ELEMENTARY SCIENCE PROGRAM MATH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION A Collection of Learning Experiences SOLAR SYSTEM Solar System Student Activity Book Name This learning experience activity book is yours to keep. Please put your name on it now. This activity book should contain your observations of and results from your experiments. When performing experiments, ask your teacher for any additional materials you may need.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Activity Sheet for L.E. #2 - Our Star: The Sun...2-6 Activity Sheet for L.E. #3 - Research the Planets & Moon...7 Activity Sheet for L.E. #4 - Size of the Planets...8-10 Activity Sheet for L.E. #5 - Distance Between Planets...11 Activity Sheet for L.E. #6 - Your Age on Other Planets...12-13 Activity Sheet for L.E. #7 - Weight on the Sun, Moon, and Planets...14-16 Activity Sheet for L.E. #8 - The Moon...17 Activity Sheet for L.E. #9 - Moon Phases...18-22 Activity Sheet for L.E. #11- Planetary Profile...23-25 Activity Sheet for L.E. #12 - Meteoroids, Meteors, and Meteorites...26-29 Activity Sheet for L.E. #13 - Comets...30-31 Solar System Student Assessment...32-35 Student Self Assessment...36 Glossary...37-42 1
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #2 Name OUR STAR THE SUN Cut out the circle pattern and the triangle pattern below. 1. Cut the circle along line A. 3. Slide the triangle, along line C, into the slit in the circle. The vertical edge of the triangle should be closest to the edge of the circle. 2. Fold the triangle along line C. Then unfold it and cut along line B Cut a strip of paper 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide and long enough to wrap around your wrist. Glue the circle to the center of the band. shadow 4. Fold flap 1 to one side of the slit and flap 2 to the other side. Tape these flaps to the circle. Use scissors to trim away any pieces of the flaps or tape that stick out from the circle. 2
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #2 page 2 Create a model of the sun using by following the directions below. 1. Cut out the series of circles on pages 3 and 4 of these activity sheets. 2. Trace the circles on construction paper of the appropriate color and cut them out. (white) (red) (orange & yellow) 3. Paste the orange circle inside the drawn circle on page 5 of these activity sheets. Then paste the red circle on the orange circle and the white circle on the red circle. (white) (red) (orange) 4. Cut the yellow circle in half and tape one half of it over one side of the sun s interior. 3
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #2 page 3 (white) (red) 4
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #2 page 4 (orange & yellow) 5
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #2 page 5 5. Paste the pieces of your model sun in the circle below. 6. Label each part of the Sun. Write a sentence describing the importance of each of the Sun s layers. 6
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #3 Name RESEARCH THE PLANETS & MOON Use various sources (references books, internet, videos) to research a planet or the Earth s moon. Your research will be used in later learning experiences in this unit. Name of Planet: 1. Diameter of planet (km) 2. Distance from the sun (millions of kilometers) 3. Length of year (revolution around the sun) 4. Length of day (rotation) 5. Rings? 6. Number of moons 7
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #4 Name SIZE OF THE PLANETS Your teacher has blown up a yellow balloon to 14 cm in diameter. This balloon is a model of the sun, the Earth s local star. The real sun is 10 billion times (10,000,000,000) the size of the balloon. In the box below, draw a circle that you believe represents the model Earth, if the balloon is the model sun. Which planet in our solar system do you think is the biggest? Which circle do you think represents the largest planet, if the balloon is the model sun? 8
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #4 Page 2 Match the size of the materials given to you by your teacher to the size of the planets on the boxes below. Tape the materials to the correct circles in each box. Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto What are the three smallest planets? What are the four largest planets? These are called the gas giants. 9
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #4 Page 3 Write the names of the planets in order from the sun. 10
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #5 Name DISTANCE BETWEEN PLANETS Model Distance Chart Walking from: Double paces (or meters) between planets in solar system model Total distance from model sun to each planet: Sun to Mercury Mercury to Venus Venus to Earth Earth to Mars Mars to Jupiter Jupiter to Saturn Saturn to Uranus Uranus to Neptune Neptune to Pluto Key: 1 meter = 10 billion meters in real solar system or every double pace in the model = 10 billion steps in the real solar system. Remember: The planets never actually all line up to one side of the sun. They orbit the sun on different paths and different speeds. Some planets orbit in different places. 11
