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Astronomy Word Search
Post-program
activity copypage
Astronomy
GRADE LEVEL: 4th
Find these 16 words in the
block of letters on the left:
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Sandy Creek Nature Center
205 Old Commerce Rd.
Athens GA, 30607
706-613-3615
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ASTRONAUT
ASTRONOMY
COMET
CONSTELLATION
EARTH
ECLIPSE
GALAXY
GRAVITY
JUPITER
MARS
MERCURY
METEOR
MOON
NEPTUNE
ORBIT
PLANET
PLUTO
SATELLITE
SATURN
STAR
SUN
TELESCOPE
URANUS
VENUS
CONCEPTS:
1. There are eight planets
in our solar sytem. All
planets experience
rotation and revolution.
2. These eight planets
vary greatly in their
sizes, distances from
the Sun, and physical
composition.
3. The moon displays
different shapes
(phases) due to the
amount of sunlight
reflected from the
lunar surface.
4. Throughout history,
humans have grouped
together stars to form
constellations and
created stories to
accompany them.
OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to:
1. Name the eight planets
of our solar system in
order and their
compositions. Explain
why Pluto is not a
main planet anymore.
2. Understandhow the tilt
of the Earth gives us
varied seasons.
3. Understand the phases
of the moon.
4. Identify some common
winter constellations
and the stories
associated with them.
Astronomy with StarLab
Our program “Astronomy with StarLab” will introduce
students to a variety of constellations in the night sky
and discuss some of the myths that surround them.
Additionally, we’ll discuss the nine planets of our
solarsytem, planetary motion, phases of the moon, and
other interplanetary phenomona such as comets, asteroids and moons.
Suggested pre-program activities:
1. Review the planets of our solar sytem and their order and distances from
the Sun.
2. Review the concepts of planetary rotation and revolution. Explain that the
Earth takes 24 hours to completely rotate once on its axis and it is this rotation
that gives us day and night. Also discuss that it takes the Earth 365 days to
complete on revolution around the Sun. The tilt of the Earth as it revolves
around the Sun creates the different seasons on our planet.
3. Discuss constellations. Review some of the more commonly known
constellations such as Ursa Major and Minor, Cassiopeia, Sagittarius and
Orion and the mythological stories associated with them.
4. Urge students to go outside after dark to view the stars from their own
yards. Have them draw what they saw and bring in their drawings to class the
next day to discussand attempt to identify what they saw.
5. Have students go outside each night for a week and draw the shape of the
moon. At the end of the week, use the drawings and discuss how the lighted
area of the moon changes shape according to moon’s positon in regard to the
Earth and Sun.
6. Scan through local newspapers and cut out and discuss any stories relating
to space exploration and astronomy.
7. Have each student design his/her own Mars Exploration Colony. Make
sure that they include all items that would be necessary to survive in a hostile
environment such as the Martian surface (i.e. breathable air, food, water,
insulating clothing, communication equipment, first aid, energy sources, etc.).
Post-program activities:
Use the attached math problems, crossword puzzle, word search and reading
passage to reinforce the terms and ideas covered during your StarLab visit.
Answers: Crossword Puzzle Across: 3. mercury, 6. leo, 9. supernova, 10. black hole,
11. jupiter, 12. milky way, 13. neptune, 15. venus, 17. cassiopeia, 19. comet, 20. craters,
22. sun, 24. gravity, 25. gemini, 27. pluto; Down: 1. telescope, 2. armstrong, 4. sputnik,
5. constellation, 7. mars, 8. polaris, 14. moon, 16. saturn, 18. astronomy, 21. eclipse,
22. star, 23. orion, 26. earth.
Math Problems 1) b. Jupiter, 2) d. Pluto, 3) b. Venus, 4) c. 342 million miles, 5) d. 9,800
Post-program
activity copypage
Post-program
activity copypage
Astronomy
Crossword
Puzzle
Directions: Look at the
table of information and
circle the correct answer
to each question.
Across
3. This planet is closest to the sun.
6. This constellation represents a fierce lion who was fought by
Hercules.
