Exploring the Planets
aligned to Ngss Ms-ess1-2
Learning Objective
I can describe the major features of planets in our solar system.
Lesson Flow
Watch Video
Solar System 101 | National Geographic
National Geographic
Guided Notes
Key concepts students will learn:
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Our solar system formed about 4.5 billion years ago from a collapsing cloud of interstellar gas and dust, resulting in a swirling disc of material called a solar nebula.
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The planets are divided into two categories based on composition: Terrestrial planets, which are rocky, and Jovian planets, which are gas and ice giants.
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The asteroid belt, a disc of rocky objects, lies between the Terrestrial and Jovian planets, while the icy Kuiper Belt, home to dwarf planets like Pluto, lies much further out.
Practice
3 questions • Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
“Name one major feature that distinguishes each of the following planets: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Uranus.”
Teacher Guide
Get the complete package:
- Answer keys for all questions
- Differentiation strategies
- Extension activities
- Printable student handouts
