Download Planet Nine

Teacher Resource
Episode 4
28th February 2017
Planet Nine
Students will learn more about the
planets in our solar system and
research one planet in depth.
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What was the main point of the Planet Nine story?
How many planets are there in our solar system?
What is the purpose of the Backyard Worlds project?
Backyard Worlds is a ________________ science project.
What do the eight planets orbit?
Which planet is closest to the sun?
When was it decided that Pluto was no longer a planet?
Pluto is now called a _______________ planet.
Where in the solar system do they think a ninth planet may exist?
Visit the Backyards Worlds: Planet 9 website and get involved in the
citizen science project.
After watching the BtN Planet Nine story, respond to the following questions:
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What did you SEE in this video?
What do you THINK about what you saw in this video?
What does this video make your WONDER?
What did you LEARN from this story?
How did this story make you FEEL?
What was SURPRISING about this story?
Solar System Mind Map
Hold a class discussion about the information raised in the Planet Nine
story. Clarify their understanding of terms such as solar system, planets,
astronomy. Create a class mind map about the solar system asking
students to record what they know.
©ABC 2017
Science – Year 5
The Earth is part of a system of
planets orbiting around a star (the
sun) (ACSSU078)
Science – Years 5 & 6
Science involves testing predictions
by gathering data and using evidence
to develop explanations of events
and phenomena and reflects
historical and cultural contributions
(ACSHE081) (ACSHE098)
Science – Year 6
Scientific knowledge has changed
peoples’ understanding of the world
and is refined as new evidence
becomes available
Planet Research
Students begin by recording what they know about the solar system. Working in pairs, students will research
one of the planets in the solar system. Use the following to help guide students’ research.
Planet Research
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Name the 8 planets in our solar
system
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Conduct in depth research into one
of the planets in the solar system.
The NASA website has useful
information about the planets
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Include a description of what the
planet looks like.
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Find out some interesting facts
about the planet.
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Geographical features – Is it
gaseous or rocky? Does it have an
atmosphere? What are conditions
on the surface like?
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Distances – how far is this planet
from the sun?
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Movement – identify the path of this
planet. How fast does it travel
around the sun?
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Present research using Weebly,
Prezi or Canva
Create a 3D model of the solar system
Working in teams create a 3D model of our solar system, including Earth, sun and moon. The model will
represent their appearance and relative size and position.
©ABC 2017
Questions and Answers
Are you curious about astronomy? Make a list of questions you have
about the solar system that you would like to ask an astronomer. Use
the internet to find answers to your questions. For example:
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What direction do planets rotate?
Why are planets round?
Which planet in the solar system has the least gravity?
Visit the following website to see which questions are answered.
Ask an Astronomer – http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/
The work of Galileo
Students research the work of Italian astronomer Galileo and the
evidence to support the theory that the Earth orbits the sun.
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Who was Galileo?
What do you know about the work of Galileo?
How long does it take for Earth to orbit the sun?
How long does it take for Earth to rotate on its axis?
How has Galileo helped us to understand the solar
system?
Explore the Solar System
Students use the NASA Solar System interactive
to explore the solar system. Click on the planets
and other features of the solar system to learn
more about them. They can also find out what
lies beyond our solar system.
Visit planets, moons, asteroids and comets in
the NASA Space Place game Students can also
complete a NASA mission.
©ABC 2017
NASA – Welcome to the Planets
https://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome.htm
NASA – Our Solar System in Depth
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/solarsystem/indepth
NASA -Planets
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/
Backyard Words Planet 9 – Citizen Science project
https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/marckuchner/backyard-worlds-planet-9/
©ABC 2017