Download d. Demonstrate the relative size and order from the sun of the

Sample Assessment Items
This is not meant to be printed off and given as a test…this document is to give you ideas
of how this standard might be assessed. Please use these as an example when you are
developing your own formative assessments. Remember formative assessment is to be
given throughout the teaching of a standard to help you guide your instruction based on
students needs. A good formative assessment should have a mix of multiple choice as
well as open ended.
S4E2. Students will model the position and motion of the earth in the solar system and will
explain the role of relative position and motion in determining sequence of the
phases of the moon.
d. Demonstrate the relative size and order from the sun of the planets in the solar
system.
Multiple Choice:
James’s class is studying the solar system and the planets that orbit the Sun. Which planet
is closest to the Sun?
a. Earth
b. Mercury
c. Saturn
d. Uranus
Answer: b
Look at the table below.
Planet
Distance to the Sun
(in miles)
36,000,000
Mercury
67,000,000
Venus
93,000,000
Earth
142,000,000
Mars
What is the question the data in the above table has answered?
a. What planet is farthest from the Sun?
b. What planet orbits the Sun most often?
c. How far are the outer planets from the Sun?
d. Which planet is 36,000,000 miles from the Sun?
Answer: d
There are eight planets in the solar system. They can be classified as inner or outer
planets, depending on their distance from the Sun. Which are the names of the inner
planets in order of distance from the Sun?
a. Venus, Earth, Mars, Mercury
b. Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars
c. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
d. Earth, Mercury, Mars, Venus
Answer: c
What is the order of the planets, starting with the planet closest to the Sun?
a. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus
b. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
c. Mercury, Jupiter, Earth, Mars, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus
d. Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Answer: b
Earth is one of eight planets in the solar system that orbit the Sun. Brandon wants to make
a model of the solar system using balls. He will use a basketball for the Sun and a golf ball
for Earth. Which ball should he use for Jupiter?
a. a marble
b. tennis ball
c. a basketball
d. another golf ball
Answer: a
Use the solar system diagram to answer the next two questions.
Which letter from the solar system diagram above shows Mars?
a. B
b. C
c. D
d. E
Answer: d
Object "F" on the solar system diagram below represents which planet?
a. Jupiter
b. Mercury
c. Neptune
d. Saturn
Answer: a
The largest body in our solar system is _______.
a. Earth
b. Jupiter
c. the Sun
d. the Moon
Answer: c
Open ended:
What are the relative sizes of the planets in our solar system?
What is the relative order of the planets from the sun in our solar system?
What are the unique characteristics of each planet in our solar system?
Draw a diagram of our Solar System. Label the Sun and all of the planets. Your diagram
should show the correct order of each of the planets from the Sun.
Sun