Event Catalog
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Our Solar Neighborhood
- Students
- Johnson Space Center
- Dryden Flight Research Center
- Goddard Space Flight Center
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Kennedy Space Center
- Earth Science
- Physical Science
- Exploring NASA Missions
- Exploring Space
- Exploring Earth
- K-4
- 030 min(s)
- 050 min(s)
Our solar system is a vast area with planets, asteroids, comets, and other objects orbiting one star, our Sun. What are the distinguishing characteristics of the planets in our solar system, the distances between them, and the paths they travel?
This module is appropriate for video conference AND web conference presentation
During this event, students will exchange information about our distinctive planets orbiting one massive star, our Sun. They will learn about current NASA missions and how we use the information gathered to further our exploration of space. We hope that you will join us for a journey of discovery about our unique solar system. Join us and let the discovery begin!
| Engage | The learner will share prior knowledge about the solar system, such as objects found in the system, and universe with the NASA Education Specialist |
| Explore | The learner will identify and discuss physical characteristics of the Sun, planets, and asteroids |
| Explain | The learner will distinguish the difference between planets and stars, categorize the planets as major and dwarf planets, and examine the reasons why planets are different sizes by applying their knowledge of the states of matter |
| Elaborate | The learner will illustrate the distances planets travel around the Sun by creating a bar graph during the videoconference |
| Evaluate | The learner will demonstrate their understanding of the solar system by completing a post-activity assessment, and compare their results from their pre-activity assessment |
Sequence of Events
| The links below are previews of the activities only. For the complete module and event information, please see the Complete Educator Guide link.
"Make a Solar Model" Activity: Have students work individually or in teams to build their scale model solar system. | |
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2-4 Make a Solar Model Activity
“Planet Facts” Activity: Students will discover interesting facts about each planet through this activity.
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| More astronomy activities: http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/ http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/index.shtml
Find out your weight and age on other planets: http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/Puzzles/Age.asp http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/curric/space/planets/agewt.html
Kids study Hubble Space Telescope: http://sm3a.gsfc.nasa.gov/classrm.html
Ask an Astronomer your questions at: http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/ask/askmag.html
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Standards
Science Standards (NSES) Science as Inquiry Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Understandings about scientific inquiry
Physical Science Properties of objects and materials
Life Science Characteristics of organisms
Earth and Space Science Objects in the sky
Science and Technology Understandings about science and technology Abilities to distinguish between natural and objects made by humans
History and Nature of Science Science as a human endeavor
Orbital Period Graph Activity: Data analysis and probability Connections Representation Solar System Scale Activity: Problem Solving Measurement Spatial Relationships Representation of a real world situation with models (including use of scale factors) Connections