Download Parent Activity - The School District of Palm Beach County

Parent Activity
Title
The Solar System
Parent
Our solar system includes the sun, eight planets and their moons, comets, large
Information space rocks called asteroids, and small space rocks called meteoroids. Beyond
our solar system are stars and groups of stars called galaxies. The Earth is the
third planet from the sun creating the perfect environment for life to exist.
Other planets are either too close to the Sun and extremely hot (inner planets)
or too far from the Sun and extremely cold (outer planets).
SC.5.E.5.3 Distinguish among the following objects of the Solar System – Sun,
Benchmark planets, moons, asteroids, comets – and identify Earth’s position in it.
Construct a model to show the relationship between the Earth, the
Objective
other planets, and the Sun.
Explain the differences between the inner and outer planets.
Duration
40 minutes
Materials
Construction paper, poster board, glue, scissors, colored pencils/crayons/paint,
research information
For a 3-D model use different size Styrofoam balls or Crayola Model Magic®
(Crayola Model Magic® dries quickly and can be painted), 2 wire clothing
hangers, and string
Read pages 63 – 80 in HMH Grade 5 textbook (found on Edline)
1. Research the eight planets that travel around the Sun.
2. List the planets, their distances from the Sun, their size, and other
physical characteristics/features of interest.
3. Have your child create/draw each planet using their research
information. If using the Model Magic, push the string into the clay
before it dries.
4. After all the planets are created, have them place the planets in order
of closest to farthest from the Sun. For the 3-D model criss-cross 2
wire hangers and secure them in the middle with string or a twist-tie.
Use the directions and visual below to attach the planets.
5. If they are drawing pictures, have them glue the planets in the correct
order. Remind them that the Sun is at the center of our solar system.
Have them place their first drawing 4cm from the Sun (increase the
measurements as follows: Sun is in the center, Mercury is 4cm from the
Sun, Venus is 6cm, Earth is 8cm, Mars is 10cm, Jupiter is 15cm, Saturn
is 20cm, Uranus is 25cm, and Neptune is 30cm). They can show them in
a straight line or lay them out as shown in the visual below. This layout
is a better representation because the planets are rarely lined up
Procedures
6.
Sample
FCAT
Activities
together.
Which two planets are closer to the Sun than the Earth?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Mercury and Jupiter
Mercury and Venus
Mercury and Mars
Mercury and Saturn
Answer: B
Additional BrainPOP: Seasons (found on Learning Tools website)
Resources
and
Information