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #6 Name YOUR AGE ON OTHER PLANETS My age = years old. x 365 = Earth days. (your age) 1. Predict on which planet you would have the youngest age? 2. Predict on which planet you would have the oldest age? 3. Explain your predictions: In the chart below, find your new age on each planet. For the inner or terrestial planets, divide your age in Earth days by the number of Earth days in each planet s year. The answer is your new age. Inner (Terrestial) planet Mercury Venus Earth Mars Your age in Earth days Approximate length of year 88 Earth days 225 Earth days 365 Earth days 687 Earth days Your new age For the outer planets, find the number of Earth days in each planet s year. Outer planet Length of year Number of days in Earth year Jupiter 12 Earth years X 365 Saturn 29.5 Earth years X 365 Uranus 84 Earth years X 365 Neptune 165 Earth years X 365 Pluto 248 Earth years X 365 Earth days in length of year 12
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #6 Page 2 Divide your age in days by the number of Earth days in that planet s year. The answer is your new age. Outer Planet Your age in Earth days Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Earth days in length of year (previous chart) Your new age Were your predictions accurate? Explain. 13
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #7 Name WEIGHT ON THE SUN, MOON, AND THE PLANETS 1. My weight on Earth is. 2. Look at the surface gravity of the sun, moon, and the planets. Compare that surface gravity to that of the Earth s (Earth s surface gravity = 1). Place an X in the middle column if the surface gravity is greater to that of the Earth. Planet Surface Gravity Greater surface gravity than that on Earth Moon.16 Mercury.39 Venus.91 Mars.38 Jupiter 2.60 Saturn 1.07 Uranus.90 Neptune 1.15 Pluto.03 Sun 28 Predicted weight 3. In the last column, predict what your weight would be on the sun, moon, and the planets. (Hint: The pull of gravity is what gives us weight.) 4. On which planetary body or bodies do you predict you would weigh less than you do on Earth? On which planetary body or bodies do you predict you would weigh more than you do on Earth? Explain your predictions. 14
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #7 Page 2 5. Find your actual weight on the sun, moon, and the planets. Multiply your weight by the surface gravity of the sun, moon, and planets. Round your answer to the nearest whole number. Planetary Body Moon Weight on Earth X Surface Gravity = Weight on that planetary body Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Sun Were your predictions correct? Explain. 15
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #7 Page 3 Use the data on page 2 of your activity sheet to create a graph of your weight on the various planetary bodies. Weight on Different Planetary Bodies Weight (in pounds) 300 290 280 270 260 250 240 230 220 210 200 190 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Moon Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Sun Planetary Bodies 16
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #8 Name THE MOON 1. Diameter of Earth in kilometers is: 2. Diameter of moon in kilometers is: 3. What percentage of Earth s diameter is the moon s diameter? 4. Make a prediction. Pretend the Earth was the size of the globe (23 cm). To what diameter would you blow up a balloon to show what the size of the moon would be if the Earth was this size. Explain why you made this prediction. 5. Find the percentage difference of each balloon size prediction. Which prediction comes closest to the percentage difference of.27249? Diameter in centimeters Diameter of the globe Percentage difference 6. Compare what you observed with the spinning bobber and the orbit of the moon around the Earth. The center-directed force (like gravity) that causes an object to follow a circular path is called a centripetal force. 17 17
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #9 Name MOON PHASES Cut out the pictures below and place them in the correct order on page 2 of your activity sheet. 18
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #9 Page 2 Paste the moon phases in the correct location on the diagram below. Name each phase of the moon on the lines below each picture. EARTH SUN 19
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #9 Page 3 Find the moon in the sky. Record the date and time. Shade the circle to show what the moon looks like in the sky. Moon phases for the month of SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 20
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #9 Page 4 21
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #9 Page 5 2003 Apr 3 May 3 Jun 1 Jul 1 Jul 30 Aug 29 Sep 27 Oct 27 Nov 26 Dec 26 Jan 24 Feb 23 2 22
