Overview

After reading a summary about the solar system, pairs or groups of students research different planets by using local sources and the Internet to find interesting planetary features. Students then create advertisements to promote these places and share them with the class.

Objectives

Facilitate students' understanding of the solar system.
Describe the Inner and Outer Planets and their special features.
Compare and contrast the planets.

Materials

• Computer and modem
• Web-browsing software
• Printer
• The Illustrated World of Space Activity worksheet (one copy for each student group)

Steps

1. Have students read the book summary and invite them to comment on the solar system. Prompt them to describe the components of the solar system. Ask: What are the names of the Inner Planets? What are the names of the Outer Planets? How are these groups of planets different? Then visit The Nine Planets Web site http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html together as a class.

2. Help students pair up or divide into small groups and choose a planet. Make sure each group has a copy of The Illustrated World of Space Activity worksheet. Discuss the Planet Profile Chart and model how students should fill in the information.

3. Help students organize their information and choose one or more interesting features on their planet. Then explain that they should focus on learning more about the feature. Students should create fun and convincing advertisements that inspire others to visit their planet.

4. Encourage students to present their advertisements and explain their interesting planetary features. You may also encourage students to be creative with their presentations. Then take students online to visit the planets at NASA's Welcome to the Planets Web site at http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome.htm.

5. Facilitate the class' efforts to create a comparison chart of all the planets. Draw a chart on the board and have each travel group list the following information about each of their planets: size, location and distance from the Sun, the type of weather, the total number of moons, and other outstanding features.

Extension

Explain to children that an eclipse occurs when our Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. To better understand eclipses, have students look at a large object in the distance such as a tree while closing one eye and moving a coin from arm's length to directly in front of their other eye. Ask them to record their observations. They will see less and less of the distant object until it is completely blocked by the coin (even though the coin is much smaller than the object).

Home Connection

Families can follow the phases of the Moon on the Web and in the sky. Have students go to the Moon-Watch Web site at http://www.moon-watch.com to note the phases of the Moon and track them in the night sky for the next four weeks.

Product Links

To find out more about planets and space, visit Houghton Mifflin Science DiscoveryWorks and investigate the solar system and beyond.