300 Earth: Astronomy--Ch. 27 The Planets & the Solar System
Topics, themes, and important concepts:
 Ch. 27.1 The Inner Planets
o Two Planetary Neighborhoods
o Mercury
o Venus
o Mars
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Ch. 27.2 The Outer Planets
o The Jovian Planets
o Jupiter
o Saturn
o Uranus
o Neptune, Pluto, and Charon
Vocabulary:
 asteroid
 asteroid belt
 Charon
 coma
 comet
 gas giants (planets)
 impact crater
 inner planets
 iron meteorite
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Jovian planets
Jupiter
Kuiper Belt
Mars
Mercury
meteor
meteor shower
meteorite
meteoroid
Bookwork:
 Ch. 27.1 The Inner Planets
o Read pgs. 586-592
o answer # 1, 3, 4 (pg. 592 )
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Ch. 27.2 The Outer Planets
o Read pgs. 594-598
o answer # 1 & 3 (pg. 598)
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Ch. 27.3 Planetary Satellites
o Read pgs. 599-601
o answer # 1 (pg. 601)
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Ch. 27.4 Solar-System Debris
o Read pgs. 602-605
o answer # 1, 2, 3 (pg. 605)
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Read Science & Technology section (pgs. 593)
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Chapter review questions
o answer # 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 (pgs. 608-609)
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Ch. 27.3 Planetary Satellites
o Satellites of Earth & Mars
o Jupiter's Moons
o Saturn's Moons
o The Moons of Uranus & Neptune
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Ch. 27.4 Solar-System Debris
o Comets & TNOs
o Asteroids
o Meteors & Meteoroids
o Meteorites
o Impact Craters
moon
Neptune
nucleus (of comet)
Oort Cloud
outer planets
Pluto
ring system
satellite
Saturn
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stony meteorite
stony-iron meteorite
tail
terrestrial planets
Trans-Neptunian
Objects (TNOs)
Uranus
Venus
300 Earth: Astronomy--Ch. 27 The Planets & the Solar System
Major assignments (others may be added, some may be omitted):
 Worksheets:
o Ch. 27.1 The Inner Planets
 “Venus and the Runaway Greenhouse Effect” article & questions
 "The Inner Planets" (reading essentials)
o Ch. 27.2 The Outer Planets
 "The Outer Planets" (reading essentials)
 “Pluto Not a Planet Anymore, Astronomers Rule”
o Ch. 27.3 Planetary Satellites
 "Wonder Worlds" article & questions
o Ch. 27.4 Solar-System Debris
 “Who Owns Asteroids or the Moon?” article & questions (can be done w/ ch. 25)
 “Target Earth?” reading & questions
 "Other Objects in the Solar System" (reading essentials)
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Labs:
o Ch. 27.1 The Inner Planets
 “Birth of the Solar System” lab
o Ch. 27.2 The Outer Planets
 “Birth of the Solar System” lab
o Ch. 27.3 Planetary Satellites
o Ch. 27.4 Solar-System Debris
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Activities/Projects:
o Planetary Travel/Infomercial Project (Unit may be done through this group project.)
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Computer-based activities:
o CyberEd
o GIS Investigations
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Quizzes/Tests
o Quizzes can be given at various points and cover any material covered up to that point (including lab
work or homework). May or may not be announced.
o Tests will cover all concepts covered in this chapter. Will be announced.
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CAPT
o Reading packets