solar system scale (90 minutes) - siemens stem day

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In this activity, students will explore the vast distances between the planets in our Solar System and also compare the size of our sun to the planets and our moon. The students will use small household or edible objects and compare them to the sizes of the Solar System bodies. Ultimately the students will walk the Solar System, placing the sun, then planets in order as they walk outward toward Pluto, our dwarf planet. Then in small groups the students will create posters depicting a new planet in our Solar System and where in orbit it would travel.

Topic: Building a scale model of our Solar System

We will complete two activities. One to compare the size of the objects in our Solar System, and one to compare the distances between the objects in or Solar System. The latter will be done outside if possible.

Real-World Science Topics:

• An exploration of the size of the planets in relation to each other and our sun and moon.

• An exploration of the distances between objects in our Solar System.

ObjectiveStudents will gain an understanding of the comparative size of the objects in our Solar System and the great distances between them.

Materials Needed for Student Activity

Part 1: Planet comparison activity:

• chart paper

• marker

• 1 can of white frosting

• 1 small container of sprinkles

• 1 bag candy coated chocolate pieces

• 1 bag small marshmallows (marble sized)

• apples, 1 for every student

• tangerines or small oranges, 1 for every student

• grapes or cherries

• 1 plate per student.

• construction paper, 1 sheet per student

Part 2: Planet distance activity:

• 1 set of Solar System posters that are labeled with each planet’s name

• 1 yellow balloon

• colored pencils or crayons for each student

• 9 stakes or sign holders (total)

• tape

• 1 hammer

• tape measure, yard stick or meter stick

SOLAR SYSTEM SCALE (90 Minutes)

Addresses NGSS Level of Difficulty: 3Grade Range: 6-8

OVERVIEW


Teacher Preparation

Before the students arrive, have the chart paper or interactive whiteboard board ready. Write the vocabularywords and definitions from Teacher Sheet 1 on the chalkboard or interactive whiteboard. Place the edibleitems on paper plates (2 each of the sprinkles, mini candy coated chocolate pieces, marshmallows, grapes,and cherries). Place a small amount of frosting on each plate. Have enough copies of Student Sheet 1 forevery student. Have your Teacher Pages available. Attach the planet cards to the stakes if you will be goingoutside. Blow up the yellow balloon to about 7 inches in diameter.

SOLAR SYSTEM SCALE

Science and Engineering Practices

NGSS Three-Dimensions

Developing and Using Models

• Develop and use a model to describe phenomena.

DisciplinaryCore Ideas

ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System

Crosscutting Concepts

• The solar system consists of the sun and a collection of objects, including planets, their moons, and asteroids that are held in orbit around the sun by its gravitational pull on them.

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

• Time, space and energy phenomena can be observed at various scales using models to study systems that are too large or too small.


1. Warm-up Activity:• Read through the vocabulary words and ask the students for definitions.

star – hot mass composed of gases that radiate energy rock (Terrestrial)planet – large heavenly bodies revolving about the sun orbit – path around the sunsolar system – family of planets around a sun galaxy – family of solar systemsrevolve – Traveling around the sun rotate – spinning on an axismoon – any planetary satellite gas giant (Jovian)

• Ask the students to name as many planets as they can.• Write the student responses on the chart paper/chalkboard or interactive whiteboard.• Ask the students to name them in order from the sun.• Write their responses down.• Introduce the students to the pneumonic device, My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.• Rewrite the planets in the correct order if any were out of place.• On a chalkboard or interactive whiteboard draw two columns and label one rock and the other gas.

Ask the students to sort the planets to determine which are made of rock and which are made of gas.• Ask them what each type has in common.• Explain terrestrial and Jovian planets.• After brief discussion, give each student the construction paper and have them individually draw or

name the planets in order.

Activity Part 1:

2. Tell the students they will be building a model of our Solar System that shows the relative size of the objects.

3. Start with the sun. Tell the students it is too large to be included on their model. Tell them they will represent the sun.

