, and you’ll be up to speed in no time!

Web Sites Books That Help Prepare

Windows to the Universe Asimov, Isaac. The Earth’s Moon. Milwaukee,
http://msgc.engin.umich.edu/ Wisconsin: Gareth Stevens Inc, 1988.
This incredible site contains an entire curriculum Written by a true master of the subject, this book
on the universe! The stated purpose of the site is provides all the information you’ll need to be an
to “develop a fun and different web site about the “expert” on Earth’s Moon.
Earth and space sciences.” It accomplishes that
goal and much more! Lippincott, Kristen. DK Eyewitness: Astronomy.
New York: DK Publishing, 1999.
The Nine Planets Like all Eyewitness titles, this one is full of great
http://www.nineplanets.org/ photos and concise information divided into
This is one of the best Solar System sites on the easy-to-understand subtopics. This book will
Internet! Each page has text and images relating easily get you up to speed and provide great bits
to the planet and its moons (if any), and some of interesting information not always included
have sounds and movies. Most pages provide with a study of the Solar System.
links to additional related information.
Mitton, Simmon. The Young Oxford Book of
Astronomy. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
National Science Teachers Association While the text in this book may be too in-depth
http://www.nsta.org/ for student reading, the information will give you
This organization’s site has super resources to give a nice overview before beginning to teach a unit
your ideas a boost. It includes a wonderful listing of on space. In addition, the graphics could be useful
science and math links. as you explain information to students.

Schatellow-Sawyer, Bonnie. Exploring the Planets.

Learning Resources
New York: Scholastic Professional Books, 2000.
http://www.learningresources.com
This book features a discovery-based learning
Seek out this site for a list of 10 Steps-
style — posing questions, then providing
recommended web sites or great products for
information and activities — to help students find
your classroom. You’ll want to head to
answers. The book also includes a great poster for
Activities & Resources for the list.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

you to hang on the wall!

5
 GATHER GREAT RESOURCES 2
Great Resources for Your Students
Surrounding your students with great resources is a sure way to stimulate learning. The first step is to
encourage your students to take a look at a few of the great web sites and books listed on this page
and on page 7. The field trip ideas in this section will also get your students in gear for a study of the
Solar System. You’ll have a captive audience before you even begin teaching!

Web Sites Views of the Solar System

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/homepage.
The Solar System htm
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/ This site provides a vivid multimedia adventure
solar_system_index.html as it takes the viewer on a virtual journey to the
JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and NASA Sun, planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and
have put together this straightforward site with more. Discover the latest scientific information,
information on the planets. Each link or study the history of space exploration,
has descriptive information about the planet rocketry, early astronauts, space missions,
along with information about interplanetary and spacecrafts through a vast archive of
exploration. photographs, scientific facts, text, graphics, and
videos.
An Overview of the Solar System
http://www.seds.org/billa/tnp/overview.html Our Solar System: The Planets and Their Motion
This is a great place to start your exploration! http://www.athena.ivv.nasa.gov/curric/space/
It has everything from simple diagrams of planets/index.html
the inner and outer planets to planetary Take a tour of the planets with the pictures
classification systems and detailed photographs. and online movies on this site. Try playing
Dozens of links provide access to further the movies at a slow speed, and notice the
information. differences in the time it takes for each planet
to revolve around the Sun (its year). Have your
The Nine Planets students draw pictures and match each planet
with its name.
http://www.nineplanets.org/
This is one of the best Solar System sites on
the Internet! Each page has text and images
relating to the planet and its moons (if any), and
some have sounds and movies. Most
pages provide links for additional related
information.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

6
2 GATHER GREAT RESOURCES
Great Resources for Your Students
Books
Brenner, Barbara. Planetarium: The Museum that Schatellow-Sawyer, Bonnie. Exploring the Planets.
Explores the Many Wonders of Our Solar System. New York: Scholastic Professional Books, 2000.
New York: Bantam, 1993. This book features a discovery-based learning
The format of this book makes it a very “kid- style — posing questions, then providing
friendly” resource. The information gives students information and activities — to help students find
an inside look at the Solar System by taking the answers. The book also includes a great poster for
reader on an actual walk through space. The book you to hang on the wall!
also includes a number of easy-to-complete
experiments. Scott, Elaine. Adventure in Space.
New York: Hyperion, 1995.
Cole, Joanna. The Magic School Bus — Lost in the This book gives a play by play of the mission to
Solar System. New York: Scholastic, 1990. repair the Hubble Telescope. It starts with an
Ms. Frizzle is up to her old tricks! This time her explanation of the problems with the telescope
field trip takes students on a journey through our and goes on to show the crew, their training, and
Solar System. As with all the other “Magic School the ultimate success of the mission.
Bus” titles, this delivers the facts with a generous
dose of humor. Simon, Seymour. Our Solar System.
New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1992.
Kerrod, Robin. The Solar System. This book does a wonderful job covering each
Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2000. of the planets as well as includes general
This book covers all aspects of the Solar System, information about our Solar System. The bonus to
but does a particularly nice job of explaining the this book is the beautiful, up close and personal
planets, how they rotate, and their place in the photographs of the planets.
Solar System.
Stott, Carole. Night Sky.
Lauber, Patricia. Journey to the Planets. New York: DK Publishing, 1993.
New York: Crown Publishers, 1993. Your students may just seek out this book on their
The photographs in this book are amazing! own. Its small size and limited, yet informative
There’s not a single hand-drawn image. It’s a great text, make it an easy-to-read favorite. It provides
book to use during instruction. a straightforward explanation for all the Solar
System concepts you’ll be covering in this unit of
study.

Guest Speaker Ideas

1. A local science center or planetarium employee.
2. An astronomy professor from a local college or university.
3. A parent or teacher who is an avid telescope user and night sky enthusiast.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Field Trip Ideas

1. Create your own online field trip using a few of the sites listed in this text. Require students to fill
out field trip information sheets or gather specific bits of information as they visit each site.
2. Host a night sky exploration on your school’s front lawn.
3. Visit a local science center or planetarium.

7
 GATHER GREAT RESOURCES 2
Letter to Parents

Dear Parents,

Over the next few weeks our class will be studying the Solar System. Our
topics of interest will include:

1. What is the Solar System?

2. The Sun
3. Tilted, Rotating & Revolving
4. Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth & Mars
5. Outer Planets Part 1: Jupiter & Saturn
6. Outer Planets Part 2: Uranus, Neptune & Pluto
7. The Moon
8. Our Night Sky
9. History of Astronomy
10. Space Exploration

If you have personal stories or insights to share on any of the above listed
topics, we would love to have you come in and talk to the class. We would
also appreciate any materials (books, videos, and posters) that you’d be
willing to share for the next few weeks.

Reinforcing learning at home will help your child retain the information
learned in school. Try to find time to discuss the topics, ask questions, and
stay involved with homework and projects. If possible, explore the following
web sites with your child.

Windows to the Universe

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/

The Solar System

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/solar_system_index.html

The Nine Planets

http://www.nineplanets.org/

Thank you for all your help and support.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

8
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L AR S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
S
E
T
M
Step 3
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
S
SOLARTHE LINGO
OLAR SYSTEMSPEAK T E M S O L A R S YST
SYSTEM SOLA R S Y S
SOLARSolar System Vocabulary SOLAR SYS
Understanding the meanings of key words before delving into the topic will help students grasp the
concepts later on. The pages in Step 3 provide the practice to help students retain the words and their
definitions. The worksheets are based on the following list of vocabulary words from the lessons in Step
6. Each word is also printed on the pocket chart cards located at the end of this book.

Lesson 1 Rotate Saturn

to spin or turn on an axis sixth planet from the Sun,
Asteroid Belt (Earth rotates once every 24 has numerous rings
concentrated group of hours)
rocks that revolves around Lesson 6
the Sun between the inner Seasons
planets and outer planets variations in temperature Neptune
and daylight conditions eighth planet from the Sun,
Inner Planets resulting from Earth’s tilt on covered by cloud layers
planets closest to the Sun: its axis and its orbit around
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and the Sun Pluto
Mars ninth planet from the Sun, is
Sundial the smallest planet
Outer Planets early instrument used to
planets farthest from the measure time Uranus
Sun: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, seventh planet from the
Neptune, and Pluto Year Sun, called the sideways
time it takes for Earth to planet
Solar System complete one revolution
grouping in space that around the Sun Lesson 7
revolves around the Sun and
includes planets, asteroids, Lesson 4 Craters
meteors, and comets indentations on the surface
Earth of the Moon
Orbit third planet from the Sun,
path a planet follows as it able to sustain life Moon
moves around the Sun satellite of Earth
Mercury
Revolve planet closest to the Sun Moon Phases
to circle around the Sun changes in the Moon’s
(one revolution around the Venus appearance over a month
Sun equals one year) second planet from the Sun, caused by changing
surrounded by a deadly amounts of reflected
Lesson 2 carbon dioxide atmosphere sunlight
Sun Mars Lunar Eclipse
large star that is the center fourth planet from the Sun occurs when the Moon
and closest to Earth, has a
© Learning Resources, Inc.

of our Solar System passes through Earth’s

rough crater-like surface shadow
Sunspots
storms on the Sun’s surface Solar Eclipse
Lesson 5 occurs when the Moon
Lesson 3 passes between the Sun and
Jupiter Earth
Axis fifth and largest planet from
imaginary line that runs the Sun, has a giant red spot
through the center of the
Earth, and around which the
9 Earth rotates on a slight tilt
 SPEAK THE LINGO 3
Lesson 8 Meteor Newton, Sir Isaac
streak of light that occurs famous for his studies on
Asteroids when a meteoroid enters gravity
rocky bodies smaller than Earth’s atmosphere
planets that orbit the Sun, Ptolemy
often called minor planets Meteorite realized Earth was round,
meteoroid that reaches the claimed all the other planets
Astronomer Earth without burning up in move around Earth
person who studies the sky the atmosphere
and its objects Lesson 10
Planetarium
Big Dipper building designed for the Armstrong, Neil
highly visible part of a larger study of stars and planets first man to walk on the
constellation, often used to Moon
locate the North Star Star
hot, glowing ball of gas that Friendship 7
Black Hole gives off its own light first U.S. spacecraft to orbit
space from when a star dies Earth
Lesson 9
Comet Gargarin, Yuri
large, lightweight body that Aristotle first person to circle Earth in
orbits the Sun; contains a thought Earth was the a spacecraft
head and a tail center of the Solar System
Glenn, John
Constellation Copernicus first American to circle
grouping of stars that realized the movement of Earth in a spacecraft
resembles a recognizable the stars was due to Earth’s
image or shape motion; believed Earth Space Shuttle
moved around the Sun first spaceship designed to
Galaxy be used more than once
large grouping of stars Galileo
built a telescope for Space Station
Luminous international orbiting
able to give off light, such observing the night sky
laboratory for studying our
as stars Hypatia Solar System
Meteoroid one of the first women
astronomers Sputnik 1
small pieces that break off first man-made satellite to
larger bodies like planets be placed in orbit (Russian)
and asteroids

Pocket Chart Vocabulary Activities

Using your pocket chart cards and a pocket chart, try a few of the activities listed below to
introduce and develop Solar System vocabulary words.

Begin Each Lesson Definition, Please

Begin each lesson by showing the new vocabulary Play “What’s the Definition, Please?” Place all the cards
words that apply. At the end of each lesson, review facedown in the pocket chart. Divide the students into
the words with your students. four teams. Teams take turns sending a player up to
the chart to retrieve a card to take back to his or her
group. The group then has 30 seconds to come up
What’s the Word? with a definition for the word to receive a point. If the
Divide the class into teams. Pull one vocabulary card,
© Learning Resources, Inc.

group cannot come up with the definition, the other

and give its definition without showing the face of the teams have the opportunity to answer. The first team
card. The first team to “buzz in” with the correct word to “buzz in” with the correct definition gets the point,
receives a point. Continue until all the cards have and regular play resumes with the next team going up
been revealed. to draw a card. Continue until all the terms have been
defined.
Name that Planet
Use the planet picture cards as flash cards. Challenge
students to be first to identify the planets as you flash
their pictures.
10
3 SPEAK THE LINGO
Name ______________________________

Solar System Vocabulary Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct word from your Solar System vocabulary word sheet
or pocket chart words.

1. The seasons occur as a result of Earth’s tilt on its __________________________.

2. __________________________ is usually the furthest planet from the Sun.

3. __________________________ is often called the “Red Planet.”

4. Rings are the most famous feature of the planet __________________________.

5. __________________________ created a telescope for watching the night sky

and made numerous discoveries about Jupiter.

6. A __________________________ is a grouping of stars that forms an image.

7. The __________________________ is the center of our universe.

8. __________________________ are small and large rocks that orbit the Sun.

9. Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto are referred to as the

__________________________ planets.

10. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are referred to as the

__________________________ planets.

11. Both the Moon and Mars have numerous __________________________, or

indentations, on their surface.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

11
 SPEAK THE LINGO 3
Name ______________________________

Solar System Crossword Puzzle

Fill in the crossword puzzle using these clues.

Across
1. to circle around the Sun
2. large and small pieces of rock floating in space
3. nine major bodies found in our Solar System
4. Italian astronomer who created a telescope for looking at the night sky
5. place to go to observe the stars

Down
6. called the Red Planet
7. to spin or turn on an axis
8. eighth planet from the Sun
9. planet known for its beautiful rings
10. the largest planet

6.

7.

1.

8. 2. 9.

3.

10.

5.

4.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

12
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
SY S T E M S O L A R S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
S
E
TStep 4
M
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
SOLA S
R SCENE
OLAR SYSTEM SET THE
T E M S O L A R S YST
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA S O L A R SYS
Classroom Learning Centers
Just as backdrops and costumes are important to a play, a welcoming classroom environment is
important to foster learning. The room should be fun, inviting, and interactive. With that in mind, this
section features learning center activities and bulletin board ideas to help you set up the room for a unit
on the Solar System.

