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The solar system (age 11+)

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Space Systems & Earth's History|Ages 11—12|ID: mt_33RrpbceZE

Describe the detailed structure of the solar system, including moons, asteroids, and comets, compare orbital periods and distances of the planets, and distinguish between planets, dwarf planets, and other bodies

Mastery Evidence

  • Names the eight planets in order and gives one distinguishing fact about each
  • Describes the difference between a planet, a dwarf planet, an asteroid, and a comet
  • Explains the relationship between distance from the Sun and orbital period (planets further out take longer)

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] was making a model of the solar system, could they describe the difference between a planet, a moon, an asteroid, and a comet — and explain why planets closest to the Sun take less time to complete an orbit?”

Curriculum Standards1 alignment

KS3.Sci.Phys.SpacePhysics.1The national curriculum in England
Gravity and Orbital Motion

gravity force, weight = mass × gravitational field strength (g); orbital motion; weightlessness

Science · KS3

Prerequisites2

Show full prerequisite tree
  • The solar system hard

    Detailed solar system structure (moons, asteroids, comets, orbital periods) extends KS2 overview of planets orbiting the Sun

    • Naming the Planets hard

      Describing sun, Earth, and moon as spherical bodies and planets orbiting the sun requires solar system vocabulary

    • Sun, Moon, and stars hard

      Must observe sun/moon patterns before learning about the solar system model

      • Naming the Planets hard

        Describing predictable patterns of sun, moon, and stars requires planet, star, moon, orbit vocabulary

      • Why seasons change hard

        Must observe sun/moon/star patterns before relating daylight to time of year

        • Naming the Planets soft

          Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary

        • Seasonal changes soft

          Seasonal changes observation supports daylight pattern recognition

  • Naming the Planets hard

    Describing the detailed solar system structure including moons, asteroids, and comets requires all this vocabulary

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