Episode 19
st
21 July 2015
Teacher Resource
Visiting Pluto
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What is the name of the spacecraft that took photos of Pluto?
Pluto was first discovered in...
What do scientists know about Pluto?
Why is it called a dwarf planet?
When was the spacecraft launched?
New Horizons is about the size of a ____________.
What interesting things are on board the spacecraft?
Describe the images of Pluto.
New Horizons is the fastest spacecraft NASA has ever built.
True or false?
10. Working in pairs, brainstorm a list of questions you have
about Pluto.
Students will investigate the size and scale of
our solar system and analyse how Pluto
compares to other planets.
Science – Year 5
The Earth is part of a system of planets orbiting
around a star (the sun) (ACSSU078)
Scientific understandings, discoveries and
inventions are used to solve problems that
directly affect peoples’ lives (ACSHE083)
Science – Year 7
Scientific knowledge changes as new evidence
becomes available, and some scientific
discoveries have significantly changed people’s
understanding of the world (ACSHE119)
What do you see, think and wonder?
After watching the BtN Pluto story, respond to the following questions:
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What did you SEE in this video?
What do you THINK about what you saw in this video?
What does this video make your WONDER?
What did you LEARN from this story?
How did this story make you FEEL?
What was SURPRISING about this story?
Key facts
Use the BtN story transcript to make a fact sheet about Pluto. Swap
or compare your facts with your classmates. Keep swapping your list
of facts until you have built up a detailed fact file about Pluto.
Alternatively make a quiz and then test your classmates.
©ABC 2015
Profile of Pluto
Create a profile of Pluto using a range of sources of information. Include a history of Pluto, and respond to
the following questions:
 When and who discovered Pluto?
 How was it named
 How big is Pluto?
 Where Pluto in the solar system?
 What does Pluto look like? Describe using
words and pictures.
 When and why did Pluto become a dwarf
planet?
 List 10 interesting facts about Pluto
Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast Pluto
with other planets in our solar system. Compare and
contrast the size of the planets, the distance from the sun and its physical features.
Journey to Pluto
Do you think that in about another century humans will be able to travel to Pluto?
Imagine you are one of the first people to travel on a spacecraft to Pluto. Describe the following:
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What will you need to do to prepare for your journey?
What will you take with you and why?
How far do you have to travel from Earth?
What do you see on your journey?
Explain your first impressions of Pluto.
Source: NASA
©ABC 2015
Questions and Answers
Are you curious about astronomy? Make a list of questions you have
about the solar system that you would like to ask an astronomer. Use
the internet to find answers to your questions. For example:
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What direction do planets rotate?
Why are planets round?
Is there really a 10th planet?
Visit the following website to see which questions are answered.
Ask an Astronomer – http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/
Make a model of Pluto
Create a papier-mâché model of Pluto, using a balloon, paper and glue. Collect and analyse images sent
back by the New Horizon space craft to find out what Pluto looks like to help when making your model. Think
about the colour, features and scale of Pluto when creating your papier-mâché model.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-09/pluto-comes-into-focus/6566818
Visualising our solar system
Make a scale model of the planets in our solar system. In small groups, students will represent the size of the
sun and the planets in our solar system as accurately as possible. Students need to agree on an
approximate scale for their model. The model should begin with the sun and show planets in order. Use this
calculator to help determine size and scale. http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/
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What scale will you use to model the solar system?
What materials or found objects will you use to represent the sun and each of the planets?
What surprised you about you about this activity?
Following this activity, students will agree on a scale to represent the distance of the planets from the sun.
Calculate and record the distances using a spreadsheet. Consider modelling your findings on your school
oval. In this BtN story we demonstrate the scale of our solar system, using a bowling ball, a pin, a
peppercorn, a pecan, a hazelnut and a peanut, on a racecourse! Watch this ABC Splash video to help you
visualise the size and scale of our solar system.
Be a reporter for a day
Investigate the New Horizons journey to Pluto and write a newspaper article describing your findings.
Alternatively investigate current research on the possibility of a tenth planet.
Things to think about:
 Who is your target audience? Use age appropriate language and themes.
 Write a headline that is short and to the point.
 Use words and pictures in your report.
 Find information from a variety of sources
 Present the facts and/or opinions clearly and accurately
©ABC 2015
ABC News – Pluto comes into focus
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-09/pluto-comes-into-focus/6566818
ABC Science – New Horizons: Countdown to Pluto
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/06/01/4245193.htm
CBBC Newsround – New horizons probe getting ready for Pluto fly-by
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/33507634
YouTube – Pluto in a Minute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_ORNCssLeY&list=PLiuUQ9asub3RUlLBXMFGq8aFEPS5yONT2
NASA – New Horizons
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html
ABC Splash – Make a mini solar system
http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/30339/scaling-down-our-solar-system
Education Department Victoria – Solar System
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/samples/pages/solars
ystem.aspx
Museum Victoria – Scienceworks: The Solar System
http://museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/education/education-kits/planetarium/the-solar-system/
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©ABC 2015