1. Constellation Creation
Learning Center 4. Experiment Learning Center
Provide copies of zodiac pictures that are also This center will help you organize all the
constellations (e.g., twins, crab, scorpion, ram, experiments in this book for your students.
bull, fish, etc.). Upon visiting this center, students Be sure to have the following materials at
should choose the constellation that represents this center:
their zodiac sign and draw its stars on a piece of
cardboard. Students can then use a pushpin to • supplies for the experiments in Step 6
carefully poke holes in the cardboard where each • instructions for completing experiments
star is placed. Provide a dark place and a flashlight • experiment Science Logs
for students to shine behind the cardboard,
making the stars “shine.” Encourage students to record their results in
their journals or on the Science Logs for each
2. Research Timeline Learning Center experiment. You may also want to include
directions for other experiments you’ve come
In this center, history and science work hand across during your research.
in hand. Provide students with multiple books
containing information on the history of space
exploration and current missions.

Place long sheets of bulletin board paper as well

at the center. Then, have students work in pairs
to create a timeline of events that have played a
significant role in our understanding of the Solar
System.

3. Sun Facts Learning Center

The Sun is the center of our Solar System, so it
deserves a little extra attention. At this center,
students will conduct research for a Sun fact,
© Learning Resources, Inc.

create a fact card, and add the card to the Sun

bulletin board mentioned on page 16. Be sure to
keep books on the Sun at this center as well as
index cards.

13
 SET THE SCENE 4
Learning Centers Checklist: Teachers
Use the narrow column to the left of the activity title to record the date the student completed the activity.
In the activity columns, record a grade or symbol to reflect the level of completion. You might also use the
activity columns to jot notes about the student’s performance.

1. Constellation 2. Research 3. Sun Facts 4. Solar System

Student Creation Timeline Experiments
© Learning Resources, Inc.

14
4 SET THE SCENE
Learning Centers Checklist: Students
Photocopy this page for each student and cut it in half. Have your students use this sheet to get sign-off by
you or a peer each time they successfully complete a center. Remind students that completing more than
one center a day or repeating a center during the week is permitted.

Name ___________________________________________________________ Date

Centers

Wednesday

Thursday
Tuesday
Monday

Friday
Week
____ – ____

1. Constellation Creation

2. Research Timeline

3. Sun Facts

4. Solar System Experiments

Name ___________________________________________________________ Date

Centers
Wednesday

Thursday
Tuesday
Monday

Friday
Week
____ – ____

1. Constellation Creation

2. Research Timeline
© Learning Resources, Inc.

3. Sun Facts

4. Solar System Experiments

15
 SET THE SCENE 4
Classroom Bulletin Board
The bulletin board ideas will help you and your students set up the room. Aside from these bulletin
board ideas, you will find that posters of the planets, diagrams of the Solar System, and space flight
images will be quite useful, especially when answering questions that come up during the lessons.

What’s Out There? Bulletin Board

This bulletin board will serve as a reference point for the unit of study. Students can help add to it
as they complete each lesson about the Solar System. Each time you study an element, add it to the
board. The final board should include the Sun, each of the planets, stars, asteroids, galaxies, artificial
satellites, and rockets. As students add images to the bulletin board, have them include a small card
with information about the image.

Our Favorite Star! Bulletin Board

Use this bulletin board as an opportunity to highlight the importance of the Sun. Students will be
conducting research for “fun Sun facts” at the Sun Facts Learning Center. Encourage them to use this
board to include these facts about stars and how our Sun compares to other stars. Allow students to
create artwork or bring in various images of the Sun to include on the board as well.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

16
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L A R S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
S
E
Step 5
T
M
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
S
SOLAAR PROJECT
OLAR SYSTEMPLAN T E M S O L A R S YST
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA S O L A R SYS
Scale Model of the Solar System
Requiring students to put their knowledge and skills to work is a great way to ensure long-term retention of
content. In Step 5: Plan a Project, students have an opportunity to observe and gather information over a long
period of time and share their data. The end product is an interactive scale model of the Solar System. Students
also create an accompanying tape that gives listeners information about the model.

This project can be done individually, but it would also work well if student pairs coordinated research, recorded data,
and created the model. Be sure to follow these steps in order with your students.

1. Create Planet Models

Decide if the students will be working Note: Remind students that when using a
individually on this project or in pairs. compass to create the circles, they must set
Also choose the materials to model each the compass at half the diameter, called its
planet. If you would like to have students radius. They may want to check their work
represent a 2-dimensional model, have with a ruler.
students use construction paper. A
3-dimensional model can be quite fun and After students are done making their
interesting for students, too. In this case, models, have them label the planets using
you would want to use colored clay. You’ll adhesive labels.
also need to provide these materials for
each student or student pair:
• compass
• adhesive labels Planet Diameter Radius
• wire Mercury 1” 1
⁄2”
• Styrofoam™ or string
• ruler or measuring tape (optional) Venus 3” 1 ⁄2”
1

Earth 3” 11⁄2”
When creating a scale model, remind
Mars 11⁄2” 3
⁄4”
students that the planets should be relative
in size to one another. But, they certainly Jupiter 33 ⁄2”
1
16 ⁄4”
3

wouldn’t want to build Jupiter to size! Saturn 28 ⁄2”

1
141⁄4”
Therefore, we’ve included a few guidelines
for your students to use when building their Uranus 12” 6”
scale model of the planets and the Sun. The Neptune 11 ⁄2”
1
5 ⁄4”
3

dimensions of each planet should follow the

proportions shown in the table to the right. Pluto 1
⁄2” 1
⁄4”
© Learning Resources, Inc.

It is in inches. You’ll want to provide large

sheets of construction paper for the larger
planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and
Neptune.

17
 PLAN A PROJECT 5
Scale Model of the Solar System (continued)
In this second part of the project, students will have the opportunity to place their planets accordingly
in the Solar System and present their findings to the class. Encourage students to come back to this
project as you are covering a part of it during the lesson.

2. Place Each Planet 3. Write a Script and Rehearse

Have students use a Styrofoam™ base Have your students use their Planet
and wire to place the planets in order. Information Sheets to write a short script
You may also choose to use string to containing information about each
hang the planets from the ceiling. planet, the Sun, and our Solar System.
Remind students that the script will be
If you have the space, and would like taped and will be played as others view
to place the planets in order, the scale their Solar System model. The tape
below will help you. According to this should be lively and entertaining as well
scale, 1 mm equals 1 million km. as educational. Allow time for students to
rehearse reading their scripts.
Planet Distance from Sun
4. Record Scripts
Mercury 58 mm Help students use a tape player to record
Venus 108 mm the Solar System information in their
scripts. Remind students to listen to their
Earth 150 mm
final product and make corrections, if
Mars 228 mm necessary, before turning it in for a grade.
Jupiter 778 mm
5. Share With Others!
Saturn 1,430 mm Set aside a day for viewing the final
Uranus 2,870 mm products and listening to the tapes.
Encourage peer review and assessment.
Neptune 4,500 mm
Pluto 5,900 mm

3. Do Research
Now that students have created a Solar
System, encourage them to learn more
about each planet and the Sun. Make 10
copies of the Planet Information Sheet on
page 20 for each student or pair. Allow
plenty of time for students to research
and record information.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

18
5 PLAN A PROJECT
Name ______________________________

Weekly Project Goals

Use this checklist to help you make plans for your model, spend time researching
planet information, write a script, and tape record your information. You can record
the work done as you go along. Ask your teacher for additional copies of this checklist
if necessary.

Project Tasks & Goals

Wednesday

Thursday
Tuesday
Monday

Friday
for the week of

____ – ____

Building Model Planets

Building the Model Scale

Researching Planets

Writing a Script

Tape Recording the

Information

Other:
© Learning Resources, Inc.

19
 PLAN A PROJECT 5
Planet Information Sheet
Complete one sheet for each planet and an additional sheet for the Sun. Use these pages as you
prepare the script for your interactive scale model of the Solar System.

Planet Name: ______________________________________

Planet Position: ____________________________________

Distance from the Sun: ______________________________

Diameter: ________________________________________

Length of One Year: _________________________________

Length of One Day: _________________________________

Satellites (Moons): __________________________________

Number of Satellites: ________________________________

Name(s) of Satellites: ________________________________

Interesting Facts:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

_______________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

20
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S TE M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L A R S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
Step 6
S
E
T
M
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
YSTEM TEN R S
SOLATERRIFIC
OLAR STEACH T
LESSONS SYST
E M S O LAR
S O L A R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM S O L A R SYS
Introduction
The 10 lessons presented on the pages that follow provide a comprehensive study of the Solar System.
Work through the steps in order or pick and choose the activities that will enhance what you’re already
teaching — the choice is yours!

Each lesson contains 3 parts:

TEACH TEN TERRIFICLESSONS 6
Lesson 1: What isThe SolarSystem?
Use thispage when you intr
oduce the SolarSystemto yourstudents.
The fun facts
can
be used to draw yourstudents
intothe topic.

1. Teacher Note Page(s) They’llNeed to Know …

Our SolarSystemconsists
everythingthatorbits
of the Sun and
around it— the planets,
Inaddition
smaller
to the planets,

Systemlikeasteroids,
there are countless
bodiesthatare part of our Solar
comets,and meteors.

Provides a general overview of the lesson’s topic.

moons, comets,aster
oids,
and meteors. • Asteroidsare sometimescalled minor planets.
An asteroidbeltisa group of asteroidsthat
Scientists
have identified
nineplanets inour revolvearound the Sun between the inner
SolarSystem.Perhaps more may be discover
ed and outerplanets.
astechnologyallowsus to seefurtherinto • Comets are large frozen balls
of iceand dust.
space.The nineplanetscan be separatedinto As a comet falls
towards the Sun,a longtail

These pages include:

two groups: appears.
• Meteorsare solid piecesof rock and dustthat
• InnerPlanets(theplanetsclosestto the Sun): are lostby cometsor collidingaster
oids.
Mercury,Venus,Earth,and Mars Meteorsare alsoknown asshootingstars.
• Outerplanets (theplanetsfarthestfrom
the Sun):Jupiter
,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune,

• They’ll Need to Know ... for a general overview

and Pluto

Each of the nineplanets revolves,or cir

cles,
around the Sun inan orbit, or a path.Most
orbitsare not true cir
cles,
but are oval,or
elliptical
inshape.One orbitaround the Sun is

of the lesson’s topic

calleda revolution.

• Prove It! for points to bring up as students are

working through the experiments
• Journal Prompt to assess student learning and to
© LearningResources,Inc.

FUN • Ifa common jetwere to leaveEarth and visit

Pluto,
itwould take

FACTS!
more than 600 yearsto get there!

give students the opportunity to put the science milesaway from the Sun.
• Our planetisnearly93 million

24

concept into their own words and/or expand their

thinking beyond the topic 6 WHAT ISTHE SOLAR SYSTEM?

• Homework Idea to follow up on the concept Experiment 2: The PlanetsMove

Around the Sun

at home MATERIALS
NEEDED
• pieceof rope or
sturdy string,
6 feet(1.8m) long
• pieceof rope or
sturdy string,
10 feet(3m) long

6 • sturdy post or pole

WHAT ISTH
E SOLAR SY
Activity STEM?

2. Experiments and Activities

Try This! 1: Show
Wha
The Sol t You Know:
W ork witha partnerto completethe experimentbelow.Record yourfindings
on The Planets
Move
Around the Sun ScienceLog.
arSystem
Labelthis
drawing
Procedure: usingthe

Provides hands-on experiences designed to reinforce

words in 1._____
the W ord __________
1. W ork witha partner Bank.
.Each of you shouldtie around the poleor _______
one of the piecesof rope or string
post.Tiethe string
loosely
,so thatitturns around the poleasyou move. Tiethe longerrope
higherup on the pole.

2. The postrepresentsthe Sun.The shorterstring representsthe orbitof an innerplanet(suchas

the day’s lesson. The teaching notes page provides

Earth).
The longerstring representsthe orbitof an outerplanet.

3. Grab one string,whileyourpartnergrabsthe otherstring. Stepaway from the poleuntilyou are

pullingthe stringtaut.Beginwalkingaround the pole,keepingthe stringstaut.The person
representing an innerplanet(pulling
the shorterstring)
shouldmove ata slightly
2._____ quickerpace to
representthe stronger gravitational _____
pullof the Sun.The personrepresentingan outer
_____planet

background information for each experiment.

_______
(pullingthe longerstring)shouldmove ata normal pace.
3._____
__________
_______

4._____
__________
_______
6._____
__________
_______
5._____
__________
_______
© LearningResources,Inc.

3. Science Log
7._____
__________
_______

What Happened? 8._____

__________
_____
What moved slower Why do you__
,the innerplanetor the outerplanet?What moved faster? think
thathappened?
27

Provides a space for students to record the concepts 9._____

__________

learned and their observations from the experiments.

_______
W ord Bank:
Neptune
Venus Sun
Jupiter Pluto Earth
© Learning

Mercury Mars Saturn

Aster Uranus 10._____
oidBelt __________
29 _______
Resources,

11._____
Inc.

__________
_______

6
STEM?
E SOLAR SY
WHAT ISTH
_
__________
__________
__________
Name _____
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Sci enceLog
eriment.
Thoughtexp
Food for
vations from the
yourobser __________
onto record itshow? __________
Use thissecti what did __________
ned and
What happe __________ __________
_____
Question: __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ _____ __________
__________ _____
__________ __________
__________ _____ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
What we
did:
_____ __________ _____ __________
_____ _____
__________ __________
__________
__________ _____
__________ __________
__________
it: _____ __________ _____ _____
did
How we __________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________
_____ __________ Aroun d
_____ Planets Move
vations from The
recor d yourobser
to
on
Use thissecti iment. __________
r? __________
the Sun exper tmoves faste __________
Which plane __________ __________
Question: __________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
_____
_____ __________ _____ _____
did:
What we __________
_____ _____
__________
__________ _____ __________
_____
__________ _____
__________ __________
_____ __________
didit: __________ __________
_____
How we __________
__________ _____ __________
_____ _____ __________
__________
Inc.

