Inner+and+Outer+Planets+6-8

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
 * Describe the characteristics of the inner planets
 * Compare and contrast the inner planets with Earth
 * Build a model of the surface of one of the inner planets
 * Explain why life is possible on Earth but unlikely on other planets
 * Describe the characteristics of the outer planets
 * Compare and Contrast the outer planets



Engage: Activate Prior Knowledge; Generate Interest

Display a [|picture] of the solar system for students. Ask students what they know about the planets in the picture. Students should be able to identify some of the planets based on the picture – some will recognize Mars because it is red, Earth because it is blue, and Saturn because of its rings. Accept all reasonable comments about the planets, and use student responses to gauge prior knowledge and note misconceptions.

Show students the video segment [|The Phoenix Lander]**.** Explain that during this lesson, students will be learning more about why life might be possible on Mars, and why scientists do not think life is possible on other planets.
 * Stimulate Interest (Inner Planets) **



Finally, post the Essential Questions that constitute what students will be learning. Students may read them or you may wish to read them aloud together.
 * What are the defining characteristics of Mercury?
 * What are the defining characteristics of Venus?
 * What are the defining characteristics of Earth?
 * What are the defining characteristics of Mars?

**Stimulate Interest (Outer Planets)**

Show students the video [|Space School: Pluto]. Point out that Pluto is no longer considered a planet by the scientific community and this video will introduce students to the reclassification of Pluto as dwarf planet. Explain to students that this lesson will focus on the planets farthest from our sun in our solar system. Explain that these planets are called the outer planets.

Finally, post the essential questions that constitute what students will be learning. Students may read them or you may wish to read them aloud together.
 * What are the characteristics of Jupiter?
 * What are the characteristics of Saturn?
 * What are the characteristics of Uranus?
 * What are the characteristics of Neptune?
 * How are the outer planets different from the inner planets?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">**Inner Planets** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Explore: Allowing Students to Experience Content

Have students use the Essential Questions as an advance organizer. Show students the video segments [|Mars] (characteristics), [|Mars] (compares Mars with Earth; volcanoes, liquid water channels) and [|Mars] (details of Mars), and have them take notes that answer the Essential Question about Mars.

Next, show students the video segments [|Earth] (surface features), [|Earth] (details of Earth) and [|Earth] (physical characteristics). Have students take notes to answer the Essential Question about Earth. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Explain: Firm Up Understanding; Allow Students to Explain What They Know

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students set up a modified t-chart to compare and contrast Earth and Mars. Students should use their notes from the Explore section to complete the t-chart. The t-chart should include information (but should not be limited to information) about the surface, composition, gravity, and atmosphere of each planet.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students complete the reading passage Solar System Stats to further summarize the similarities and differences between Earth and Mars. Students should fill in any missing or additional information in the t-charts using this resource.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Finally, have students write a short paragraph that explains, in their own words, the characteristics that make Mars similar enough to Earth that similar life forms might be possible on both planets.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Explore: Allowing Students to Experience Content

Have students use the Essential Questions as an advance organizer. Show students the video segments [|Mercury] (location and size), [|Mercury] (physical characteristics) and [|Mercury] (facts about Mercury) and have them take notes that answer the Essential Question about Mercury. Next, show students the video segments [|Venus] (physical characteristics) and [|Venus] (location). Have students take notes to answer the Essential Question about Venus



Have students <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> complete the Hands-On Activity [|Surface Features of the Inner Planets].

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Explain: Firm Up Understanding; Allow Students to Explain What They Know