9. A gigantic explosion caused by the collapse of a large,
massive star.
10. A massive, collapsed star that has such enormous gravity
that nothing - not even light - can escape its pull.
11. The largest of all the planets in our solar system, this
planet has a large storm which resembles a “Great Red Spot.”
12. The name of the galaxy where our solar system is located.
13. This blue, gas giant planet is named after the Roman god
of the oceans.
15. The hottest planet in our solar system due to its thick
atmosphere and closeness to the sun.
17. This constellation represents the beautiful queen of
Ethiopia who angered the god Poseidon.
19. A small object - made of ice, frozen gas and dust - that
orbits the sun.
20. These depressions in the ground are caused by collisions
with meteorites. There are a lot of them visible on the surface
of the moon.
22. All planets in our solar system revolve around this star.
24. The force that attracts objects to each other.
25. This constellation represents the twin brothers Castor and
Pollux.
27. This dwarf planet is both the the farthest from the sun.
Vocabulary
armstrong earth
astronomy eclipse
black hole gemini
cassiopeia gravity
jupiter
comet
constellation leo
mars
craters
mercury
milky way
moon
orion
neptune
polaris
pluto
saturn
sputnik
star
sun
supernova
telescope
venus
Planetary Math Problems
Pla ne t
Le ngth of D a y
( Rota tion)
Le ngth of
Re volution
( 1 or bit a r ound
s un)
A ve r a ge
D is ta nc e fr om
the Sun
Me rcury
5 9 da y s
8 8 da y s
3 6 mi l l i on mi l e s
Ve nus
2 4 3 da y s
2 2 5 da y s
6 7 mi l l i on mi l e s
E a rth
2 4 hours
3 6 5 da y s
9 3 mi l l i on mi l e s
Ma rs
2 4 . 5 hours
6 8 7 da y s
1 4 2 mi l l i on mi l e s
Jupi te r
1 0 hours
1 2 ye a rs
4 8 4 mi l l i on mi l e s
S a turn
1 1 hours
2 9 ye a rs
8 9 0 mi l l i on mi l e s
Ura nus
1 3 to 2 4 hours
8 4 ye a rs
1 bi l l i on 7 8 0
mi l l i on mi l e s
Ne ptune
1 8 hours
1 6 5 ye a rs
2 bi l l i on 7 9 0
mi l l i on mi l e s
Pl uto
6 da y s
2 4 8 ye a rs
3 bi l l i on 6 6 0
mi l l i on mi l e s
1. Which planet has the shortest day (rotation)?
a. Venus
c. Neptune
b. Jupiter
d. Pluto
2. Which planet takes the longest to complete one revolution
(orbit) around the sun?
a. Mercury
c. Uranus
b. Earth
d. Pluto
Down
1. The lenses of this instrument are used to magnify far away objects.
2. The last name of the first human to walk on the surface of the moon.
4. The first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. It was launched in 1957.
5. A group of stars grouped together by humans to create a picture.
7. This red planet is named after the Roman god of war.
8. Another name for the North Star.
14. A natural satellite that orbits a planet.
16. This second largest planet has a beautiful ring system.
18. The study of the universe.
21. This happens when the moon passes between the earth and sun and
blocks sunlight from reaching the earth.
22. A hot, rotating ball of gas that creates its own light through fusion.
23. This winter constellation represents a great hunter.
26. The third planet from the sun, this our home.
3. Which planet’s day (rotation) is longer than its year (revolution)?
a. Mercury
c. Mars
b. Venus
d. Saturn
4. Assuming that both planets are lined up on the same side of the
sun, what is the average distance between Mars and Jupiter?
a. 10 million miles
c. 342 million miles
b. 142 million miles
d. 484 million miles
5. If you were riding in a spaceship traveling 5,000 miles per hour, how long
would it take you to travel the 49 million miles between the Earth and Mars?
a.
150 hours (~6 days)
b.
490 hours (~20 days)
c.
980 hours (~41 days)
d.
9,800 hours (~408 days)