4. Hand the class the plates that contain the edible materials for them to make the Solar System. Frostingmay be used in small amounts to hold the smaller planets on the plates.

5. Begin with Mercury. Ask them which item on their plate they think will represent Mercury.

6. Instruct them to paste the piece on one side of the plate.

STEPS FOR SOLAR SYSTEM SCALE

Mercury sprinkles

Venus small marshmallows

Earth small marshmallows

Mars candy coated chocolate pieces

Jupiter apples

Saturn tangerines or small oranges

Uranus grapes or cherries

Neptune grapes or cherries



7. Repeat the process through all the planets. Use the discussion points about the planets, below, as you gothrough the activity.

8. When you have finished all the planets explain that they will now move on to the distance activity.

Activity Part 2:

9. If you are able to go outside, choose a location where you will have ample space. Take the stakes andhammer with you. If you are staying indoors, a hallway will do but you will be limited in the number ofplanets that you can visit during your walk. For the Planet distance activity the instructors will need to familiarize themselves with the actual distances between objects in our Solar System. Place the balloon atthe start of your walk. For a sun with a 17 cm diameter the scale is 1m : 7,828,965km. Using the solar sys-tem data below, the sun (balloon) will have a diameter of approximately 17cm or 7 inches.

Solar System Data

• Mercury will be 731 cm or 24 feet from our sun. This represents approximately 57,910,000 km,35,983,605.74 miles, or .38 AU.

• Venus will be 1,143 cm or 45 feet from our sun. This represents approximately 108,200,000 km,67,232,363.00 miles, or .72 AU.

• Earth will be 1,890 cm or 62 feet from our sun. This represents approximately 149,600,000 km,92,957,130.36 miles or 1.00 AU.

• Mars will be 2,895 cm or 95 feet from the sun. This represents approximately 227,940,000 km,141,635,349.56 miles or 1.52 AU.

• Jupiter will be 9,936 cm or 326 feet from the sun. This represents approximately 778,330,000 km,483,631,840.05 miles, or 5.20 AU.

• Saturn will be 18,227 cm or 598 feet from the sun. This represents approximately 1,429,400,000 km,888,187,982.18 miles, or 9.54 AU.

• Uranus will be 36,637 cm or 1202 feet from the sun. This represents approximately 2,870,990,000 km,1,783,950,479.20 miles, or 19.218 AU.

• We are now half way to Pluto.• Neptune will be 57,455 cm or 1885 feet from the sun. This represents approximately 4,504,000,000 km,

2,798,655,849.84 miles, or 30.06 AU.• Pluto will be 75,529 cm or 2478 feet from the sun. This represents approximately 5,913,520,000 km,

3,674,490,972.72 miles, or 39.5 AU.

10. Place the sun at your starting location.

11. Ask the class where they think the first planet should be as you walk from the sun. Have the studentsmeasure 24 feet from the sun. When you reach 24 feet from the sun place the Mercury poster.

12. Continue with the pattern until you run out of space or reach Neptune. If you stop early ask thestudents how much farther they think the other planets will be. Explain that Pluto is a dwarf planetand that it is so far away that if they traveled to Uranus they would only be halfway to Pluto.

13. When you return to the room, continue on to the wrap-up activity.

14. Wrap-up Activity: Lead the students in a discussion about scale models. Ask them if they have anymodels in their homes. Mention train sets, model airplanes and ships, or maps. Remind them that scalemodels are used to represent or demonstrate great size or distance on a smaller, more easily understoodscale. One of the most famous scale models of our solar system can be found on the National Mall inWashington, D.C.

• Astronomical units are used to measure distance in space. An Astronomical Unit (AU) is the averagedistance between our sun and the Earth.

• 1 AU = 149,597,870.70 kilometers or 92,955,807.27 miles.• Ask them why we would want to use scale when talking about the Solar System.

Solar System Scale Extension Activity:

Create a distance table with your class.

Have the students create mathematical word problems that use the table data.