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students add Mercury and Venus to their t-chart Students should use their notes from the Explore section to complete the t-chart. The t-chart should include information (but should not be limited to information) about the surface, composition, gravity, and atmosphere of each planet. When students are done, they should be able to see the similarities and differences in characteristics for all of the inner planets.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students complete the interactive video [|The Inner and Outer Planets] to further summarize the similarities and differences between Earth, Mars, Mercury, and Venus. Students should fill in any missing or additional information in the t-charts using this resource.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">**Outer Planets**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Explore: Allowing Students to Experience Content <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students create a five column chart. Instruct them to write ‘Characteristics’ in the left column, and then write the names of each of the outer planets in the subsequent columns. You should also create this same chart on a white board or large piece of paper so that you can create a “master” <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> list after students have worked through all of the resources and completed the charts on their own. Develop a class list of planetary characteristics that are important for students to know. Make sure the list includes composition of the core, surface composition, atmosphere, size, distance from the sun, number of moons, rotation, and revolution. Note that not all of these categories will be filled in for each planet, but students should attempt to fill in as many as possible. Have students use the video segments [|Saturn] and [|Space School: Saturn]to fill in the “Saturn” column of their chart. Have students use the video segments[| Jupiter]and the passage [|Jupiter: He’s a Gas] to fill in the “Jupiter” column of their chart. Have students use the video segments [|Neptune: A Cloudy Planet] and the passage [|Discoveries: Springtime for Neptune]to fill in the “Neptune” column of their chart. F <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">inally, have students use the video segments [|Uranus] and [|Uranus: A Planet Rich in Ammonia and Methane] to fill in the “Uranus” column of their chart.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">When students are finished with the planet-specific resources, have them work in pairs to ensure that their charts are as complete as possible.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Students should complete the Hands-On Activity: [|Giants to Scale]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Finally, review the charts with the class, filling out an “official” chart on the board or on a piece of chart paper. Pose the Essential Questions to the students, and have students perform a think-pair-share to propose rough answers to the questions.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Explain: Firm Up Understanding; Allow Students to Explain What They Know

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Revisit the class KWL chart from the Engage section, and determine which questions about Saturn the class can answer now that they could not answer before completing the Explore section. Have students summarize what they now know about the outer planets that they didn’t know before, and share their summaries with the class.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Finally, have the students complete the exploration, [|Planets of the Solar System], and have students summarize their responses to the Essential Questions. You may choose to spend a little more time and emphasis leading the class in a conversation about the differences between the inner and outer planets, recalling the information they have already learned about the Inner plants so as to refresh their memories. Then, return to students’ charts and answer any remaining questions that students have about the characteristics of the outer planets.



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Elaborate: Allow Students to Apply What They Know

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Inner Planets

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students watch the video segment [|Space Travel: The International Space Station]. Have students do a Think-Pair-Share activity in which they discuss how space travel and space research will impact the way we live our lives. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">**Project Ideas:** To help your students apply their understanding of the inner planets, you may wish to have your students complete some or all of the following projects. The time required to complete each project will vary; some may require students to work outside the classroom.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students research the real life setting of a mission to space. Students should describe the spaceship environment, the effects of micro-gravity on the body, etc. Students should write a short opinion paper on whether they would agree to participate in a mission to outer space.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students create a scale mobile model of the four inner planets of the solar system, with distances labeled and as many other details as possible within scale limits.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students work in pairs to make a papier-mâché model of an inner planet. This is done by inflating a balloon, covering it with papier-mâché and then decorating the surface. The Earth balloon should be inflated the largest, then the Venus balloon, then Mars, while the Mercury balloon should be very small. Students should include surface features and a description of the conditions on the planet that they choose.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Outer Planets

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">**Project Ideas:** To help your students apply their understanding of the outer planets, you may wish to have your students complete some or all of the following projects. The time required to complete each project will vary; some may require students to work outside the classroom.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students research the ways in which scientists have gathered information about the outer planets over the years, and create a short presentation of this information for the class.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students research the Galilean moons of Jupiter and write a report that explains their importance to astronomers and astrobiologists.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students prepare a poster that shows the relationship between the composition of the outer planets, and their distance from the sun.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students complete the Virtual Lab: [|A Lunar Mission to Mars]



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Evaluate: Check for Understanding

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students complete the Brief Constructed Response (BCR) item titled [|Inner Planets]. You may also wish to assign the online concept assessment and use the results in the student reports to guide you in assigning any remediation to students.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">//Review Sheet:// Students may review the information in this section using the [|Inner Planets Review Sheet].

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Have students complete the Brief Constructed Response (BCR) item titled [|Outer Planets]. You may also wish to assign the online concept assessment and use the results in the student reports to guide you in assigning any remediation to students.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">//Review Sheet:// Students may review the information in this section using the [|Outer Planets Sheet].