__________
__________
Resources,

__________
__________
28
© Learning

21
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Overview
The following table explains the objective of each lesson as well as the experiments, activities, and
supplies needed in each lesson. Be sure to collect these supplies in advance.

Lesson Supplies

1. What is the Solar System? Experiment 1: Food for Thought: grapefruits, oranges,
Students learn about the plums, peas, peppercorns
elements that make up Experiment 2: The Planets Move Around the Sun: rope or
our Solar System and sturdy string, sturdy post or pole
how these elements Activity 1: Show What You Know: The Solar System: page
interact. 29

2. The Sun Experiment 1: Safe “Sun” Glasses: cardboard, white paper,

Students investigate pen, scissors, tape, binoculars, stool or ladder
properties of the Sun and Experiment 2: A Plant Needs Sunshine: identical potted
understand its important plants, cardboard or construction paper, scissors, tape
role in our Solar System. Activity 1: Show What You Know: the Sun: worksheet,
page 34

3. Tilted, Rotating & Experiment 1: Understanding Day, Night, and Seasons:

Revolving lamp or flashlight, globe, tape, small paper doll
Students work through Activity 1: Make a Sundial: wood board, modeling clay,
activities on seasons, pencil, triangle or carpenter’s square, magnetic compass,
day and night, and our watch or clock
calendar. Activity 2: Show What You Know: Tilted, Rotating &
Revolving: page 39

4. Inner Planets: Mercury, Experiment 1: Create Mercury’s Craters: drop cloth or

Venus, Earth & Mars newspapers, large glass bowl, flour, loose dirt or sand,
Students explore small stool or chair, marbles, rocks, small ball, small
the properties and building blocks
characteristics of Activity 1: Show What You Know: Planet Fact File:
Mercury, Venus, Earth, page 44
and Mars and compare
the planets to other
elements within the Solar
System.
5. Outer Planets Part 1: Experiment 1: Create a Jupiter Storm: large glass bowl,
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Jupiter & Saturn milk, measuring cup, eye dropper, yellow food coloring,
Students discover the red food coloring, dishwashing liquid
characteristics of Jupiter Activity 1: Show What You Know: Planet Fact File:
and Saturn and compare page 44
the planets to other
elements within the Solar
System.
22
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC
Overview (continued)

Lesson Supplies

6. Outer Planets Part 2: Experiment 1: Discover Uranus’s Rings: pencils,

Uranus, Neptune & Pluto rectangular Styrofoam™ blocks, black paint, flashlights,
Students learn the rulers
properties and Activity 1: Show What You Know: Planet Fact File:
characteristics of Uranus, page 44
Neptune, and Pluto and
compare the planets to
other elements within
the Solar System.

7. The Moon Experiment 1: Understanding the Phases of the Moon:

Students research Earth’s flashlights, golf balls or Ping-Pong balls, tennis balls or
Moon, its characteristics, softballs, aluminum foil
its phases, and its effect Experiment 2: Simulating a Solar Eclipse: lamp,
on our planet. tennis balls
Activity 1: Show What You Know: The Moon: page 57

8. Our Night Sky Experiment 1: Make a Constellation: Mini-Constellations

Students explore sheet (page 61), soup cans, black paper, pins, scissors,
information on stars, tape, flashlights, can opener
constellations, comets, Activity 1: Show What You Know: Our Night Sky:
and galaxies. page 62

9. History of Astronomy Experiment 1: Newton’s Third Law and Rockets:

Students learn about drinking straws, scissors, oblong balloons (long and
early astronomers and thin), string, fishing line, or sturdy thread, tape, butterfly
their methods, theories, clamps or paper clips
and discoveries. Activity 1: Astronomer Mini-Biography: page 67,
research materials

10. Space Exploration Experiment 1: Rockets in Space: balloons, empty juice

Students research cans, measuring tape, drinking straws, string
NASA and the history of Activity 1: Space Exploration Timeline: scissors, glue, roll
space travel. of paper, paint, markers, or crayons, research materials
© Learning Resources, Inc.

23
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Lesson 1: What is The Solar System?
Use this page when you introduce the Solar System to your students. The fun facts can
be used to draw your students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know … In addition to the planets, there are countless

smaller bodies that are part of our Solar System
Our Solar System consists of the Sun and like asteroids, comets, and meteors.
everything that orbits around it — the planets,
moons, comets, asteroids, and meteors. • Asteroids are sometimes called minor planets.
An Asteroid Belt is a group of asteroids that
Scientists have identified nine planets in our revolve around the Sun between the inner and
Solar System. Perhaps more may be discovered outer planets.
as technology allows us to see further into • Comets are large frozen balls of ice and dust.
space. The nine planets can be separated into As a comet falls towards the Sun, a long tail
two groups: appears.
• Meteoroids are solid pieces of rock and dust
• Inner Planets (the planets closest to the Sun): that are lost by comets or colliding asteroids.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
• Outer planets (the planets farthest from
the Sun): Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune,
and Pluto

Each of the nine planets revolves, or circles,

around the Sun in an orbit, or a path. Most
orbits are not true circles, but are oval, or
elliptical in shape. One orbit around the Sun is
called a revolution.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

FUN • If a common jet were to leave Earth and visit Pluto, it would take

FACTS!
more than 600 years to get there!

• Our planet is nearly 93 million miles (150 million km) away from the
Sun.

24
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC
Lesson 1: What is The Solar System? (continued)
Everything in our Solar System revolves around Experiment 2: The Planets Move Around the Sun
the Sun. Compared to all the other bodies in Teaching Notes:
our Solar System, the Sun is huge — more than With this experiment, students were able to
300,000 times larger than Earth. The Sun is the clearly visualize the orbit of the planets. They saw
heaviest, largest, and hottest body in the Solar that the inner planets have a shorter distance to
System. The entire Solar System is held together go, so they move more quickly because of the
by the gravitational pull produced by the Sun. stronger pull of the Sun’s gravity. Likewise, the
outer planets have further to go, so they move
Although the Sun is special to us, it’s actually more slowly because of their distance from the
just another star in an even much larger system Sun and its gravitational pull.
known as a galaxy. A galaxy is a large grouping of
stars that spin and revolve around a central core.
There are many different galaxies in our universe. Journal Prompt
Ours is called the Milky Way.
Write a silly sentence designed to help you
remember the order of the planets.
Prove It! Example: My very excited mother just swam
under nine porpoises.
The Food for Thought experiment on page 26
uses food items to help students understand Mercury = My
the scale and size of the various planets. Feel Venus = Very
free to substitute similar items or provide non- Earth = Excited
food alternatives of the same size. You may also Mars = Mother
decide to have children work in pairs to keep Jupiter = Just
food costs down. Saturn = Swam
Uranus = Under
The Planets Move Around the Sun experiment on Neptune = Nine
page 27 works best if the person simulating an Pluto = Porpoises
outer planet is a good bit taller than the person
representing the inner planet.

With the activity on page 29, students will have

Homework Idea
an opportunity to label the celestial bodies in the Have students go outside in the evening and stare
Solar System. up into the night sky. Encourage students to write
down their thoughts.
Experiment 1: Food for Thought Teaching Notes:
It is often difficult for students to appreciate the
actual size and volume of the planets. In this
experiment, however, students were able to
visualize the proportions of the planets within our
Solar System. After students have completed this
experiment, ask them, Which planets make up the
outer planets? Which planets make up the inner
planets? This will help reinforce the concepts
taught.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

25
 WHAT IS THE SOLAR 6
Experiment 1: Food for Thought

• 2 plums per student (Earth and Venus)

MATERIALS (Uranus and Neptune) • 1 grapefruit per

NEEDED
• 3 peppercorns per student (Jupiter)
student (Mercury, • 1 large orange per
Pluto, and Mars) student (Saturn)
• 2 peas per student

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the
Food for Thought Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Place your food items on a table.

2. Each item represents one of the nine planets. Discuss with a partner which planet is represented
by each food item.

3. Discuss with your teacher which food items represent which planets. How close were your
predictions? Place the planets in order on the table.

4. Record your observations on the Science Log.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
How many Plutos would it take to fill the Neptune? How much larger is Jupiter than Earth? What else
do you notice about how planets compare in size?

26
6 WHAT IS THE SOLAR
Experiment 2: The Planets Move
Around the Sun

MATERIALS
• piece of rope or • piece of rope or
sturdy string, sturdy string,
NEEDED 6 feet (1.8 m) long 10 feet (3 m) long
• sturdy post or pole

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on The Planets Move
Around the Sun Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Work with a partner. Each of you should tie one of the pieces of rope or string around the pole or
post. Tie the string loosely, so that it turns around the pole as you move. Tie the longer rope higher
up on the pole.

2. The post represents the Sun. The shorter string represents the orbit of an inner planet (such as
Earth). The longer string represents the orbit of an outer planet.

3. Grab one string, while your partner grabs the other string. Step away from the pole until you
are pulling the string taut. Begin walking around the pole, keeping the strings taut. The person
representing an inner planet (pulling the shorter string) should move at a slightly quicker pace to
represent the stronger gravitational pull of the Sun. The person representing an outer planet (pulling
the longer string) should move at a normal pace.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
What moved slower, the inner planet or the outer planet? What moved faster? Why do you think that
happened?
27
 WHAT IS THE SOLAR 6
Name ______________________________

Science Log

Use this section to record your observations from the Food for Thought experiment.
Question: What happened and what did it show?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What we did:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

How we did it:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Use this section to record your observations from The Planets Move Around
the Sun experiment.
Question: Which planets move faster, inner or outer planets?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What we did:

___________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

How we did it:

28
6 WHAT IS THE SOLAR
Activity 1: Show What You Know:
The Solar System
1.
Label this drawing
using the words in
the Word Bank.

2.

3.
6.
4.

5.

7.

8.

9.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Word Bank:
Neptune Sun Earth
Venus Pluto Saturn
10.
Jupiter Mars Uranus
Mercury Asteroid Belt

29
11.
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Lesson 2: The Sun
Use this page when you introduce the Sun to your students. The fun facts can be used to draw your
students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know … Experiment 1: Safe “Sun” Glasses

Teaching Notes:
The Sun is a star. It is the closest star to our Using a few simple materials, students were
planet and the largest, hottest, and brightest able to safely view the Sun without looking
object in the Solar System. The Sun has more at it. Promote classroom discussion after this
mass than all the other objects in our Solar experiment by asking students what they saw and
System. Due to this great mass, the Sun exerts a whether they saw any sunspots.
powerful gravitational pull, and this holds all the
planets (and some other celestial objects) in orbit Experiment 2: A Plant Needs Sunshine
around it. Teaching Notes:
In this experiment, students saw how important
The Sun mainly contains hydrogen gas. Atoms (or a role the Sun has in sustaining plants and other
tiny particles) of hydrogen at the Sun’s core may living things on our planet. You may want to
reach temperatures of up to 27 million degrees use this experiment to lead into a discussion on
Fahrenheit. The higher the temperature, the more photosynthesis.
quickly atoms move. Fast-moving hydrogen
atoms constantly crash into each other and form
another gas known as helium. When this happens, Journal Prompt
energy is released. This energy warms the Sun
and causes it to shine. Write about an activity you enjoy during summer,
when days are warm and sunny.
The Sun’s light and energy are essential for our
planet’s survival. Plants use energy from sunlight
to produce their own food. In turn, plants form Homework Idea
the first link in the food chain. They feed many Have students answer the question: Do you think
animals, which in turn feed other animals. artificial light is as beneficial as sunlight? Why or
why not?

Prove It!
Remind students that even though they may
find the Sun an interesting topic to study, they
should never look directly at the Sun — the bright
light could damage their eyes. You will find
instructions for safely viewing the Sun in the Safe
“Sun” Glasses experiment.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

FUN
• Sunspots are actually giant storms on the surface of the Sun. Solar
flares are sudden bursts of hot, bright gases.

FACTS! • The Sun uses up to 4 million tons of hydrogen per second, yet it
still has enough hydrogen to exist for millions of years.
• One million Earths could fit inside the Sun.

30
6 THE SUN
Experiment 1: Safe “Sun” Glasses

MATERIALS • cardboard • tape

NEEDED
• white paper • binoculars
• pen • stool or ladder
• scissors

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the
Safe “Sun” Glasses Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Place the binoculars’ eyepieces on the cardboard and draw around them. Cut out the circles you
have drawn to make two holes in the cardboard.

2. Push the binoculars’ eyepieces though the holes in the cardboard. Tape the board in place, if
needed.

3. Cover one of the large lenses (at the opposite end of the binoculars) with a piece of cardboard and
tape it in place.

4. Go outside. Tape a sheet of white paper on a wall that is receiving plenty of sunlight. This paper is
your viewing screen.

5. Stand about 3 feet (.9 m) away

from the white paper screen. Hold
the binoculars so sunlight shines
through the one exposed large lens.
Tilt and turn the binoculars until you
see sunlight on your screen. You
may need to reposition your screen
if the sunlight shows up on another
part of the wall.

6. Set the binoculars on a stool or

a ladder once you get them in
position. Closely observe the Sun’s
image on the white paper screen.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

7. Place a piece of paper on your

screen and draw what you see.

What Happened?
How did the binoculars allow you to view the Sun safely? Why do you think it is dangerous to look
31 directly at the Sun? If you saw dark spots on the screen, what do you think they were?
 THE SUN 6
Experiment 2: A Plant Needs Sunshine

MATERIALS • 2 identical potted • cardboard or

NEEDED
plants construction paper
• scissors
• tape

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the
A Plant Needs Sunshine Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Cut and tape pieces of cardboard or construction paper to cover most of the leaves on one
of the potted plants.