Distance from the Sun Kilometers Miles AU

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Neptune

Uranus

Pluto


When dealing with our Solar System and the distances between the objects within, scale is necessary toview the Sun and planets together. The immense size of even the smallest planets in our Solar System alsorequire scale if we are to compare them in a classroom setting. Information on the planets, their composition,place, and unique features can be found in the activities above. The websites under additional informationare also filled with tools and background information for unlocking interesting facts and relationships amongthe planets in our Solar System.

Planet Discussion Points:

The sun: It is composed mainly of the gases hydrogen and helium. Light from the sun takes 8 minutes 19 seconds to reach the Earth.

Mercury: Mercury is closest to the sun and is a small, heavily cratered planet. Mercury looks similar to ourmoon mainly because it is heavily cratered. The side that faces the sun is extremely hot, but the oppositeside is extremely cold. The MESSENGER mission has recently discovered that water deposits are hiddendeep within the dark craters of Mercury. Mercury is now the smallest planet in our solar system. Mercury has no moons.

Venus: Venus, named after the Roman goddess of beauty, is second from the sun. It is similar to Earth in sizeand mass. It has a permanent blanket of clouds that trap so much heat that the temperatures on the surfaceof Venus are hot enough to melt lead. Because of this thick atmosphere it is the hottest planet. Venus has nomoons.

Earth: Earth is the third planet from the sun. Only known planet with life. You live here. The Earth has onemoon, the moon. The moon is a natural satellite. 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. The atmosphere is 79% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen. Earth is the third planet 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 havenfor life.

Mars: Mars is known as the Red Planet. It is the fourth planet from the sun. Mars is a terrestrial planet. It hashuge sand storms that may last for weeks. Mars is the site of Olympus Mons, the highest known mountainwithin the Solar System, and of Valles Marineris, the largest visible canyon. Scientists hypothesize that Marsonce supported a wet, warm Earth-like climate. Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos.

Between Mars and Jupiter we find the asteroid belt.The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Marsand Jupiter. Numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets occupy the asteroid belt.

Jupiter: Jupiter is known as the Giant vacuum cleaner! Jupiter’s gravity helps protect the Earth from impactsfrom meteors and asteroids. The Romans named the planet after the Roman god Jupiter. Jupiter is classifiedas a gas giant. A prominent feature of Jupiter is the Great Red Spot, which is a huge storm in the planet’s atmosphere.

Saturn: Saturn is a gas giant named after the Roman god Saturn. Saturn has a ring system. Saturn is sixthfrom the sun. Sixty-two known moons orbit the planet.

Uranus: Uranus is seventh from the sun. Uranus is a gas giant. It is named after the ancient Greek deity of thesky, Uranus. The Uranus is tilted sideways. As such, its north and south poles lie where most other planetshave their equators.

Neptune: Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet from the sun in the Solar System. Named for the Romangod of the sea, Neptune. Neptune appears blue through telescopes and is a gas giant.

Pluto: Pluto is a dwarf planet. It is so far away we have no real photographs of Pluto. Pluto has a sister dwarfplanet called

Charon. They orbit around each other as they orbit the sun.

SOLAR SYSTEM SCALEBACKGROUND INFORMATION


SOLAR SYSTEM SCALESTUDENT HANDOUT

Name:

Date:

Solar System Vocabulary Words.

Write the definitions to the vocabulary words as they are defined.The planets below are not to scale but represent approximate size comparisons.

Star:______________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

rock (Terrestrial):___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

orbit:_____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

solar system:_______________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Revolve:__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

rotate:____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

planet:____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

moon:____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

gas giant (Jovian):__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________


SOLAR SYSTEM SCALESTUDENT HANDOUT

Compare the planet size to your edible objects.

Mercury

Jupiter

Venus

Saturn

Earth

Neptune

Mars

Uranus

Fill-in the data chart for this activity:

Actual Distance Actual Distance Scaled DistanceMiles AU Feet

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Neptune

Uranus

Pluto

solar system scale (90 minutes) - siemens stem day

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