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #11 Name PLANETARY PROFILE Follow the directions below to create your book. 1. Fold your two pieces of paper as shown in the pictures below. Fold Fold Fold Fold 3 cm 3 cm 2. Add glue to the inside of your 3 cm. fold pieces of paper. Fold Fold Fold Fold Add glue here Add glue here 3 cm 3 cm 323
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #11 Page 2 3. Attach the two pieces of paper together. See picture below. 3 cm Fold Glue Glue 3. Your paper should look like this: 3 cm 3 cm 3 cm 4 24
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #11 Page 3 If you flatten the box and make one last fold to the right, you have created your book. 3 cm 3 cm Fold Fold to the right 5 25
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #12 Name METEOROIDS, METEORS, & METEORITES Follow the directions below to create a layered book. 1. Stack three sheets of paper 21.5 X 27.5 cm (8 ½ x 11 ) and place each back sheet 2.5 cm higher than the front sheet. 2.5 cm 2.5 cm 2. Bring the bottom of all three sheets upward and align the edges so that all the layers or tabs are the same distance apart. Fold 6 26
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #12 Page 2 3. When all tabs are equal distance apart, fold the paper and crease well. Fold 4. Glue the papers along the center fold. 5. Label the flap on the bottom as Earth. Earth 6. Label each of the other flaps with the names of the layers of atmosphere above the Earth. EXOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE MESOSPHERE STRATOSPHERE TROPOSPHERE Earth 727
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #12 Page 3 Create top and profile drawings of the craters made in the sand. Label the parts of the crater you observe and their measurements. Top Profile Crater made with. Mass Height dropped Top Profile Crater made with. Mass Height dropped 288
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #12 Page 4 Top Profile Crater made with. Mass Height dropped How does the crater change if you change the height of impact? How does the crater change if you change the angle of impact? 929
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #13 Name COMETS Label the parts of a comet. Coma Nucleus Gas tail Dust tail Corona Word Bank 10 30
Activity Sheet for Learning Experience #13 Page 2 Look at the picture below of the orbit of Halley s comet. Write what you have learned about Halley s comet s orbit from the picture. 1. 2. 3. In the picture above, draw what you think Halley s comet looked like as it orbited the sun. 11 31
Name: Solar System Student Assessment Date: Directions: Read the question carefully and answer based on your knowledge about solar system. Circle the correct answer. Use this picture to answer the first three questions. 1.) The Earth s spinning around its axis as shown in the drawing above is called: 1. revolution 2. revelation 3. phases 4. rotation 2.) How long does it take the Earth to spin around one time? 1. 365 1/4 days 2. 28 hours 3. 24 hours 4. 28 days 3.) Which of the following statements is true: 1. The Earth is one of the outer planets 2. The sun travels around the Earth 3. The Earth makes one revolution every 24 hours 4. The Earth is one of the inner planets 4.) Which of the following is in correct size from largest to smallest. 1. Sun - Earth - Mars - Jupiter 2. Sun - Mars - Earth - Jupiter 3. Sun - Jupiter - Mars - Earth 4. Sun - Jupiter - Earth - Mars 5.) What makes it possible for us to see the moon? 1. The Earth s light reflects off the moon 2. The Sun s light reflects off of the Earth 3. The Sun s light reflects off of the moon 4. The moon shines during the day 6.) Which of the following moon phases is called the full moon? 1 2 3 4 7.) Why can t you see the new moon? 1. The Sun s light is hitting the other side 2. The Earth s is having night time and its dark 3. The moon is hiding behind the sun 4. The Earth shadow is on the sun 12 32
Solar Systems Assessment Page 2 8.) What can t we see during a lunar eclipse? 1. The moon 2. The sun 3. The Earth 4. The moon and the sun 9.) Below are the 4 phases of the moon. Draw each of them in the correct order as they actually happen. Use the drawing below to answer the following 2 questions. A SUN B 10.) How long does it take the Earth to go from point A back around to point A again? 11.) What season is it when the sun is closest to the Earth? Use the Drawing below to answer the next 2 questions. Sun s Rays 12.) Who is having summer, North America or South America? 13.) Who is having the shortest amount of daylight, North or South America? 13 33