2. Place both plants in a sunny window, and care for them as you normally would for one full
week.

3. At the end of the week, remove the cardboard from the plant’s leaves.

4. Note your findings on your Science Log.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
How did the leaves of the two plants compare to each other? Did different amounts of sunlight hit
each plant’s leaves? How is sunlight important to a plant?
32
6 THE SUN
Name ______________________________

Science Log
Use this section to record your observations after viewing the Sun in the Safe “Sun”
Glasses experiment.

What we did: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What I saw: _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

My thoughts: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Use this section to record your observations from the A Plant Needs Sunshine
experiment.

What we did: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What happened: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Why this happened: ___________________________________________________

33
 THE SUN 6
Activity 1: Show What You Know: The Sun
Fill in the blank(s) for each sentence below. Use the Word Bank if you need help.

Word Bank:
hydrogen Gravity
star eyes
Sunspots mass
helium life
Sun
largest, hottest, and brightest

1. The ___________________ is our closest ___________________.

2. The Sun is the ___________________, ___________________, ___________________

object in the Solar System.

3. The Sun has more ___________________ than any other object in our Solar System.

4. ___________________ created by the Sun causes all the planets to orbit the Sun.

5. The Sun is made mostly of a gas called ___________________.

6. Crashing atoms form another gas known as ___________________.

7. The Sun’s light and energy make ___________________ possible on Earth.

8. ___________________ are actually giant storms on the Sun’s surface.

9. Looking directly at the Sun can cause severe damage to your ___________________.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

34
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC
Lesson 3: Tilted, Rotating & Revolving
Use this page when you introduce the concepts of Rotating and Revolving to your students. The fun
facts can be used to draw your students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know … experiences cooler temperatures, and fall and

winter seasons take place there.
Each of the nine planets moves in
two distinct ways.
Prove It!
Every planet spins, or rotates, The relationship the Sun has to Earth’s seasons
on its own axis. An axis is an may be a difficult concept to understand.
imaginary line that runs through Therefore, allow for plenty of time in completing
the center of a planet, from one the experiment and activity on the following
pole to the other. The time it pages. Promote classroom discussion of the
takes for a planet to complete experiment by asking students for their questions
one full rotation around its axis is known as a day. upon completion. You may also look to their
Wherever a planet receives light from the Sun, it is Science Logs for any additional questions that
day. Wherever a planet is not receiving light, it is need covering. The activity Make a Sundial
night. Earth spins counterclockwise once around contains instructions for creating one of the first
its axis every 24 hours, therefore this is the length instruments used for telling time. You will need
of an Earth day. Jupiter experiences the shortest to help students position the sundial so it points
day of all the planets — a little less than 10 hours. North and South. Be sure students do not move
Venus, on the other hand, rotates very slowly. their sundials as they trace shadows from them.
One day on Venus equals 243 Earth days! If the day after this activity is not expected to
be sunny, mark the spot where you placed the
Earth does not spin straight up and down on its sundial and set it there on the next sunny day.
axis. Instead, it spins at a slight tilt. Other planets Note: this sundial is not accurate after one month,
spin on a tilt, too. In fact, Uranus spins sideways! due to the fact that Earth is revolving.
Scientists believe it may have been struck by
another large object in the past. Experiment 1: Understanding Day, Night, and the
Seasons Teaching Notes:
The planets also revolve, or circle, around the In this experiment, students saw the connection
Sun. The path each planet follows around the Sun between Earth’s movement in space and natural
is called its orbit. The time required for a planet cycles such as day and night and the seasons.
to complete its orbit is called a year. The farther
a planet is located from the Sun, the longer it
takes to complete its orbit. One year on Earth Journal Prompt
measures about 365 and one-fourth days. Pluto, How would life be different for you if you lived in
the farthest planet from the Sun, takes 247 Earth Australia? Write about your favorite season.
years to complete its orbit.

As Earth revolves around the Sun, it sometimes Homework Idea

tilts toward the Sun and sometimes tilts away from Have students discuss time zones with an adult
the Sun. This is what causes seasons. For about and then write an answer to the question, How
six months, the North Pole is tilted toward the do time zones relate to the study we completed
Sun. This provides the northern region, called the today?
Northern Hemisphere, with warmer temperatures
© Learning Resources, Inc.

during spring and summer. At the same time, the

southern region, called the Southern Hemisphere,

• The Moon also has day and night periods. However, the Moon spins much more
FUN slowly than Earth, so a complete day and night is actually two weeks long!
FACTS! • The equator receives similar amounts of sunlight all year long, so it does not
experience four seasons.
• If Earth did not spin on a tilt, there would not be any seasons.
35
 TILTED, ROTATING & REVOLVING 6
Experiment 1: Understanding Day, Night, and
Seasons

MATERIALS • lamp with shade • small paper doll or

NEEDED
removed or flashlight animal
• globe • tape

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the Understanding
Day, Night, and Seasons Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Stand the lamp or flashlight on a large table.

2. Tape the paper doll to the globe on any country or your own.

3. Place the globe at least 4 feet (1.2 m) away from the light source, which represents the Sun.

4. Turn on the light source, and turn off the lights.

5. Slowly turn the globe to the left (counterclockwise) until the Earth has made one full turn.
This full rotation represents one full day. As you do this, watch the doll and note when the doll
would be asleep or awake (when night or day would occur). Also record which countries are
experiencing night when the doll’s country is experiencing day.

6. Next, hold the globe

by its base and walk
it in a circle around
the light source. Be
sure not to change
the globe’s position. It
should always tilt the
same way. Observe
how light strikes
the doll’s country
differently as Earth
circles the Sun.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
How does Earth’s rotation cause day and night? How does Earth’s revolution cause seasons? When did
the doll’s country experience summer?
36
6 TILTED, ROTATING & REVOLVING
Name ______________________________

Science Log

Use this sheet to record your observations from the Understanding Day, Night, and the
Seasons experiment.

Question: What did I learn about Earth?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What we used and what the materials represented:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What we did:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What I learned about Earth’s days and seasons:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

___________________________________________________________________

37
 TILTED, ROTATING & REVOLVING 6
Activity 1: Make a Sundial
Complete the activity below to make an ancient tool for tracking time.

• wood board, about 6 • pencil, about 7 inches

MATERIALS
inches (15.2 cm) wide x (17.8 cm) to
9 inches 8 inches (20.3 cm) long
NEEDED (22.9 cm) long
• small piece of model-
• triangle or carpenter’s
square
ing clay • magnetic compass
• watch or clock

Procedure:
1. Draw a straight line through the middle of the board and parallel to one side.

2. Place a clump of modeling clay in the middle of the line you drew.

3. Push the eraser end of the pencil into the clay, so that the pencil stands upright.

4. Using a carpenter’s square, make sure that the pencil is perpendicular to the board.

5. Put your sundial to work! Here’s how:

• Place the sundial outside in direct sunlight on a sunny morning.
• Have your teacher help you use a compass to place your sundial so it points North and South.
• Observe where the pencil makes a shadow on the sundial every hour on the hour.
• Trace the shadow on the board.
• Write the hour above the mark, and leave the sundial in position.
• Use it the next day to tell time.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

38
6 TILTED, ROTATING & REVOLVING
Name ______________________________

Activity 2: Show What You Know: Tilted,

Rotating & Revolving
Label each sentence T for true or F for false using what you know about Earth’s movement in
space.

_______1. Day and night are caused by the Earth revolving around the Sun.

_______2. A sundial is a tool used to tell time.

_______3. Earth’s tilt causes the seasons.

_______4. When the North Pole points towards the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere
experiences warmer temperatures of spring or summer.

_______5. All planets have the same length of day.

_______6. Each planet’s year is a different length.

_______7. A planet’s path around the Sun is called an orbit.

_______8. An axis is an imaginary line that runs through the center of a planet.

_______9. A day is one full rotation around a planet’s axis.

_______10. A year on Earth is 24 days long.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

39
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Lesson 4: Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth
& Mars
Use this page when you introduce the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars to your students. The
fun facts can be used to draw your students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know …

During lessons 4, 5, and 6, you will introduce students to each of the nine planets. The information will
be presented in a data file format. Share the information with your students, and enhance the lessons
with actual photos and drawings of each planet. In addition, always take time to refer to the planet on a
classroom map of the Solar System. Finally, use the Planet Fact File (page 44) to allow students to record
important data on each planet. You will need to make nine copies for each student, one for each planet.

Lesson 4 focuses on the inner planets. These planets are closest to the Sun. They are made of rock and
metals, and they are heavy and dense. The inner planets have only a thin layer of atmosphere, and they
are the warmest planets.

Statistics Mercury Venus Earth Mars

Position from Sun first second third fourth

Distance from Sun (in miles) 36 million 67 million 93 million 142 million

Diameter (in miles) 3,050 7,520 7,930 4,220

Day Length (in Earth days) 59 243 1

1.03

Year Length (in Earth days) 88 225 365 687

Number of Moons none none 1 2

• Mercury is pitted with craters. The craters were more than likely creat-
ed by meteors.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

• Mercury has virtually no atmosphere because it is so hot — tempera-

FUN tures can reach more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

FACTS!
• Venus and Earth are similar in size.
• Venus’ atmosphere is filled with deadly carbon dioxide, and its clouds
are made of sulfuric acid.
• Venus rotates on its axis in a clockwise direction (opposite from all the
other planets), so if you lived on Venus, the Sun would rise in the west
and set in the east!
• Venus is easy to spot in the night sky because it shines very brightly.
40
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS
Lesson 4: Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth
& Mars (continued)

They’ll Need to Know …

The inner planets are similar in make up. The Homework Suggestion
first experiment simulates what happens
when meteoroids hit an inner planet. NOTE: A Have students search online for great information
meteoroid that hits Earth is called a meteorite. on Mars and answer the following question: Why
See page 59 for an explanation of the difference. do scientists believe Mars is the only other planet
Be sure to explain how other inner planets may in the Solar System able to sustain life?
react the same way given the similar makeup
of the crust. You may also want to introduce
atmosphere at this time and how the inner
planets have different amounts of atmosphere
that help protect them from meteoroids. Then,
make copies of the Planet Fact File on page 44 for
each planet studied.

Experiment 1: Create Mercury’s Craters

Teaching Notes:
Mercury’s surface has many craters. The fact
that this planet doesn’t have an atmosphere, and
therefore no weather, means there’s nothing
to help wash away the craters or burn up the
meteoroids that scientists believe slammed into
the planet over and over again to create the
craters. In this experiment, students were able to
see how meteoroids can change the surface of a
planet.

Journal Prompt
Imagine life exists on Mars, and describe what that
life might be like. Would you ever want to be part
of a NASA mission to Mars? Why or why not?

• Water covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface.

• Ice covers Earth’s North Pole and South Pole.
• Earth is the only planet in the Solar System known to sustain life.
FUN • Mars is called the “Red Planet” because a layer of soft, red iron oxide

FACTS!
© Learning Resources, Inc.

covers it.
• Mars is the planet that’s most like Earth.
• Mars has the largest volcano in the Solar System.
• Mars has a series of channels on its surface. These might have been
created when it was warmer and had rivers of water. The channels
are now dry.
• There is no evidence of life on Mars.

41
 INNER PLANETS 6
Experiment 1: Create Mercury’s Craters

• drop cloth or news- • small stool or chair

MATERIALS
papers • marbles

NEEDED
• glass bowl, as large • rocks
as possible • small ball
• flour, loose dirt, or • small building blocks
sand

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the Create Mercury’s
Craters Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Spread the drop cloth or newspapers on the floor. Be sure to cover a large area.

2. Place the flour, loose dirt, or sand in the bowl. Place the bowl in the center of the drop cloth.

3. Take turns standing on a small stool or chair

and dropping the marbles, rocks, and other
objects into the bowl.

4. Take a break every once in a while, to observe

the “craters” created by the objects.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
What does the material in the bowl represent? What do the falling objects represent? How do the
shapes made by the objects compare to each other?

42
6 INNER PLANETS
Name ______________________________

Science Log

Use this sheet to record your observations from the Create Mercury’s Crater’s experi-
ment.

Question: What do scientists believe caused Mercury’s craters? __________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Materials I used: ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What I did: __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What happened: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

_______________________
_______________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Illustrate your experience:

43
 INNER PLANETS 6
Activity 1: Show What You Know:
Planet Fact File

Planet’s Name: __________________________________________________________________

Position from the Sun: ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Distance from the Sun: ___________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Diameter: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Rings?: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Day Length: ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Year Length: ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Number of Moons: ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Did You Know? __________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

____

Draw
a pic-
ture
of
the
© Learning Resources, Inc.

plan-
et.
Label
any
inter-
est-
ing
fea-
tures.
44
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS
Lesson 5: Outer Planets Part 1:
Jupiter & Saturn
Use this page when you introduce Jupiter and Saturn to your students. The fun facts can be used to
draw your students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know …

The outer planets are colder and darker than the inner planets. They are gaseous and usually contain
liquid or ice. Share the information below on Jupiter and Saturn with your students, and enhance the
lessons with actual photos and drawings of each planet. In addition, always take time to refer to the
planet on a classroom map of the Solar System.

Statistics Jupiter

Position from Sun fifth

Distance from Sun (in miles) 484 million

Diameter (in miles) 89,000

Day Length (in Earth time) 9 hrs., 53 min.

Year Length (in Earth years) 11.9

Number of Moons 16

Rings yes

• Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System and is sometimes

© Learning Resources, Inc.

called “The Giant.”

FUN • Jupiter is larger than all the other planets.

FACTS!
• The dark bands around Jupiter are called belts and the light bands
are called zones.
• The great red spot on Jupiter is actually a storm on its surface. This
storm stretches more than 25,000 miles (40,225 km)!
• In the night sky, Jupiter appears to be a very bright star that doesn’t
twinkle.

