Presented by Monica Acosta THE SUN AND THE NINE PLANETS Presented by Monica Acosta

TEKS §112.7. Science, Grade 5. (a) Introduction (5)  A system is a collection of cycles, structures, and processes that interact. Students should understand a whole in terms of its components and how these components relate to each other and to the whole. All systems have basic properties that can be described in terms of space, time, energy, and matter. Change and constancy occur in systems and can be observed and measured as patterns. These patterns help to predict what will happen next and can change over time. (b)  Knowledge and skills (5)  Science concepts. The student knows that a system is a collection of cycles, structures, and processes that interact. The student is expected to: (A)  describe some cycles, structures, and processes that are found in a simple system; and (B)  describe some interactions that occur in a simple system.

The sun is: *a huge, spinning ball of hot gas. *a star. *located at the center of our solar system. It lights up the Earth and provides us with heat. The surface temperature of the sun is approximately 9,900 degrees Fahrenheit!

Mercury is: *the first and closest planet to the sun. *the second smallest planet in our solar system. *one of the four “rocky” planets. It has no moons. It has thousands of craters on it’s surface.

Venus is: *the second planet from the sun. *known as the morning and evening star. *one of the four “rocky” planets. It has no moons. It’s atmosphere is made up of clouds of sulfuric acid.

Earth is: *the third planet from the sun. *our home planet. *one of the four “rocky” planets. It has 1 moon. Most of Earth’s surface is covered by water. Earth has a protective atmosphere that protects us of the sun’s dangerous radiation.

Mars is: *the third planet from the sun. *known as the red planet. *one of the four “rocky” planets. It has 2 moons. The average surface temperature is below zero (freezing temperature).

Jupiter is: *the fifth planet from the sun. *known for it’s Great Red Spot. *the largest planet in our solar system. *a gas planet (doesn’t have a solid surface). It has at least 61 moons. It’s Great Red Spot is a storm that has been raging on for at least 400 years.

Saturn is: *the sixth planet from the sun. *the second largest planet in our solar system. *known for it’s many rings. *gas planet. It has at least 34 moons. Saturn is lighter than water and would float in a bathtub if you had one big enough!

Uranus is: *the seventh planet from the sun. *a gas planet. *is tilted on it’s side! It has at least 21 moons. It’s outer layer of methane makes it look blue.

Neptune is: *the eighth planet from the sun. *a gas planet. It has at least 11 moons. It’s surface is very cold and it’s center is very warm. Triton (it’s largest moon) has “geysers”.

Pluto is: *the ninth and farthest planet from the sun. *very cold and exceptionally dark. *the smallest planet in the solar system. It has 1 moon. Very little is known about this planet because it is so far away.

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