Planet characteristics, part 1
Objectives:
Materials:
Events of Instruction:
Resources:
References:
Objectives:
- Understand that Mercury is closest to the sun and is a small, heavily cratered planet. Mercury looks like our moon. Since Pluto’s reclassification from planet to dwarf planet, Mercury is now the smallest planet in our solar system.
- Understand that Venus is second from the sun. It is similar to Earth in size and mass, and has a permanent blanket of clouds that trap so much heat that the temperatures on the surface of Venus are hot enough to melt lead.
- Understand that Earth is third from the sun. Earth’s atmosphere, the liquid water found on Earth, and its distance from the sun, among many other factors, make Earth a haven for life.
- Understand that Mars is fourth from the sun. The atmosphere on Mars is thin and there is a vast network of canyons and riverbeds on the red planet. Scientists hypothesize that Mars once supported a wet, warm Earth-like climate.
Materials:
- Exit tickets
- Colored pencils, markers, or crayons
- Overhead projector or PowerPoint slides with images of the first four planets
- Equity sticks
- Worksheet
Events of Instruction:
- Review with the class the major ideas about the planets that we have learned so far. For example, ask the class what the largest planet is, what the smallest planet is, what the order of the planets is based on their distance from the sun, what the order of the planets is based on size, what a solar system is, what a galaxy is, what a star is, and more.
- Use equity sticks to call on students at random and ensure engagement from all students. Make sure that each student gets to answer a question and show what they know. Have a sheet of paper nearby to write down which students are struggling so that extra help can be provided.
- Next, tell the class that we will be learning more about the first four planets. Ask a student what the first four planets closest to the sun are. Hand out a blank worksheet with columns that read: planet, distance from the sun, and characteristics. Tell students to fill out this worksheet as we discuss each planet.
- Show a picture of each planet, one by one, on the overhead projector. Ask students what they notice about the planet. Call on students at random.
- Write the objectives for each planet one by one on the board:
- Mercury: closest to the sun and is a small, heavily cratered planet. Mercury looks like our moon. Since Pluto’s reclassification from planet to dwarf planet, Mercury is now the smallest planet in our solar system.
- Venus: second from the sun. It is similar to Earth in size and mass, and has a permanent blanket of clouds that trap so much heat that the temperatures on the surface of Venus are hot enough to melt lead.
- Earth: third from the sun. Earth’s atmosphere, the liquid water found on Earth, and its distance from the sun, among many other factors, make Earth a haven for life.
- Mars: is fourth from the sun. The atmosphere on Mars is thin and there is a vast network of canyons and riverbeds on the red planet. Scientists hypothesize that Mars once supported a wet, warm Earth-like climate.
- Tell the students that they need to fill in their worksheet with these key concepts as we go along. Make your own chart on the board so that students understand what to fill in.
- Assessment: After this activity, hand out exit tickets. Students will write, on the front of the exit ticket, the two most important things they learned today, and to draw a picture to show this as well. On the back of the exit ticket, students will write one question they have about what they learned today. This activity will serve as the summative assessment.
Resources:
- Worksheet: http://www.neok12.com/quiz/SOLSYS01.htm
- Sample exit ticket: http://www.clker.com/cliparts/m/L/t/P/r/j/larger-exit-ticket.svg
References:
- http://www.neok12.com/quiz/SOLSYS01.htm
- http://www.clker.com/cliparts/m/L/t/P/r/j/larger-exit-ticket.svg