45
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Lesson 5: Outer Planets Part 1:
Jupiter & Saturn (continued)

Prove It!
Jupiter is notorious for its storms. The great Statistics Saturn
red spot that’s made Jupiter famous is actually
a huge storm. Scientists aren’t sure what
Position from Sun sixth
causes the storms, but they can churn streams
of gas that move faster than the planet is
actually rotating! Before you have students Distance from Sun (in miles) 885 million
complete the activity on the page that follows,
make sure that students know how the inner
planets differ from the outer planets. Then use Diameter (in miles) 75,000
the experiment on page 47 to have students
create a Jupiter storm. Upon completion,
Day Length (in Earth time) 10 hrs., 40 min.
photocopy the Planet Fact File on page 44 to
allow students to record important data on
Jupiter and Saturn. Year Length (in Earth years) 29.5

Experiment 1: Create a Jupiter Storm

Teaching Notes: Number of Moons 21
With this experiment, students modeled
the way that storms form on the surface of Rings yes
Jupiter. Be sure to explain to students that
Jupiter’s gaseous makeup causes its storms to
be different from storms on Earth.

Journal Prompt
Imagine telling a creature from Jupiter or
Saturn how life on Earth is different from its
planet. Write about your thoughts.

Homework Idea
Have students use art materials to create
a picture of Jupiter or Saturn. Encourage
students to share their pictures with the class.

• Saturn’s rings extend over 171,000 miles (275,139 km).

© Learning Resources, Inc.

• Saturn’s rings are made of frozen stones. These stones can be very large,
FUN sometimes as big as a car!

FACTS!
• Saturn was named after the Roman god of farming.
• It is difficult to see Saturn in the night sky. However, it can be viewed
with a telescope.
• Although Saturn’s diameter is nearly 10 times larger than Earth’s diame-
ter, it would float if placed in water and Earth would sink. This is because
Saturn is mainly made of gases while Earth is made up of rocks.

46
6 OUTER PLANETS PART 1
Experiment 1: Create a Jupiter Storm

MATERIALS
• large glass bowl • red food coloring
• milk • dishwashing liquid
NEEDED • measuring cup
• eye dropper
• yellow food coloring

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the
Create a Jupiter Storm Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Pour two cups of milk into the bowl.

2. Add two drops of red food coloring to the milk. Add two drops of yellow food coloring.

3. Spin the bowl gently. The milk should swirl around, but the colors should not mix.

4. Place one to two drops of dishwashing liquid on top of the drops of food coloring.

5. Spin the bowl gently and observe what happens.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
How is your milk/food coloring/dishwashing liquid model similar to conditions on Jupiter? What
happened when you added dishwashing liquid to your model?
47
 OUTER PLANETS PART 1 6
Name ______________________________

Science Log

Use this sheet to record your observations and work from the Create a Jupiter Storm
experiment.

Question: What are storms like on Jupiter? _________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What I did: __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What I used: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What happened: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Illustrate what happened:

© Learning Resources, Inc.

48
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS
Lesson 6: Outer Planets Part 2:
Uranus, Neptune & Pluto
Use this page when you introduce the planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto to your students. The fun
facts can be used to draw your students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know … Statistics Uranus

Share the information on these two pages with
your students, and enhance the lessons with
Position from Sun seventh
actual photos and drawings of each planet. In
addition, always take time to refer to the planet
on a classroom map of the Solar System. Distance from Sun (in miles) 783 million

Diameter (in miles) 31,764

Day Length (in Earth time) 17 hours

Year Length (in Earth years) 84

Number of Moons 15

Rings yes

• Uranus rotates differently than other planets; it seems to be on its side. Some
scientists think a meteoroid may have hit the planet and knocked it that way.
• Methane gas in Uranus’ atmosphere gives it a bluish tint.
• There are very faint gray rings surrounding Uranus. Some scientists think the
rings are made of graphite.
• Uranus is difficult to see without the aid of a telescope.
• Uranus was named after the father of Saturn, a Greek god.

FUN
• Neptune has no solid ground.
• Neptune has storms that come and go.

FACTS!
• Neptune can only be seen with a telescope.
• The winds on Neptune’s surface can reach amazingly high speeds.
• For a short period every 232 years, Neptune is the farthest planet in our Solar
System. During this time, Pluto’s unusually shaped orbit brings it in front of
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Neptune, placing it closer to the Sun. This will occur again in 2231.
• Pluto is a combination of rock and ice. It is the only outer planet that contains
rock.
• Scientists can only view Pluto with a high-powered telescope.
• Pluto was discovered in the 1930s. There may be another planet further beyond
it called Planet X!

49
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Lesson 6: Outer Planets Part 2: Uranus, Neptune
& Pluto (continued)

Prove It! Journal Prompt

The experiment on page 51 helps explain how If you could visit one of the planets studied today,
Uranus’s rings were discovered and why the rings which planet would you choose and why?
were so hard to spot. After students complete
this experiment and have a better understanding
of all of the outer planets, use the Planet Fact File Homework Idea
on page 44 to allow students to record important
data on the remaining three planets. Have students write a letter to an astronaut who
is going on a voyage to Pluto and include any
Experiment 1: Discover Uranus’s Rings questions they want answered.
Teaching Notes:
The fact that Uranus has rings is relatively new
scientific information. In 1977, Uranus passed
in front of a very bright star. As Uranus passed
the star, the light flickered. Scientists were
able to determine that Uranus’s rings caused
the flickering! In this experiment, students
reconstructed the situation that allowed scientists
to identify Uranus’s rings. Be sure to point this out
before starting the experiment.

Statistics Neptune Pluto

Position from Sun eighth ninth

Distance from Sun (in miles) 2,790 million 3,660 million

Diameter (in miles) 30,800 1,620

Day Length (in Earth time) 16 hours 6 days, 9 hrs.

Year Length (in Earth days) 165 248

Number of Moons 8 1

Rings yes no
© Learning Resources, Inc.

50
6 OUTER PLANETS PART 2
Experiment 1: Discover Uranus’s Rings

MATERIALS • rectangular block of • black paint

NEEDED
Styrofoam™, at least 5 • flashlight
inches (12.7 cm) wide x 15 • ruler
inches (38 cm) long
• 10 to 15 pencils

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the
Discover Uranus’s Rings Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Paint the Styrofoam™ with black paint.

2. Paint the pencils black.

3. Stick the pencils into the Styrofoam™ pointed side down. Create a straight row of pencils that runs
the length of the Styrofoam™ block. Make sure the pencils stand straight up. The pencils represent
Uranus’ rings.

4. Have a partner hold the flashlight approximately 3 feet (.9 m) in front of the Styrofoam™ block. Turn
on the flashlight. This represents a bright star. Turn off the lights.

5. The other partner should sit near the row of pencils, on the side opposite from the flashlight, and
watch as the flashlight moves from side to side.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
What causes the flashlight beam to flicker? How do you think this relates to how Uranus’s rings
interact with light shining from a star? How do shadows created by the rings help scientists know they
51 are present around Uranus?
 OUTER PLANETS PART 2 6
Name ______________________________

Science Log

Use this sheet to record your experience while constructing your model in the Discov-
er Uranus’s Rings experiment.

Question: Why was it so difficult for scientists to know if Uranus had rings?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Materials we used: ____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What we did: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Draw and label a sketch of your model:

© Learning Resources, Inc.

52
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS
Lesson 7: The Moon
Use this page when you introduce the Moon to your students. The fun facts can be used to draw your
students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know … Prove It!

The Moon is a satellite of the Earth — it revolves Using the information on the experiment pages
around the Earth due to gravity from Earth. The that follow, students can simulate the Moon’s
Moon does not produce its own light. Instead, it phases and a solar eclipse. Before you have
reflects light from the Sun. students conduct the second experiment, make
sure that students understand how a solar eclipse
Another interesting fact about the Moon is that occurs (i.e.,when the Moon passes between the
crashing meteoroids have created multiple Sun and Earth).
craters on its surface, which gives it a dimpled
appearance. These patterns of craters produced Experiment 1: Understanding the Phases of the
a face-like image on the Moon, giving rise to the Moon Teaching Notes:
phrase “The Man on the Moon.” The moon also In this experiment, students revolved their
has no atmosphere, and its gravity is one-sixth Moon around Earth near a light source so they
that of Earth’s gravity. As a result, a person would could see the different light patterns appear on
weigh one-sixth his or her Earth weight the Moon. This experiment will help students
if he or she was standing on the Moon. understand the phases of the Moon.

The Moon is the only other celestial body that Experiment 2: Simulating a Solar Eclipse Teaching
humans have explored in person. Apollo 11 landed Notes:
on the Moon in 1969. Neil Armstrong, an astronaut, In this experiment, students were able to model
was the first man to walk on the Moon. a solar eclipse (i.e., how the Moon can block the
Sun’s light from hitting Earth). Be sure to remind
The Moon seems to change appearance in our students that though the Moon is many times
night sky. It doesn’t actually change. Rather, smaller than the Sun, it is closer to the Earth and
the amount of sunlight reflected off the side of therefore appears larger.
the Moon that we are able to view changes as it
revolves around the Earth. The different shapes
we see are called phases. Journal Prompt
Earth always has a shadow that’s created by the Imagine being able to walk on the Moon.
Sun and on very rare occasions, the Sun and the Describe what it would be like as you moved
Earth line up when the Moon passes through the around and looked through space to see Earth.
shadow. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
passes between the Earth and the Sun. A lunar
eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through Homework Idea
Earth’s shadow. Have students go outside at night and draw the
Moon they see. Give students the Moon Phases
chart from page 57 to determine what phase it is
in. Encourage students to draw the Moon on the
same night each week and chart the phases.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

• The oldest Moon rocks may date back more than 4 billion years.
FUN • A person who weighs 100 pounds on earth would weigh only 17

FACTS! pounds on the Moon.

• Although the Moon looks about the same size as the Sun, the Moon
is actually much smaller. It only appears larger because it is much
closer to Earth.
53
 THE MOON 6
Experiment 1: Understanding the
Phases of the Moon

MATERIALS • flashlight • tennis ball or

NEEDED • golf ball or Ping-Pong
ball
softball
• aluminum foil

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the Understanding
the Phases of the Moon Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Cover the small ball with aluminum foil. This will be your Moon. The large ball will represent Earth.

2. Place your Earth and Moon on a table, about 8 inches (20.3 cm) apart.

3. Turn on the flashlight. Place it about 3 feet (.9 m) away from your Earth and Moon. In this activity,
the flashlight represents the Sun.

4. Turn off the classroom lights.

5. Slowly move the Moon around Earth. Be sure to keep the Moon at the same distance from Earth as
you take it through its orbit. Note the way the light appears on the Moon. This is similar to how the
Moon’s phases appear to you each night over a complete lunar cycle.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
Imagine being a person on Earth (the large ball) looking at the Moon (the small ball). When would you
see the most light? When would you see the least light? How does the Moon’s movement cause you to
see different amounts of light?
54
6 THE MOON
Experiment 2: Simulating a Solar Eclipse

MATERIALS • lamp with shade removed

NEEDED • tennis ball

Try This!
Use simple materials to model a solar eclipse. Then, record your findings on the Simulating a Solar
Eclipse Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Turn on the lamp.

2. Stand about 10 feet (3 m) away from the

lamp, and face it. Your body is Earth.

3. Hold the tennis ball (the Moon) at arm’s

length, toward the lamp. Try to block the
view of the lamp (the Sun) with the Moon.

4. Take this experiment a step further. Take

a quarter and go outside. Locate a large
building in the distance. Try to block out
the building with the quarter.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
Where was the Moon in your model compared to the Sun and Earth? Did the same thing happen with
the quarter?
55
 THE MOON 6
Name ______________________________

Science Log

Use this section to record your observations from the Understanding the Phases of the
Moon experiment.
What we used: _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What we did: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What happened: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Why it happened: ____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Use this section to record your observations from the Simulating a Solar Eclipse experi-
ment.
What we used: _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

What we did: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

___________________________________________________________________

What happened: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

56
6 THE MOON
Activity 1: Show What You Know: The Moon
Complete each sentence below with the word that fills in the blank. Then, use that word to fill in the
crossword puzzle.

Across
1. __________________ between Earth and the Moon keeps the Moon in its orbit around our plan-
et.
2. Changes in the Moon’s appearance are also called __________________.
3. A __________________ eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow.
4. Neil __________________ was the first man to walk on the Moon.
5. _________________________ crashing into the Moon are thought to have caused its craters.
6. The Moon reflects light from the __________________.

Down
7. A full lunar cycle lasts approximately 29 __________________.
8. A __________________ eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth.
9. The Moon’s surface has many __________________.
7.

1.

2. 8.

9.

3.

4.

5.

6.
First
Quarter
Waxing
Waxing
Gibbous
Crescent

Full New
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Moon Moon

Waning Sun
Waning
Gibbous Crescent

Third
Quarter

57
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Lesson 8: Our Night Sky
Use this page when you introduce Stars, Constellations, and other elements of our Night Sky to your
students. The fun facts can be used to draw your students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know … A large grouping of stars is called a galaxy. There

are many galaxies in our universe. Our Solar
An astronomer is a scientist who studies the System is part of the Milky Way galaxy. On a
sky and its objects. On a clear night as many as very clear night, you may be able to see a part of
5,000 stars are visible to the naked eye. Stars are the Milky Way. It appears as a shimmering band
hot, glowing balls of gas. They differ in mass, across the sky.
size, temperature, and brightness (also called
luminosity). Stars form out of clouds of gas and Other Members of the Night Sky
dust in space. After billions of years, a star may
explode or collapse in on itself. Comets
A comet’s main ingredients are ice, gas, and dust.
Stars are very luminous. This means they create According to astronomers, comets are made from
and give off their own light. The light is a material left over from when the Solar System first
byproduct of the constantly burning gases that formed. A comet orbits the Sun, just as planets
make up a star — helium and hydrogen. Heat is do. The solid part of a comet is called the nucleus.
another byproduct of this process. It is mainly solid gas, and it measures just a few
miles across. When a comet’s orbit brings it near
The Sun is our nearest star. We can feel its heat the Sun, the Sun’s heat begins to melt the frozen
and use the light it provides. Most of the other gas in the nucleus. This creates exploding jets
stars we see are very far away. A star’s distance of gas, which form a giant ball of gas and dust
from the Earth is measured in light years. A light around the nucleus. The giant ball is called the
year is equal to the distance that light travels in coma.
one year.
As the comet travels, it grows tails of gas and
A constellation is a group of stars that, when dust. These tails may be blue, yellow, or white,
mapped out and connected with lines, appear and may be as long as 60 million miles
to have a recognizable shape. Most of the (97 million km)! At times, comets can be seen
constellations were identified and named from Earth. They look like bright streaks
hundreds of years ago. Their names typically of light in the sky.
refer to the zodiac or famous Greek myths. Star
charts are a fun way to view the constellations.
The easiest star grouping to identify is the Big
Dipper, which is part of the bear constellation
Ursa Major.

