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Grade 06 Science - EC: S6.D.3.1.1

Grade 06 Science - EC: S6.D.3.1.1

Continuum of Activities

Continuum of Activities

The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.

This continuum of activities offers:

  • Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
  • Questions/activities that grow in complexity
  • Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance

Grade Levels

6th Grade

Course, Subject

Science

Activities

  1. Rank the planets in size from largest to smallest.

  2. How many moons does each of the planets have?

  3. Why are some planets considered gas giants? Which planets are categorized as gas planets?
  1. Based on NASA’s planetary fact sheet provided by your teacher, how many moons can fit within the diameter of Earth? Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

  2. How do Uranus and Neptune differ from the other gas giants?
  1. What correlation exists between the size of the planet and the number of moons it has? Use NASA’s Planetary Fact Sheet from question 4 to help.

  2. Compare and contrast the Earth and Mars, including its size, surface, and atmosphere.

Answer Key/Rubric

  1. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury

  2. Note: The data presented reflects the known moons for each planet:

Mercury- 0, Venus- 0, Earth- 1, Mars- 2, Jupiter- 67, Saturn- 62, Uranus- 27, Neptune-14

  1. Gas giants are planets that have no solid surface. The planets that are gas giants are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
  1. Approximately 3.7 moons can fit across the Earth’s diameter (Diameter of Earth- 7,926mi, diameter of the moon- 2,159mi\ 7,926 ÷ 2,159 » 3.7).

  2. Uranus and Neptune have ices in their atmosphere, unlike the other two gas giants.
  1. The larger planets have more moons than the smaller planets.
  1. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

Earth

  • Larger surface area
  • Nitrogen is the most common gas in the atmosphere
  • Approximately 93 million miles from the Sun
  • Day is slightly less than 24 hours
  • Year is approximately 365 days
  • 1 moon
  • Warmer average temperature

Mars

  • Smaller surface area
  • Carbon Dioxide is the most common gas in the atmosphere
  • Approximately 143 million miles from the Sun
  • Day is slightly over 24 Earth hours
  • Year is approximately 687 Earth days
  • 2 moons
  • Colder average temperature

Similarities

  • Solid surfaces
  • Both inner planets
  • Have common gases in their atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and argon
  • Surface of Mars is about the same as the exposed dry land on Earth
  • Both have volcanoes, canyons, and basins on surface
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