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Planet Features

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Space Exploration|Ages 7—9|ID: mt_W8Eq3CqWJf

Describe a key feature of each planet: Mercury is smallest and closest, Venus is the hottest, Mars is red with rust, Jupiter is the largest with a Great Red Spot, Saturn has rings, Uranus tilts on its side, Neptune is the farthest and very cold

Mastery Evidence

  • State one distinctive feature for at least six of the eight planets
  • Compare at least two planets (e.g. Jupiter is much bigger than Earth, Venus is hotter than Mercury)
  • Explain why Mars appears red (iron oxide/rust in its rocks)

Assessment Prompt

“If you named a planet, could [child] tell you one interesting fact about it — like Saturn's rings or Jupiter's Great Red Spot?”

Prerequisites1

Show full prerequisite tree
  • The Eight Planets hard

    Must know the planet names before learning features of each

    • The Sun is a star hard

      Must know the Sun is the centre before naming planets in order from it

      • Sun, Moon & Stars hard

        Must know the Sun is a sky object before learning it is a star

        • Why seasons change soft

          Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification

          • 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

      • Our Solar System hard

        Must know about the solar system before learning the Sun is at its centre

        • Sun, Moon & Stars hard

          Must know the Sun and stars before learning about planets and the solar system

          • Why seasons change soft

            Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification

            • 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

    • Our Solar System hard

      Must know planets exist before listing them in order

      • Sun, Moon & Stars hard

        Must know the Sun and stars before learning about planets and the solar system

        • Why seasons change soft

          Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification

          • 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

Unlocks1