• The coolest, dimmest stars are reddish. Warmer, brighter stars are
yellow or white. The hottest and brightest stars are blue-white. The Sun
© Learning Resources, Inc.

FUN
is a medium-size white star, and it is the closest star to Earth. Still, the
Sun has an average distance from Earth of about 93 million miles (150

FACTS!
million km).
• The constellation Cassiopeia is named after a queen in a Greek myth.
In the myth, she is often seen sitting on her throne with a mirror in her
hand. During most of the year, the constellation named in her honor
appears to be turned upside down. Perhaps sitting in this position is
punishment for all her bragging and self-centered behavior.
58
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS
Lesson 8: Our Night Sky (continued)

Meteoroids Prove It!

Meteoroids are solid pieces of rock and dust that
break off from comets or colliding asteroids. The The Make a Constellation experiment on page
craters on Mercury and our Moon are thought 60 will help you create a classroom observatory.
to have been caused by crashing meteoroids. Before doing this experiment, you will need to
Depending on where they are in the Solar System, gather clean, empty soup cans and cut off the
meteoroids are scientifically referred to in three ends with a can opener. Make sure there are no
different ways: rough edges around the cans.
• meteoroid — small pieces from larger bodies,
such as planets and asteroids Experiment 1: Make a Constellation
• meteor — the streak of light that occurs when a Teaching Notes:
meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere In this experiment, students created miniature
• meteorite — a meteoroid that reaches Earth versions of the machines planetariums use to
without burning up in the atmosphere show others the night sky. Encourage students
to further their investigation of constellations by
having them research their favorite and create
Asteroids another constellation can, this time by mapping
Asteroids are bodies smaller than planets that out their constellation. Students may want to
orbit the Sun. Asteroids are often called minor select their zodiac sign or a constellation that
planets. Most of the 6,000 asteroids astronomers is easy to view in your area.
have located and named are part of the Asteroid
Belt. This concentration of asteroids lies between
Mars and Jupiter and contains thousands Journal Prompt
of asteroids of different sizes and makeup.
The largest known asteroid is called Ceres. It If you discovered a new constellation, what would
measures 580 miles (933 km) across. you name it and how would it appear?

Black Holes Homework Idea

Black holes occur when older stars use up all their
Encourage students to use a field guide to identify
gases and die. They collapse inward, shrinking
stars, constellations, planets, and other objects in
until there is nothing left but a point in space.
the night sky above their home.
A black hole has a very strong gravitational pull.
Anything that comes near it can be sucked into
the hole and never be seen again!
© Learning Resources, Inc.

59
 OUR NIGHT SKY 6
Experiment 1: Make a Constellation

• Mini-Constellations • black construction

MATERIALS
sheet paper

NEEDED
• scissors • pin or sharp pencil
• soup can with ends point
removed • flashlights
• tape

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below.

Procedure:
1. Cut one constellation of your choice from the Mini-Constellations sheet.

2. Cut out a black circle that’s a little larger than the base of the soup can.

3. Tape the black circle over one end of the can.

4. Hold the constellation pattern securely against the black paper. Use a pin or a pencil point to poke
holes through each dot on the constellation pattern. In this way, you will transfer the pattern onto
the black paper.

5. Your teacher will give you a flashlight. Place the flashlight inside the open end of the can, and aim it
at a wall or the ceiling. When your teacher darkens the room, turn on your flashlight. What do you
see?
© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
What is the name of the constellation you chose? When you looked at the pinpoints of light, did the
constellation live up to its name? How did your constellation receive its name?
60
6 OUR NIGHT SKY
Mini-Constellations
Use this page for the Make a Constellation experiment.

Ursa Major Leo

Cassiopeia Orion
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Pegasus Big Dipper

(this is a star grouping that’s part of the constellation Ursa
61
Major. Can you find the Big Dipper in Ursa Major above?)
 OUR NIGHT SKY 6
Activity 1: Show What You Know:
Our Night Sky

Write a definition for each of the terms listed below.

1. asteroids: ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. astronomer: __________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Big Dipper: ___________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

4. black hole: ___________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

5. comet: ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

6. constellation: _________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

7. galaxy: ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

8. luminous: ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

9. star: ________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

62
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS
Lesson 9: History of Astronomy
Use this page when you introduce the History of Astronomy to your students. The fun facts can be
used to draw your students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know … Hypatia (370-415 AD)

Hypatia was an Egyptian math and
Spend this lesson reviewing a brief history astronomy teacher and is remembered
of astronomy. Discuss how long curious as one of the first female astronomers. In
scientists have been looking skyward. You addition to teaching math and astronomy,
may wish to photocopy this page and page Hypatia invented several tools relating to
64 for students to use as a reference. astronomy and the Earth sciences.

Aristotle (384-322 BC) Copernicus (1473-1543 AD)

Aristotle believed that Earth was the center Nicholas Copernicus was a Polish
of the universe. He also stated that Earth astronomer. He was the first scientist to
was made up of only four elements: earth, introduce a model of the Solar System that
water, air, and fire. He thought that the other centered around the Sun. He believed that all
celestial bodies such as the Sun, Moon, and the planets, including Earth, moved in orbits
stars, were made of a fifth element called around the Sun.
ether.
Tycho Brahe (1546-1601 AD)
Ptolemy (85-165 AD) Tycho Brahe was a Danish astronomer. He is best
Ptolemy was a Greek astronomer. He known for his observations of stars, comets, and
combined his ideas with those of Aristotle planets in the night sky. Tycho also built the first
and created his own model of the universe. observatory. Tycho’s records were later used by
Like Aristotle, Ptolemy also believed that Kepler to describe the orbits of planets.
Earth was the center of the universe, and all
other heavenly bodies circled it. This view
remained intact for over 1,400 years until the
time of Copernicus.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

FUN
• Galileo’s work suggested the Solar System had flaws. This idea of the
heavens’ imperfection offended the Roman Catholic Church. He was

FACTS! sentenced to house arrest for the final years of his life.

• Pluto is considered a recent discovery in astronomy. Clyde Tombaugh

discovered the distant planet in 1930.

63
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Lesson 9: History of Astronomy (continued)

Johan Kepler (1571-1630 AD) Prove It!

Johan Kepler was a German astronomer. Kepler
used Brahe’s records to show that planetary orbits Explain to students that Newton’s Third Law
are not circular, but elliptical (or shaped like an states, “For every action, there is an equal and
egg). He was able to prove this theory about opposite reaction.” Also explain to students that it
planetary motion. As a result, he helped prove is at work when two people playing football bump
that the Copernican model of the universe was into each other and they both fall to the ground.
correct. Then, have students conduct the experiment on
page 65.
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642 AD)
Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer and Experiment 1: Newton’s Third Law and Rockets
physicist. He was the first scientist to use a Teaching Notes:
telescope to study the night sky and Jupiter’s Newton’s Third Law states, “For every action,
moons. Galileo was also one of the first scientists there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Rocket
to report that there were craters on the Moon and engines work in a similar way. Students saw this
spots on the Sun. in action with this experiment. The air shot out of
the balloon in one direction, pushing the balloon
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727 AD) in the opposite direction.
Sir Isaac Newton was an English scientist and
mathematician. He was one of the most notable
scholars of his time. Newton developed several Journal Prompt
laws that help us understand the movement of
objects. As the story goes, Newton was inspired If you could meet one astronomer, who would
to create his theory of gravity after he watched an you like to meet and why?
apple fall to the ground.

Caroline Herschel (1750-1848 AD) Homework Idea

Caroline Herschel was a German astronomer. She
and her brother, William Herschel, discovered Have students write an essay describing how they
three new nebulae (clouds of space dust) think the scientists they studied today must have
and eight comets. She also wrote books on been viewed by fellow citizens of their time.
astronomy.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

64
6 HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY
Experiment 1: Newton’s Third Law and Rockets

MATERIALS
• drinking straw • string, fishing line, or
• oblong balloon (long sturdy thread,
NEEDED and thin) 6 feet (1.8 m) long
• tape
• butterfly clamp or
paper clip • scissors

Try This!
Work in groups to complete the experiment below. Then, use the Newton’s Third Law and Rockets
Science Log to record your findings.

Procedure:
1. Cut the straw in half to form two 3-inch (7.6-cm) pieces.

2. Blow up the balloon. Close the end of the balloon with the butterfly clamp or paper clip. Be sure air
does not escape.

3. Pass the thread, string, or fishing line through both pieces of the straw.

4. Ask your partner to hold one end of the string and tie the other end to a doorknob,
so that it slants downward toward your partner. You’ve just created your flight path.

5. Tape the straws to the balloon as shown.

6. Remove the clamp from the end of the balloon and

hold the balloon closed with your fingers.

7. Let your balloon go and observe what happens.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
What did your balloon represent? What gave your balloon power? Which direction did the air escape?
Which direction did the balloon move? What happened after the balloon ran out of air? How is this like
Newton’s Third Law?
65
 HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY 6
Name ______________________________

Science Log

Use this sheet to record your observations and work from the Newton’s Third Law and
Rockets experiment.

Question: How does Newton’s Third Law explain why rockets lift off? _____________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What I used: _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What I did: __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What happened: ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What I learned: _______________________________________________________

© Learning Resources, Inc.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

66
6 HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY
Activity 1: Astronomer Mini-Biography
Create a profile of your favorite astronomer. Fill in the information below. You can select someone you
have studied in this lesson or pick someone new.

Astronomer’s Name: _____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Birthplace: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Date of Birth and Death: __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Famous for the Following Studies: ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Interesting Facts Others May Not Know: ______________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

67
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 6
Lesson 10: Space Exploration
Use this page when you introduce Space Exploration to your students. The fun facts can be used to
draw your students into the topic.

They’ll Need to Know … the last 40 years. Before you present Activity 1 on
page 72, you will need to explain to students what
With a simple rocket blast, we began sending a timeline is supposed to show and gather images
astronauts into space. Since then, we have of spacecraft and astronauts in action. Check out
not been limited to viewing space from Earth. the Internet for some good images. You may also
We have moved through space, studying the want to provide students with a copy of page 69.
planets and other celestial bodies much more
closely. In fact, astronauts and space probes Experiment 1: Rockets in Space Teaching Notes:
have landed on some of them! Rocket engines have to be big to launch a
spacecraft through Earth’s atmosphere. The
There were many obstacles that had to be bigger they are, the heavier they are, and the
overcome before the first space mission could heavier they are, the more mass holding the
be a success. A few of these obstacles include spacecraft back. In this experiment, students will
overcoming Earth’s gravity, dealing with notice that their rocket model sped up when it
changes in air pressure and gravity, figuring out dropped its “back” engine. Explain to students
how astronauts can go about their daily needs that engineers have designed rockets to drop
in space, and keeping the craft as compact as their burned engines as they shoot into space.
possible, yet aerodynamic. It’s amazing, and we Some rockets have three engines in a row, called
succeeded. stages. Each new stage starts when the previous
one burns out and drops off. Most of these stages
The space program not only launches rockets, burn up when they tumble back through Earth’s
but unmanned spacecrafts, including satellites atmosphere.
and space probes. A satellite orbits Earth,
collecting and sending data to Earth for a
variety of uses: weather observation, military Journal Prompt
information, communications, navigation, and
Earth resources data. Space probes collect Write an essay explaining why you’d like to be an
information about planets, asteroids, comets, astronaut or why this job would not interest you.
and other space objects as they fly by or land
on them.
Homework Suggestion
The Space Shuttle and International Space Encourage students to go on a web hunt for
Station are two examples of launches that information about early space flight, NASA, the
allow astronauts to stay in space for extended Space Shuttle, or the International Space Station.
amounts of time to conduct research. Have them share the addresses for three of the
best sites they found with the class.
Prove It!
The experiment and activity on the pages that
follow provide an experience that explains the
basics of rocket propulsion and allows students
to create a visual reminder of the incredible gains
that have been made in space exploration over
© Learning Resources, Inc.

FUN • The closer you are to the equator when you launch a rocket, the

FACTS! more speed and power it receives. This is because Earth spins with
the most speed at 0 degrees latitude. That extra spin provides a little
boost of power during lift off.

68
6 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS
Lesson 10: Space Exploration (continued)
Here is a brief outline of space missions in the last half century. You may wish to photocopy this
information and provide it to students for reference.

