Solar System Adventure Tour: Teacher's Guide

--originally written by Dave DeRemer (Waukesha School District Planetarium)
edited by the Madison Metropolitan School District Planetarium staff

Expanded Description

After the students are settled, they will receive a card which designates which job they have been hired for aboard the "Star Traveler". Their mission is to fly past each of the planets and make it back to Earth. Along the way, the Flight Engineers will have their card scanned to input the flight plan into the navigation computer; Planet Specialists will have their card scanned to input the planet data so that we can learn about the planet we are passing; and the Math Experts will be interpretting fuel displays to help us decide if we have enough fuel to continue with our trip.

With Ralph and Dennis as our maintenance crew, we are sure to have a fun and educational journey. Welcome aboard!

Prior Skills Used In the Program

• Listening: students will be listening for when the Captain calls their job
• Interpretation: "math experts" will be reading visual displays of fuel data (dials, graphs) and reporting orally on that information
• Organization: students must be able to keep their cards handy throughout the program

Outline of Concepts to be Presented

I. THE PLANETS

Planet Characteristics: (detail below)

A. Planet sizes compared to the size of the Earth
B. Planet names and the order of the Planets outward from the Sun
C. Number of natural satellites for each of the Planets
D. Planet rotation rates
E. Planet revolution rates
F. Basic physical properties of each of the Planets
G. A description of a gas giant vs. a terrestrial Planet
H. Surface temperatures of the terrestrial Planets
I. Specific, interesting or notable features for each Planet

II. THE SUN

III. THE MOON

A. The size of the Moon compared to the Earth
B. The basic physical properties of the Moon

1. The Moon has no air and therefore very little erosion
   
2. The general composition of the Moon
   
3. The temperature on the Moon's lighted and darkened side
   

IV. OTHER CONCEPTS WHICH ARE IMPLIED

A. The metric system is often used in science when measuring size and distance
B. Science data is often shown and interpreted by using different types of graphs or diagrams

V. SCIENCE FICTION VS. SCIENCE FACT

A. A spacecraft with live astronauts as yet cannot travel through the Solar System
B. Distances to the planets are so great that if this tour could be made, it would take much longer with current technology
C. Megavolts, which are referred to in the program are not the correct scientific unit for power or energy
D. Discuss science fiction vs. science fact with students, investigate fiction in current television programs or movies

Connecting to the Classroom

This program works well as either an introduction, summary, or extension to your solar system unit. Try to time your visit accordingly. No prior knowledge of the Solar System is necessary for this program.

• experience the size and distance to the planets on the same scale with a with a Solar System scale model activity.
• use the Internet to research about a planet and get the most current information (more moons for Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus have been discovered since this program was written). This is an excellent opportunity to discuss the nature of science, and how our knowledge base changes over time, and how scientists debate conflicting discoveries.
• When doing some Internet research, include a study of the space probes which might be exploring the Solar System now, or will be soon.
• design a human colony on another planet or moon; this could include a floating "cloud city" for one of the largest planets.
• design a travel brochure for a trip to somewhere in the Solar System; if possible, include photos from NASA web sites.

Planet Characteristics

Mercury

• Closest Planet to the Sun
• Solid rocky surface
• Very little atmosphere
• Rotation Rate = once per 59 days
• Revolution Rate = once per 88 days
• Maximum Temperature = 425 degrees C (800 degrees F)
• Minimum Temperature = -180 degrees C (-300 degrees F)
• No moons

Venus

• 2nd planet from the Sun
• Very thick atmosphere
• Electrical storms, sulfuric acid rain
• Atmospheric pressure = 90 times Earth's
• Rotation Rate = once per 243 days
• Revolution Rate = once per 225 days
• Surface Temperature = 480 degrees C (900 degrees F)
• No moons

Earth

• 3rd planet from the Sun
• 75 % covered with water
• Atmosphere 76% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen
• Rotation Rate = once per 24 hours
• Revolution Rate = once per 365 days (one year)
• Plant and animal life
• 1 moon

Mars

• 4th planet from the Sun
• Solid rocky surface: dust soil, contains iron oxide (rust)
• Very thin atmosphere: mostly carbon dioxide
• Rotation Rate = once per 24.6 hours
• Revolution Rate = once per 687 days
• Maximum Temperature = 27 degrees C (80 degrees F)
• Minimum Temperature = -133 degrees C (-207 degrees F)
• 2 moons

Jupiter

• 5th planet from the Sun
• Largest planet
• One of the four "Gas Giants"
• Simple, thin ring system
• Rotation Rate = once per 10 hours
• Revolution Rate = once per 10 years
• Great Red Spot: giant storm
• at least 16 moons

Saturn

• 6th planet from the Sun
• Second of the four "Gas Giants"
• Second largest planet
• Atmosphere: turbulent, storms
• Rotation Rate = once per 10.25 hours
• Revolution Rate = once per 29 years
• Rings: made of silica rock, iron oxide, ice
• at least 18 moons

Uranus

• 7th planet from the Sun
• Third "Gas Giant" planet
• Third largest planet
• Atmosphere: hydrogen, helium
• Rotation Rate = once per 17 hours
• Revolution Rate = once per 84 years
• Rings: thin, dark
• at least 15 moons

Neptune

• 8th planet from the Sun
• Last of the "Gas Giants"
• Fourth largest planet
• Atmosphere: hydrogen, helium; light and dark markings
• Rotation Rate = once per 16 hours
• Revolution Rate = once per 165 years
• Rings: thin, dark
• 8 moons

Pluto

• 9th planet from the Sun
• Smallest planet (smaller than our moon)
• Receives very little light or heat
• Atmosphere: freezes in winter
• Rotation Rate = once per 153 hours (over 6 days)
• Revolution Rate = once per 248 years
• 1 moon ("Charon", half the size of Pluto)

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Updated October 29, 2003