Solar System

Class PowerPoint: Inner vs Outer Planets

SCHEDULE:

DAY 1: Research ASSIGNED planet

DAY 2: Any final research, Create Project (RUBRIC)

DAY 3: Present Planet Project in Gallery Walk Format

Projects available for your planet:

  1. Poster board with information, pictures and labels.
  2. Diorama with visual representation of your planet. You must have index cards with your research information for this project.
  3. Power point presentation. Your slides must include all the information you researched including pictures to help the class know about your planet.
  4. A model. You may do a model of your planet but again must have index cards with your research information for this project.
  5. Brochure. You are about to become an interstellar travel agent! As part of your job you must create an exciting travel brochure that will entice your clients to travel to the planets.

-Remember that you will need to use several websites to find all of the information.

-You may not use search engines such as google, yahoo, bing, or ask.com to do your research for you. Think for yourself! Do your own research!

-You may use the resources below

General Planet Information:

1. How many planets? 8

2. Definition of planet? a celestial body must meet the following criteria in order to qualify as a planet:

- A planet must be round.

- A planet must orbit a star

- A planet must have “cleared the neighborhood" of its orbit.

3. Why is Pluto no longer a planet?

According to new rules adopted by the International Astronomical Union This means that as a planet travels, its gravity sweeps and clears the space around it of other objects. Some of the objects may crash into the planet, others may become moons. Pluto follows the first two rules: It is round, and it orbits the sun. It does not, however, follow the third rule. It has not yet cleared the neighborhood of its orbit in space. Because it does not follow this rule, Pluto is no longer considered a planet.

Earth

Rotation: 24 hours

Orbital period: 365 Days

Diameter: 7,917.5 mi

Gravity: 9.8 m/s²

- Density 5.5 g/m3

Adapted from Ms. Hardt's Science Page and Ms. A Science Page

Complete Gallery Walk of the seven planets (We will NOT cover Earth). While at each planet, complete Solar System Worksheet.


HOMEWORK:

Complete Summarizing Central Ideas worksheet in your science notebook.

Topic: Our Solar System

Central Idea: Inner Planets

Supporting Details and Ideas: Describe how the INNER planets are similar to one another (At least 5)

Central Idea: Outer Planets

Supporting Details and Ideas: Describe how the OUTER planets are similar to one another (At least 5)

Write a five sentence paragraph with a claim about the planets, 3 supporting ideas and a concluding statement.


Just for Fun!

Interactives

Space Games