1957: Russia launched Sputnik, which becomes 1984: Bruce McCandless performed a walk in
the first artificial satellite to be placed in orbit space.
around Earth.
1986: Challenger disaster brought NASA’s space
1961: Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, orbited program to a temporary stop.
Earth in Vostok 1.
1990: The Magellan space probe stopped at
1962: John Glenn became the first American Venus and spent three years taking pictures of the
astronaut to orbit Earth, circling the planet three planet for NASA.
times in Friendship 7.
1990: The Hubble Telescope was placed in orbit.
1964: Mariner space probe transmitted the first The telescope initially had problems, but a repair
pictures of Mars, marking the first time we took mission in 1993 got the telescope in working
actual photographs of another planet. order. The telescope has been sending back
incredible images since.
1965: Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov was
the first human to take a space walk outside a 1998: Construction began on the International
spacecraft. Space Station (ISS). This project is a joint research
venture between the United States and many
1969: America won the race to the Moon when other countries and will house seven astronauts
Apollo 11 landed there. Neil Armstrong was the at a time for extended periods to allow further
first man to actually walk on the Moon from this exploration of the Solar System.
mission.
2000: The first successful mission for the ISS was
1971: Russia created and launched the first space completed. One American astronaut and two
station, Salyut 1. Russian cosmonauts stayed on board this craft
from October 31, 2000 until March 18, 2001.
1975: Russian and American spacecrafts docked Two additional missions will take place shortly
together in space, allowing cosmonauts and afterward.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

astronauts to spend time together.

1981: The first of NASA’s re-useable spacecraft,

Columbia, took its first voyage.

69
 SPACE EXPLORATION 6
Experiment 1: Rockets in Space

MATERIALS • 2 balloons • 2 drinking straws

NEEDED
• empty juice can • string
• measuring tape

Try This!
Work with a partner to complete the experiment below. Record your findings on the
Rockets in Space Science Log.

Procedure:
1. Set up a string between two solid objects, like a chair and a door, and
thread two straws through it.

2. Cut the top 4 inches (10.2 cm) off a cardboard juice can. This will make
a short tube.

3. Blow up the first balloon through the tube.

4. Hold the neck of the balloon against the inside of the can with one
hand, and insert an empty second balloon into the back end of the
tube.

5. Blow up the second balloon so it wedges itself in the back end of the
tube and prevents the air from escaping out of the first balloon. Pinch
the neck of the second balloon to keep the air from escaping.

6. Hold the balloons against the two straws. Have your partner tape
one straw to the side of the front balloon, and the second straw to
the second balloon.

7. Slide the balloons to the end of the string so your “rocket” can
move forward.

8. Release the balloons.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

What Happened?
Which balloon emptied first, the front balloon or the back balloon? What happened halfway through
the “flight?” How did the rocket’s speed change?
70
6 SPACE EXPLORATION
Name ______________________________

Science Log

Use this sheet to record your observations from the Rockets in Space experiment.

Question: What helps a rocket gain speed? _________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What I did: __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What happened: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Why it happened: ____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What this illustrated: ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

71
 SPACE EXPLORATION 6
Activity 1: Space Exploration Timeline
Creating a timeline that notes significant accomplishments in space travel offers a wonderful way to
see how far we’ve come and imagine what explorations have yet to be made.

MATERIALS • scissors • paint, markers,

NEEDED
• glue or crayons
• roll of paper • research materials

Procedure:
1. A timeline shows progress and achievements over time.

2. Move into small groups, and wait for your supplies to be distributed.

3. Decide how you would like to present your space exploration information. For example, which
decade or decades would you like to show? Also consider adding photos or scale models.

4. End your timeline with questions and ideas for future missions.

5. Discuss your questions about future space travel with your classmates.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

72
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L AR S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
S
E
TStep 7
M
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
TEM SOTHE S
LAR CURRICULUM
OLAR SYSCROSS T E M S O L A R S YST
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA SOLAR SYS
Math and the Solar System
There’s no better way to enhance learning and make it relevant to students than to tie it with all areas of
the curriculum. In this step, you’ll find a few fun curriculum-extending activities you might want to try!
These pages are meant for you to photocopy, cut by activity, and distribute to your students.

This page is filled with ways you can extend the learning to Math.

1. What Would You Weigh on Mars?

It’s always fun to compare your weight on Earth to what you might weigh on other planets. The book
The Magic Schoolbus — Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole makes this comparison with each
planet the bus visits. Read this book and work with your teacher to convert your own Earth weight to
weights on other planets.

2. Chart It!
You know how long one Earth day and one Earth year measure. How about other planets’ days and
years? Do research to find out and present your data in a chart.

3. How Far from the Sun?

Work with your teacher to find out the distance of each planet from the Sun. Use these measurements
and the measurement of Earth’s diameter to calculate how many trips around the world it would take to
cover the distance between each planet and the Sun. Your teacher can help you.

4. How Large?
Create a graph showing each planet’s size. Take this a step further by comparing the size of one planet
to another planet. For example, how many Plutos might fit inside Earth?

Planet Planet’s Size Fun Planet Ratios

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto
73
 EM
YST
TEM CROSS THE CURRICULUM 7
YST Social Studies and the Solar System
STE This page is filled with ways you can extend the learning to Social Studies. Photocopy this page,
cut by activity, and distribute to students.

YST
SYS
1. Create a “Sounds From Earth” Tape
The Voyager space probes have been traveling through space and sending back information for
many years. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have both left the Solar System and are now traveling through
unknown space. Scientists attached a record with two hours of sounds, pictures, and messages from
Earth in case other life forms find the probes. Record your own “Sounds from Earth” tape for a probe
leaving today. Include important information about Earth and your community on this tape.

2. Discover Asaph Hall

Mars’ two Moons were both discovered in 1877 by the American astronomer Asaph Hall. Find out more
about his discoveries, the telescope he used, and the time that he lived. Then, write an informational
brochure about him for your classmates.

3. My Favorite Planet
Saturn is the ancient Roman god of agriculture who fled to Italy after his dethronement by Zeus as ruler
of the universe. Select your favorite planet to research and report on the significance of its name.

4. Creating a Hubble Poster

Hubble Space Telescope’s start was problematic. Astronauts were shuttled out to the Telescope while
it was orbiting 360 miles (579 km) above Earth. They actually fixed it in space! Find out more about
Hubble Space Telescope’s history and what it’s photographing now by doing research on the Internet.
Then, create an informational poster about the Telescope.

5. My Favorite Constellation
Choose your favorite constellation, such as the Big Dipper, Orion, or Leo, and read the myths
surrounding that constellation from various cultures. Then, write a myth of your own.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

74
7 CROSS THE CURRICULUM
Language Arts and the Solar System
This page is filled with ways you can extend the learning to Language Arts. Photocopy this page, cut by
activity, and distribute to students.

1. Wordiest Planet Wins!

Here’s a game to play with a group of friends. During one minute, players all write down as many
adjectives and adverbs they can think of to describe a specific planet. When the minute is up, the
writing stops. Then, players take turns reading their lists. If other players have the same word on their
lists, they must cross it off. In the end, the winner is the player who has the most words remaining on
his or her list.

2. Writing About the Solar System

Write a poem about your favorite planet. You might choose a haiku or an acrostic poem. A haiku uses
five syllables for the first line, seven syllables for the second line, and five syllables again for the third
line. Acrostic poems spell out a word when the first letter of each line is read from top to bottom.
Share your poem with the class. Here is a sample of each:

Outer Planets (Haiku Poem)

Saturn with its rings
Is marvelous in the sky
As is Jupiter

Mars (Acrostic Poem)

More that canyons
A little more than
Red sand
Simply amazing!

3. Traveling Through Space

Write a travel brochure describing a futuristic vacation to one of the planets. Be sure to describe the
terrain, climate, and other aspects of the planet.

4. Writing Science Nonfiction

Write a nonfiction article describing step-by-step how a star is formed. Or, write an instruction sheet
for locating a specific constellation. One last idea is to write a list of questions for an inhabitant of
our planet and include whether he or she would like to live on Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

75
 CROSS THE CURRICULUM 7
Reading, Art, and the Solar System
This page is filled with ways you can extend the learning to Reading and Art. Photocopy this page, cut
by activity, and distribute to students.

1. Taping a Solar System Story

With a group, create a read-along tape for younger children using The Magic School Bus — Lost in the
Solar System by Joanna Cole. Each student should choose a role to match the characters within the
book. Be sure to use an expressive voice as you read. You might even follow up with a list of questions
for your audience.

2. Night Sky Creation

Using black bulletin board paper and glow-in-the-dark paint, create a night sky for your classroom
complete with constellations!

3. Create a Planetary Creature

Find out what adaptations a life form that looks like a bird would need to survive on Mars. Then,
choose a planet that interests you and invent a creature who lives there. Draw the creature and explain
which characteristics help it survive on its planet.

4. Water Color Planets

Each of the nine planets has its own distinctive properties and appearance. Create your own visions of
the planets with watercolor paints. Hang the paintings as part of an art show with your classmates and
then invite your schoolmates to visit the classroom.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

76
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L AR S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
SStep 8
E
T
M
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
M SIN AR S
OLTECHNOLOGY
OLAR SYSTETIE T E M S O L A R S YST
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA SOLAR SYS
Two Great Projects
Technology offers wonderful opportunities for reinforcing learning of all types. In this section, you’ll
find two great projects that will allow you to take full advantage of all technology has to offer while
at the same time strengthen the knowledge gained during the unit of study. Depending on the age
group, these activities may be rather advanced. They can, however, be simplified by not using technol-
ogy or by working through the activities as a whole class. The options are limitless!

1. Create a Multimedia Presentation:

Let’s Learn About the Planets
A multimedia presentation provides a great way for planning and the actual creation of the
for students to explain the different planets. presentation. Then, plan a class “showing” of
each group’s presentation.
Divide students into groups of two or three.
Assign each group a planet. Each group should The computer tools you use will depend a
be in charge of preparing slides or cards for lot on what is made available to your school.
their particular planet. Then, all Some programs that may enhance the project
the cards or slides will be compiled into one include the word processing and desktopping
large presentation. software available on the market. Other tools
include a digital camera, scanner, and even an
Next, discuss what information should be in- audiocassette tape. Yet another way to go is to
cluded about the planet, such as size, distance create a poster board per Storyboard and use
from Earth, distance from the Sun, atmo- the posters in the presentation. The choices are
sphere, special characteristics, moons, and so limitless. However, be sure that students are
on. You should also determine whether stu- comfortable using the tools before they start.
dents should include bibliography information Also, when students present the project to the
and if so how to cite their references. class, allow them to use the computer during
the presentation to enhance it.
Give groups time to brainstorm their portion
of the presentation, and then distribute the
Storyboard worksheet on page 79. (The groups
will more than likely need multiple copies.) If
possible, allow the students to spend some
time at the computer experimenting with
design elements and searching for movies,
© Learning Resources, Inc.

photos, links or other elements they’d like to

include in their presentation. Encourage the
use of original artwork and sounds.

Distribute the Multimedia Presentation Check-

list on page 78. Allow multiple work sessions

77
 EM
YST
TEM MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION CHECKLIST 8
YST Name ____________________________________

STE Planning
YST Have I researched the topic and decided how to show it in a presentation?

SYS
Have I located outside sources (graphics, sounds, links to web sites, and movies)
to use within the presentation?
Have I developed a Storyboard?
Have I determined which tools I need to complete the task?
Has each slide or card been designed and numbered?

Content
Does my presentation clearly prove a point, explain something, or answer a
question?
Does the presentation support the content: not too silly if the subject is serious
and vice versa?
Did I include a table of contents or clear navigation?
Are all my references properly cited on a bibliography or reference card?
Did I include an “about the author(s)” card?

Design
Is it easy to work through the presentation?
Is there a good contrast between text color and background color?
Are font choices consistent? (Try to use 3 font types or fewer.)
Are the sounds, movies, and animations appropriate to the content?
Is the text free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors?
Are the graphics clear?
Is the presentation interesting?

Presentation
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Have I rehearsed the presentation?

Have I completed a “dry run” in front of others to make sure the presentation will
run smoothly?

78
8 MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION STORYBOARD
Name ______________________________

Use these boxes as you’re designing each screen for your presentation on your planet.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

© Learning Resources, Inc.

79
 TIE IN TECHNOLOGY 8
2. Create a Web Site: Frequently Asked Planet
Questions
This second project will allow you to take full advantage of all technology has to offer while at the
same time strengthen the knowledge gained during the unit of study. If your students have already
experimented or are ready to learn about web page development, creating a web page is another great
way to “show what they know.”

The next few pages explain how to create a compelling web site designed to give in-depth information
on our Solar System. They do not provide directions on how to build the actual web site. Learning
Resources, Inc. offers a wonderful book that explains how to do this. It’s called LER 2282 Technology
in the Classroom: Web Page Creation.

First, spend time viewing web sites. Discuss what makes an effective web site as well as what makes a
poor web site. (Use the checklist on page 81 as a guide here.) Introduce the topic of frequently asked
questions for your students’ web development project, and divide them into groups of two or three.

Next, discuss what you expect as far as content. It might be a good idea to have a class brainstorming
session to determine what FAQs your students should include on their web sites. You may decide that
students should answer questions about a particular planet or all of the planets together. Either way
you go, make sure the web site shows the student groups’ link by either the members’ first names
only or the planet’s name. At this time, you should also determine whether students should include
bibliography information and if so how to cite their references.

Give students time to brainstorm their web site and then distribute the Web Site Flow Chart worksheet
on page 82. If possible, allow the students to spend some time at the computer experimenting with
design elements and searching for movies, photos, links or other elements
they’d like to include as part of their web site. Encourage the use of original artwork and sounds.

Distribute the Web Design Checklist on page 81, and allow multiple work sessions for planning and
for the actual creation of the web pages. If possible, post the sites to the school server to allow other
classes within the school to view the pages. Give students ample time to view each group’s site.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

80
8 WEB DESIGN CHECKLIST
Name ______________________________

Is my site’s objective clear?

Is the subject divided with different subject matter on different pages?

Is the text easy to read?

Do all links work correctly?

Have spelling and punctuation been checked on each page?

Is navigation simple to use?

Are there links at the bottom of each page so the user can navigate back to the
top of the page, the home page, the table of contents, or related information on
the subject?

Is there a balance between graphics and text?

Are font and point size consistent?

Is the design consistent?

Do all links work correctly?

© Learning Resources, Inc.

81
 WEB SITE FLOW CHART 8
Name ______________________________
Use this flow chart to help you think through the design and structure of your web site. Provide notes
on buttons, links, design elements, and content.