Solar System Assessment Page 3 14.) Which planet has the greatest pull because of gravity? 15.) Your weight comes from your mass and gravity s pull. On which planet would you weigh the least? Use the drawing below to answer the next 2 questions (16-17) 16.) Place an X where the sun belongs in the picture below. A. Earth B. 17.) Which phase of the moon do we see at letter B? Use the following chart to answer the next 3 questions (18-20) Planet Diameter of the planet (km) Distance from the sun (millions of km) Length of 1 revolution around the sun Mercury 4,900 57.9 88 days Earth 12,100 149.6 365 days Jupiter 143,200 778.3 11.9 years Mars 6,800 227.9 687 days 18.) Which planet has the longest time of revolution around the sun? 19.) What is a revolution? 20.) Which planet would likely be the coldest? Explain your answer. 21.) Which layer of the Earth s atmosphere breaks up meteors before they fall to Earth s surface? 1. Stratosphere 2. Mesosphere 3. Thermosphere 4. Exosphere 22.) Which of the following has entered the Earth s atmosphere and started to burn and glow from friction? 1. Meteoroid 2. Meteorite 3. Meteor 4. Meter 14 34
Solar System Assessment Page 4 23.) What is the center of the sun called? 1. Photosphere 2. Chromosphere 3. Corona 4. Core 24.) Which of the following is a true statement about a comet? 1. As it gets closer to the sun it gets hotter and slows down 2. As it gets closer to the sun it gets hotter and speeds up 3. As it gets closer to the sun it gets cooler and speeds up 4. As it gets closer to the sun it gets cooler and slows down 25.) Think about how the size of a crater depends on the height of the impact. Write one complete sentence that explains how the size of the impact affects the size of a crater. 15 35
SOLAR SYSTEM STUDENT SELF-ASSESSMENT Name: Date: 1. What do you now know about the gravity and role it plays in our solar system? 2. What do you know about the difference between the moon phases and eclipses? 3. How do you think you and your partner(s) worked together? Give some examples. 4. What learning experiences did you enjoy? Explain why did you liked them. 5. Were there any learning experiences in the unit you didn t understand or that confused you? Explain your answer. 6. Take another look at your activity sheets and science notebook. Describe how well you think you recorded your observations and ideas. 1636
GLOSSARY Asteroid: Atmosphere: Axis: Central uplift: Centrifugal force: Centripetal force: Chromosphere: Comet: Coma: Compare: Constellation: Contrast: Convection zone: Core: Corona: a rocky body orbiting the sun. Most asteroids orbit between Mars and Jupiter. mixture of gases that surround a planet. the line about which a rotating body turns. mountains formed in the crater because of the large increase and rapids decrease in pressure during the impact event. They occur in the center of the craters that are larger than 40 km in diameter. the force repelling a body away from the axis around which distance through a sphere measured through the center of the sphere. a force attracting a body toward the axis around which it rotates. the gaseous surroundings of a star. small, icy solar system bodies with highly elliptical orbits around the sun. the bright large atmosphere that surrounds the nucleus of a comet. to examine for similarities and differences. a pattern of stars in the sky named for a person, animal, or object. Astronomers use constellations to decipher directions in space. to compare to show differences. the layer on the sun where the heat from the core is transferred by the circulation of the heated parts to the surface. the central layer of the sun. a white or colored circle. 17 37
Crater: Diameter: Distance: Double pace: Dust tail: Eclipse: Ejecta: Equinox: Exploration: First Quarter Moon: Floor: Force: Full Moon: Galaxy: Gas: a hole or depression that is often circular or oval in outline. the distance across and through its center. The distance through a sphere measured through the center of the sphere. the extent of space between two points. two steps forward. tail of a comet composed of dust blown from the comet as it nears the sun. This dust shines by reflecting sunlight. blocking all or part of the light from one object by another. blanket of material surrounding the crater that was out from and deposited during impact event. Ejecta becomes thinner away from the crater. either of the two instances when the sun is directly over the Earth s equator (March 21 vernal equinox, September 21 Autumnal Equinox). The length of day and night at the time of the equinoxes are nearly equal all over the world. to traverse through a region for the purpose of discovery. the phase of the moon when the right half of the moon appears lighted and the left side of the moon appears dark. bowl shaped or flat portion of the crater characteristically blows the surrounding ground level unless filled with lava. an influence on a body or system that produces a change in movement or shape. the phase of the moon when the full lighted side of the moon faces the Earth. The Earth, sun, and moon are nearly in straight line in this phase. a large number of stars and vast amounts of gas held together by their gravity. the state of matter that has no definite shape and takes up no definite amount of space, must be moving to be felt, and takes the size and shape of its container. 18 38
