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Standards 

  • SC.8.E.5.8 Compare various historical models of the Solar System, including geocentric and heliocentric. Moderate (EOC)

  • SC.8.N.3.2 Explain why theories may be modified but are rarely discarded. High (EOC)

  • SC.8.E.5.4 Explore the Law of Universal Gravitation by explaining the role that gravity plays in the formation of planets, stars, and solar systems and in determining their motions. High (EOC)

  • SC.8.E.5.6 Create models of solar properties including: rotation, structure of the Sun, convection, sunspots, solar flares, and prominences. Low (EOC)

  • SC.8.E.5.3 Distinguish the hierarchical relationships between planets and other astronomical bodies relative to the solar system, galaxy, and universe, including distance, size, and composition. High (EOC)

  • SC.8.E.5.7 Compare and contrast the properties of objects in the Solar System including the Sun, planets, and moons to those of Earth, such as gravitational force, distance from the Sun, speed, movement, temperature, and atmospheric conditions. Moderate. (EOC)

Big Ideas/ Enduring Understanding 

  • People have developed models of the solar system that have changed over time as new technology increased our knowledge of space.

  • Gravity is a constant force that caused the formation and movement of our Solar System.

  • The Sun is the center of our solar system and has unique properties and characteristics.

  • The terrestrial or inner planets differ in size, composition, gravitational force, distance from the sun, speed, movement, temperature, and atmosphere.

  • The gas or outer planets differ in size, composition, gravitational force, distance from the sun, speed, movement, temperature, and atmosphere.

  • Our knowledge of small bodies in the solar system helps us to understand the universe.

Essential Questions 

  • What observations about the Sun’s motions did early astronomers use to support the geocentric theory?

  • Why don’t people on the other side of the world fall off?

  • How does gravity affect objects on Earth and other planets?

  • What are the unique properties of the Sun?

  • How do the Sun’s properties impact life on Earth?

  • What makes each of the inner terrestrial planets unique?

  • Why can’t humans live on other planets?

  • What makes each of the outer gas giant planets unique?

  • Why can’t humans live on other planets?

  • What has technology contributed to the discovery of other astronomical bodies in the solar system?

Knowledge

  • Models of the solar system change as new technologies provide more data to allow scientists to refine models.

  • The formation of the Solar System is attributed to gravity.
    Characteristics of the force of gravity on objects in the Solar System.

  • Gravity is the main force that causes the motion of planets, stars, and solar systems.

  • Gravitational force increases as the masses of the objects increase or as the distance between objects decrease.

  • Gravity causes a planet’s orbit around the sun to be an ellipse with the sun at one focus.

  • Gravity causes a planet to move around its orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times.

  • Properties of the sun including rotation, solar structure, convection, prominences and sunspots

  • Solar flares and prominences release large amount of high energy particles creating strong magnetic fields that impact Earth.

  • Characteristics, size, distance from sun, and general composition of the terrestrial planets in our solar system.

  • The presence, absence, and relative thickness of planetary atmospheres.
    Relationship between distance from the Sun and the length of year of any inner planet

  • Relationship between distance from the Sun and average surface temperature of any inner planet

  • Sources of data used by astronomers, such as that from Earth-based telescopes and space probes

  • Characteristics, size, distance from sun and general composition about the terrestrial planets in our solar system

  • The presence, absence, and/or relative thickness of planetary atmospheres
    Relationship between distance from the Sun and the length of year of any outer planet

  • Relationship between distance from the Sun and average surface temperature of any outer planet

  • Define different types of small bodies (what they are) in our universe.

  • Describe the location and movement of small bodies in our universe.

  • Items assessing astronomical bodies are limited to planets, stars, moons, asteroids, nebulae, galaxies, dwarf planets, and comets.

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Skills

  • Compare and contrast the various models of the solar system to present time.

  • Explain the role that gravity plays in the formation and motion of planets, stars, and solar systems.

  • Use reasoning and imagination in devising hypotheses, predictions, and explanations.

  • Create and evaluate models of solar properties, including rotation, structure of the Sun, convection, sunspots, solar flares, and prominences.

  • Connect solar properties to events on Earth.

  • Construct and interpret data tables about characteristics of planets.

  • Compare and contrast the relative distance, relative size, and general composition of terrestrial planets in our solar system.

  • Analyze data from multiple sources.

  • Compare and contrast properties of objects in Solar System from multiple sources.

  • Sequence planets and other astronomical bodies using multiple characteristics.

  • Compare/Contrast the properties of small bodies in the solar system.

  • Interpret diagrams.

  • Analyze data from multiple sources.

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