Planets

 

• Earth is one of several planets that orbit the Sun and that the Moon orbits Earth.
• Telescopes magnify the appearance of some distant objects in the sky, including the Moon and the planets.

 

Astronomy for Kids - Astronomy Magazine

 

Science Monster - Our Solar System - Find lots of good facts and calculate your weight on each planet. 

 

Amazing Space - Fast Facts - Get the facts about planets and objects in our solar system.

 

Astronomy - Enchanted Learning

 

KidsAstronomy

 

NASA: Solar System Exploration

Click on a link in the left menu to select a planet, then click on blue tabs at top Moons, Facts, Gallery, "Kid's Eye View" and more!

 

The 8 Planets

 

Solar System - National Geographic

 

Welcome to the Planets - This NASA site contains great pictures of planets.

 

Solar System - videos from NeoK12

 

Patterns in the Sky

Listen to basic facts about each of the planets and discover which one has the largest volcano. 

 

Asteroids v. Comets- discover their similarities and differences

 

Gas v. Rocky Planets- discover their similarities and differences

 

StarChild - A learning center for young astronomers.

 

Collaborative Planet Projects

 

Your Weight on Other Worlds - Exploratorium

 

How High Can You Jump Across the Milky Way?

 

 

Moon

 

• The Moon’s appearance changes during the four-week lunar cycle 

 

Why does the moon keep changing its shape?

 

Phases of the Moon - listen and watch this presentation about the phases of the moon

 

StarDate Moon Phases

Use this to see the phases of the moon in a given month.

 

Take the Moon Challenge

Test what you have learned. Drag the moons to the calendar to complete the lunar cycle. 

 

Lunar Calendar

Then use this interactive lunar calendar to find out what the moon looked like on the day you were born!

 

Moon Phase Images

Another interactive lunar calendar

 

 

Sun

 

• The position of the Sun in the sky changes during the course of the day and from season to season.

 

Shadows Through the Day - see how the movement of the sun affects your shadow through the day 

 

Measuring Using Shadows

Measure a T-Rex by looking at his shadow. Click and drag the slider to change the time of the day.

 

 

Stars

 

• Patterns of stars stay the same, although they appear to move across the sky nightly.
• The number of stars that can be seen through telescopes is dramatically greater than the number that can be seen by the unaided eye. 

 

Star Maps  - Shows stars that can be seen in different seasons.

 

Constellations - Check out the most easily seen of the Northern sky each season.

  

Constellation Game.

 

Stargazers

 

 

Solar System Games and Quizzes

 

Trading Cards

Answer questions to earn planet trading cards.

 

NASA - Go to the Head of the Solar System

Take this multiple choice quiz and see what you know.

 

Space Place Quiz Show

 

Surfing the Solar System

Search the Internet for answers to questions to solve a puzzle in this scavenger hunt!

 

NASA Space Place

Games, animations, projects, and fun facts about Earth, space and technology.

 

Planet Pursuit

Read facts about a planet then go on a mission and answer trivia.

 

Astronomy Picture of the Day

 

 

Science Standard 4

 

Objects in the sky move in regular and predictable patterns. As a basis forunderstanding this concept:

   

a. Students know the patterns of stars stay the same, although they may appear to move across the sky nightly, and different stars can be seen in different seasons.

b. Students know the way in which the Moon’s appearance changes during the four-week lunar cycle.

c. Students know telescopes magnify the appearance of some distant objects in the sky, including the Moon and the planets. The number of stars that can be seen through telescopes is dramatically greater than the number that can be seen by the unaided eye.

d. Students know that Earth is one of several planets that orbit the Sun and that the Moon orbits Earth.

e. Students know the position of the Sun in the sky changes during the course of the day and from season to season.