Asteroids, Comets & Dwarf Planets

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Space Exploration|Ages 7—9|ID: mt_uoTBeyMhGm

Identify other objects in the solar system beyond planets: asteroids (rocky bodies mostly between Mars and Jupiter), comets (icy bodies with tails when near the Sun), and meteoroids/meteors/meteorites (space rocks that enter Earth’s atmosphere)

Mastery Evidence

Describe asteroids as rocky bodies mostly found in the belt between Mars and Jupiter
Describe comets as icy bodies that develop a glowing tail when they approach the Sun
Explain the difference between a meteoroid (in space), meteor (streak of light in atmosphere), and meteorite (lands on Earth)

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] saw a shooting star, could they explain that it’s actually a tiny space rock burning up in our atmosphere — and tell you the difference between that and a comet?”

Prerequisites1

The Eight Planets
softAges 7—9

Show full prerequisite tree

The Eight Planets soft
Knowing planet positions helps understand where asteroids and comets are found
- 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
        
        Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
        Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
        
        Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
  - 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
        
        Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
        Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
        
        Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
- 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
        
        Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
        Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
        
        Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically

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