Gas tail: Geological: Gravity: Inner planet: Impact: Last Quarter Moon: Liquid: Lunar: Lunar cycle: Mass: Meteor: Meteoroid: Meteroite: Meter: Model: the material streaming off a comet composed of ions blown straight behind the comet by the solar system. the features and processes occurring in a region on Earth or a celestial body. the force of attraction. planets in our solar system that are rocky, smaller in size, and closer to the sun. (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) the forceful striking of one body (meteorite), against another body, like a moon or planet. the phase of the moon when the left half of the moon appears lighted and the right side appears darks. the state of matter that has no definitely shape, but takes up a definite amount of space, feels wet, and takes the shape of its container. pertaining to the moon. revolution of the moon around the Earth. This revolution results in phases that occur every 28 days, from new moon to new moon the amount of matter in an object, measured in grams. the meteoroid entering the Earth s atmosphere, which starts to burn and glow from the friction. the rocky/metallic objects found in the asteroid belt that may enter our atmosphere. pieces of a meteor that survives through a planetary body s atmosphere and makes an impact. fundamental unit of length in the metric system. representation of something really large or small at a size we can explore. It has specific characteristics of the real object(s). Moon: a small body that orbits the planet. 19 39
New Moon: Nucleus: Orbit: Outer planet: Photosphere: Planet: Planetary body: Phases: Prenumbra: Profile: Radiation zone: Raised rim: Rays: Research: Revolution: Rotation: the phases of the moon when the moon is on the same side of the Earth as the sun is and we see only the part of the moon that is in shadow. the core of a comet usually consisting of various ices and dust. Just a few kilometers across the nucleus it can be composed of water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. a curved path that a celestial body takes around another. gaseous planets that include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto the surface of the sun. a major object that orbits around a star. any large, heavenly body revolving around the sun and shining by reflected light. one of the appearances or states of the moon, its illumination. the partial shadows surrounding the complete shadow of an opaque body during an eclipse. an outline of an object. the energy from the core of the sun passes through this layer. Energy is transformed into X-rays, ultraviolet light, and visible light. rock thrown out of the crater and deposited as a ring of debris at the crater s edge during the explosion and excavation of an impact event. bright streaks that blasted out and extending away for great distances from an impact crater. inquiry into a subject in order to discover or check facts. movement in a circular path or orbit. turn on an axis or centerpoint. 20 40
Shadow: Solar: Solar flares: Solar system: Solid: Solstice: Sphere: Star: Strategy: Sublimation: Sun: Sunspots: Temperature: Umbra: Walls: Waning: a dark image cast on a surface by a body incepting light. pertaining to the sun. plumes of energy released by the sun that send atomic particles, X-rays, and other energy outward into the universe. the sun and the group of celestial bodies the state of matter that has a definite shape and takes up definite space. either of the two instances during the year when the sun as seen from Earth is farther and north or south of the equator. Summer Solstice (June 21 st ) find the sun over the Tropic of Cancer and in the Winter Solstice (December 21 st ) the sun is over the Tropic of Capricorn. a round body such as a ball, globe, or planet. a large hot ball of gas that generates energy from its core by nuclear reactions. a detailed plan for reaching a goal. the process of a solid changing into a gas. the star that is the central body of the solar system around which the Earth and other planets revolve and from which they receive light. cool spots on the surface of the sun that appear as dark spots. the measure of warmth or coldness of an object. the central portion of the shadow of a celestial body where the light from the source of illumination is completely cut off. steep sides of the crater. Some may have great stairs called terraces. decreasing of illumination. 21 41
Waning crescent: Waning gibbous: Waxing: Waxing crescent: Waxing gibbous: Weight: Year: the phase of the moon that occurs after the Last Quarter, Moon and before the New Moon. the phase of the moon that occurs after the Full Moon, but before the Last Quarter Moon. increasing of illumination. the phase of the moon that occurs after the Full Moon and before the First Quarter Moon the phase of the moon that occurs after the First Quarter Moon but before the Full Moon. the measure of gravitational pull on an object. the period of time, 365 ¼ days, in which the Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun. 22 42