MS.ESS1.3: Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects…

The Solar System: Gravity, Orbits and Scale Grades 5–8

Pace out the whole solar system across the schoolyard from real NASA distances, walk a human orbit held together by an arm of 'gravity', graph real planet years to find the pattern, and plan a mission from planet data cards. Nothing to buy: just the printed sheets and some space.

• How big is the solar system, really? 50–60 min

  Teams turn real NASA planet distances into footsteps and pace out the whole solar system across the schoolyard, then shrink the planets to the same scale. They find out why no poster or textbook picture can show the sizes and the distances at once.

• What is each world like? 50–60 min

  Teams read real NASA data cards for the eight planets and the Moon, sort the worlds, work out what a bathroom scale would read on each one, and argue which way 'down' points on another planet. Then they choose a mission destination and justify it with data.

Printable practice for MS.ESS1.3

• The Solar System: Gravity, Orbits and Scale workbook included with the unit

  2 English-support pages, 2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Sun, Earth and Moon workbook included with the unit

  1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

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