Page 1 Page 2

Home Page-Title Page

Page 3 Page 5
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Page 4

82
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L AR S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
S
E
Step 9
T
M
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
S
SOLARLEARNING
OLAR SYSTEMASSESS T E M S O L A R S YST
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA SOLAR SYS
Introduction on Assessment
You’ve done your job. The content was incredible, the “hands-on” learning opportunities were abundant,
and the delivery was no doubt sublime! Now let’s see how much actual “learning” took place. There are a
number of great ways to assess student learning. We’ve included some of these methods within the next
few pages, complete with rubrics and actual assessments you can photocopy and have students take.

Tests 3. Questions I still have. This is an excellent

A well-written exam is the granddaddy of all area for you to identify what students do not
assessment tools. If you’ve included everything understand or to take the learning to the
you want the students to know, a test can be a next level. This space allows students to ask
very reliable measure. We’ve included two types any questions they still have surrounding the
of tests for this unit: 1.) a Q&A test, and 2.) a subject.
multiple choice, matching, and true/false test.
Science Logs
Rubrics Reading through a student’s Science Logs will
Rubrics allow students and teachers to record give you clear feedback on whether he or she
their perceptions and opinions. Whenever using understood the scientific concept associated
rubrics, it’s important to encourage honest with the experiment. Throughout the lessons in
reporting on the students’ part. We’ve included Step 6, we’ve included Science Logs for students
two rubrics in this section — one for the student to fill out when they conduct an experiment.
and one for the teacher. Even though you might provide students with
directions for completing each experiment, it’s
Journals important for them to write down exactly what
Requiring students to keep a journal as you study they did, what materials they used, what the
a topic serves two purposes. First, it causes the results were, and what they feel the reasons were
student to recall the information they’ve just for the outcome. If what they write is correct and
studied. Second, it helps you determine just how scientifically true, great! If not, you’ll know what
much information they took away from the lesson to review in your upcoming lessons.
and identify concepts that need
further discussion. A Note About Assessing Projects
While the project in Step 5: Plan a Project
The sample journal page included in this book provides a great way to reinforce learning, they
outlines the following areas: can be tricky to assess. Always monitor each
group’s performance. Make sure each person
1. What we studied today. This encourages is doing a fair amount of the work. If possible,
students to recap the day’s learning. include a peer assessment as part of the overall
© Learning Resources, Inc.

2. My experiences with this topic. Students use grade. Be aware that projects don’t always cover
this space to share their own experiences with a complete topic, but rather portions of a topic.
the topic, such as their own studies regarding Therefore, never base a student’s grade for
Earth or space, their thoughts on the Solar the unit of study solely on a project. We have
System, or the fact they have done the same included some sample project assessment pages
activity before in another class. If students throughout this chapter on pages 85-86 for
discuss the latter in this section, encourage Step Five: Plan a Project.
them to write about what the activity
demonstrates.
83
 EM
YST
TEM SOLAR SYSTEM JOURNAL 9
YST Name ___________________________________ Date_____________

STE
YST
What we studied today:

_____________________________________________________________

SYS _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

My experiences with this topic:

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Questions I still have:

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________
84
9 PEER ASSESSMENT RUBRIC
Student-to-Student Assessment

Expectations Actual Performance

Never Sometimes Frequently Always Points

My teammate was helpful. 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points

My teammate listened
to the ideas presented 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points
and participated in group
decisions.

My teammate contributed
a fair amount of work 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points
toward the final outcome.

My teammate accepted
criticism and redirection 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points
in a positive manner.

Other 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points

Total Points

Evaluator’s Name:_________________________________________________________________

Comments: _____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Subject’s Name: __________________________________________________________________

© Learning Resources, Inc.

Comments: _____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

85 _______________________________________________________________________________
 PRESENTATION/PROJECT RUBRIC 9
Teacher Assessment

Expectations Actual Performance & Point Assignment

Poor Okay Good Great Points

Organization 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points

Content 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points

Mechanics 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points

Design 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points

Presentation 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points

Other 1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points

Total Points

Group Members: _________________________________________________________________

Subject’s Name: __________________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Comments: _____________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Organization: ___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Content: _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Mechanics: _____________________________________________________________________

86
9 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS
Understanding the Solar System
Assessment Test
Name______________________________________________________ Date
___________________________

True or False

Read each sentence below. Write a T on the line if it is true or an F on the line if it is false.

1. A planet revolves around the Sun. ________

2. A day is the amount of time it takes a planet to orbit the Sun. ________
3. An orbit is the path a planet follows around the Sun. ________
4. Craters are indentations on the Moon’s surface. ________
5. The Sun is the largest star in our Solar System. ________

Fill in the Blank

Fill in the blank with the correct word that finishes the sentence.

6. ___________________________ is the closest planet to the Sun.

7. ___________________________ is called the “Red Planet.”
8. ___________________________ is the largest planet.
9. ___________________________ is the third planet from the Sun.

Multiple Choice

Circle the correct answer that finishes the sentence.

10. Hypatia was:

A. once a city in Rome B. the first woman astronomer
C. the astronomer who identified the Sun as the center of our Solar System

11. The first astronaut to orbit the Earth in a spacecraft was:

A. Neil Armstrong B. John Glenn C. Yuri Gargarin

12. This scientist was famous for his studies of gravity:

A. Newton B. Galileo C. Aristotle

13. Asteroids are often called:

A. meteors B. minor planets C. stars
© Learning Resources, Inc.

14. This separates the inner and outer planets:

A. comet B. Asteroid Belt C. Moon

15. This planet is often called the “Sideways Planet:”

A. Earth B. Saturn C. Uranus

16. This occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth:
A. solar eclipse B. snow C. meteor shower
87
 TEACH TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS 9
Understanding the Solar System
Q & A Assessment
Name______________________________________________________ Date
___________________________

1. In
the

space provided below, draw and label three planets in the Solar System.

2. Explain how day and night occur. ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

3. Explain how a year is determined. __________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

4. List 2 ways in which Earth is different from other planets.

a.) ___________________________________________________________________________

b.) ___________________________________________________________________________

88
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T EM
A R SY S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y ST
S Y S T E M S O L AR S Y S
S O LA R Y S T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L ST
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA
R
Y
S
S
Y
T
Step 10
S
E
T
M
E M
S O
S
L
O
A
L
R
A R
S Y
SY
STE
LAR S
OLAR SYSTEM SO CELEBRATE!
T E M S O L A R S YST
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA SOLAR SYS
Solar System Game Show
It’s been an interesting few weeks. You’ve worked hard to insure student learning. You’ve required a
lot of your students. Everyone, including you, knows a lot more today than you did a few weeks ago.
It’s time to celebrate your success! What better way to wrap up the unit than with a fun, fast-paced,
informative game show?

1. You’ll Need Questions and Answers 4. You’ll Need an Audience

Assign each student a Solar System topic. If You know all game shows have audiences to
you’ve taught each of the lessons in Step 6 of clap and cheer for the contestants. Why should
this book, it’ll be a good idea to stick with the your show be any different? We’ve included an
topics: What is the Solar System?; The Sun; invitation in this section for you to send out.
Tilted, Rotating & Revolving; Mercury, Venus, Fill it out, make multiple copies, and encourage
Earth & Mars; Jupiter & Saturn; Uranus, Neptune the students to decorate the invitations. Then,
& Pluto; The Moon; Our Night Sky; History of distribute the invitations to parents, other
Astronomy; and The Space Program. classes, school administrators, and friends.

Photocopy the Question Form on page 90. Cut 5. Show Time!

each page to separate the forms, and give each The set is ready, the contestants are prepped,
student two forms. Instruct students to write and the audience has arrived. It’s time to play!
their topic at the top of the form. Then, ask Assign one non-contestant student to keep
them to write two questions and answers that score. Remind the audience to remain silent
are related to their assigned topic. when a contestant is answering, and remind
players of the rules.
2. You’ll Need a Set and Buzzers
Your classroom bulletin board will do fine as the For simplicity, point values will remain constant:
backdrop. Make heading signs for each topic 50 points per round. Contestants choose the
assigned and staple them across the top of the topic they want when taking their turn. A form
bulletin board. will be pulled at random and the question will
be read. Contestants must “buzz” in first in order
Decide on a “buzzer.” You could use small bells, to answer. If the first contestant to buzz in is
whistles, blocks, chimes … ask the school music correct, his or her team gets to choose the next
teacher for ideas. Remember, you’ll need four topic. Each team’s members take turns playing
or five — one for each contestant. and go to the end of the line once they have
had a chance to provide information. When
3. You’ll Need Contestants all the forms have been read, point values are
Divide the class into groups of four or five. Have added up, and the team with the most points
each group pick a name for itself having to do wins.
© Learning Resources, Inc.

with the Solar System. Familiarize students with

the topics and encourage them to study hard
for the big day!

89
 EM
YST
TEM CELEBRATE! 10
YST Space Game Show Question Form
STE Topic: ______________________________________________________________

YST ___________________________________________________________________

SYS Answer: ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Question: ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Space Game Show Question Form

Topic: ______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Answer: ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Question: ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Space Game Show Question Form

Topic: ______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Answer: ____________________________________________________________
© Learning Resources, Inc.

___________________________________________________________________

Question: ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

90
10

e Sh ow
stem Gam
olar Sy
S ible unit o
n

d a n incred challenge
t e o
j u s t comple we’d like t fun!
e
c l a s s has m, and now e watch th
Our e om
S o l a r Syst a game! C
the n
a c h o ther i
e

ste m
S o l ar Sy
e
t? A Liv Show!
Wha Gam e

n?
W he w:
lo
d be
re? iste
W he
l
ss ions
e? e se
t Tim pri v a t
W ha ne o f the
f r om o
se
Choo
© Learning Resources, Inc.

91
 T E M S O L A R S Y S T E M
A R S Y S T E M S O L A R SYS
L T E M S O L AR S Y S T
S Y S T E M S O L A R S Y S
S O L A R YS T E M
A R SY S T E M S O L A R S
L A R S Y S T E M S O L S
R S Y S T E M S O L A R S Y
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA S O L A R S Y STE
S Y S T E M
OLAR SYSTEM SOLAR T E M S O L A R S YS
R S Y S
SOLAR SYSTEM SOLA SOLAR SYS
Page 11: Solar System Vocabulary Practice
1. axis 5. Galileo 9. outer
2. Pluto 6. constellation 10. inner
3. Mars 7. Sun 11. craters
4. Saturn 8. Asteroids

Page 12: Solar System Crossword Puzzle

Across 6.
1. revolve M
2. asteroids
a r
7.

3. planets
r e v o l v e
1.
4. Galileo
5. planetarium
s t
a s t e r o i dS
8. 2. 9.

N
Down
6. Mars e t a
p l a n e t s t
3.
7. rotate

J
8. Neptune
t u
10.

9. Saturn
u p l a n e t a r i um
5.
10. Jupiter

n n p
G a l i l e o i
4.

t
e
Page 29: Show What You Know: The Solar System
1. Sun 7. Jupiter
r
2. Mercury 8. Saturn
3. Venus 9. Uranus
4. Earth 10. Neptune
5. Mars 11. Pluto
6. Asteroid Belt
© Learning Resources, Inc.

Page 34: Show What You Know: The Sun

1. Sun, star 5. hydrogen
2. largest, hottest, 6. helium
and brightest 7. life
3. mass 8. Sunspots
4. Gravity 9. eyes

92
AK ANSWER KEY
Page 39: Show What You Know: Tilted,
Rotating & Revolving
1. F 6. T
2. T 7. T
3. T 8. T
7.
4. T 9. T
5. F 10. F
1.

Page 57: Show What

You Know: The Moon 2. 8.

Across 9.
1. Gravity
2. phases 3.
3. lunar
4. Armstrong 4.

5. Meteoroids
6. Sun
5.
Down
7. days
8. solar
9. craters 6.

Page 62: Show What You Know: Our

Sky Night
Page 87: Understanding the Solar Sys-
1. asteroids – rocky bodies smaller than
planets that orbit the Sun, often tem Assessment
called minor planets 1. T 10. B. the first woman
2. astronomer – person who studies the sky and 2. F astronomer
its objects 3. T 11. C. Yuri Gargarin
4. T 12. A. Newton
3. Big Dipper – highly visible part of a larger
5. T 13. B. minor planets
constellation, often used to
6. Mercury 14. B. Asteroid Belt
locate the North Star
7. Mars 15. C. Uranus
4. black hole – space created when a star dies
8. Jupiter 16. A. solar eclipse
5. comet – large, lightweight body that 9. Earth
orbits the Sun, contains a head
and a tail
6. constellation – grouping of stars that resembles
a recognizable Page 88: Understanding the Solar Sys-
image or shape
tem Q & A
7. galaxy – large grouping of stars
1. answers may vary
8. luminous – able to give off light, such as
2. one day is equal to one complete rotation
stars do
of the Earth on its axis, during which a
© Learning Resources, Inc.

9. star – hot, glowing ball of gas that point on Earth receives Sun. Night occurs
gives off light when a point of Earth is turned away from
the Sun.
3. A year is equal to one complete orbit of
Earth around the Sun.
4. The Earth sustains life and has water.
5. answers may vary
6. answers may vary

93
Venus Mercury

Jupiter Mars

Uranus Saturn

Pluto Neptune
 Aristotle Armstrong, Neil

asteroids Asteroid Belt

astronomer axis

Big Dipper black hole

 craters comet

constellation Copernicus

Friendship 7 orbit

Gargarin, Yuri Galileo

Glenn, John meteor

inner planets luminous

lunar eclipse Hypatia

meteorite meteoroid
 Newton,
galaxy
Sir Isaac

outer planets Moon phases

planetarium Ptolemy

revolve rotate
 seasons solar eclipse

Solar System Space Shuttle

star Sun

Moon Earth
Space Station Sputnik 1

sunspots sundial

year