NATURAL SCIENCES
GRADE 8
RESEARCH PROJECT
TOTAL: 45
CONSTRUCTING A MODEL OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
AIM: To understand the sizes of planets and distances in the Solar System using a
Model.
Materials needed: compass, cardboard 50cm wide, a sheet of white paper, pens and
pencils, a long ruler, glue, scissors, information sheet , big object
example dust bin)
INFORMATION ON THE PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
Name of
planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Distance from sun
(millions of kilometers)
Diameter
(kilometers)
58
108
150
228
778
1 425
2 870
4 490
4 880
12 100
12 760
6 790
143 000
120 500
51 100
49 500
Time to complete
one revolution
around the sun
88 days
225 days
365 days
687 days
11 years, 315 days
29 years, 168 days
84 years
165 years
ACTIVITY A
Calculate and scale the relative sizes of the planets and their distances from the
sun
1.
Draw a table consisting of the first three columns of the information sheet.
Add two more columns, with the headings ‘relative distance from the sun
(millions of kilometers)’ and ‘ Relative distance (kilometers)’.
(2)
2.
Divide the diameter of each planet by one billion to express the diameter
in millimeters.
One billion = one thousand million.: 1 000 000 000)
Example:
The diameter of Earth is 12 760 km. Dividing by 1 000 000 000 gives a
diameter of 12,76 mm. Write the answers in the table.
3.
(8)
Divide the distance of the planets from the sun by 1 00 billion
(1 000 000 000 000) to express the distance in centimetres.
For example: The Earth is 150 million kilometers from the sun. Dividing
by 1 000 000 000 000 gives 15 cm. Write the calculated answers in the
table.
(8)
TOTAL ACTIVITY A: 18
ACTIVITY B
Construct a scale model of the solar System
1.
Use a compass to draw circles on the sheet of white paper according to
the correct relative diameter sizes you have calculated. These represent
each of the planets. Remember to set your compass to half of the relative
diameter in each case so that you work with the radii.
(2)
2.
label each circle and cut it out.
(1)
3.
Draw a half circle at the edge of the cardboard to represent the Sun.
It should be much bigger than the biggest planet.
(1)
4.
5.
Use the ruler to measure out the relative distances of each planet from
the Sun. Stick each planet in correct spot along a straight line.
(3)
Draw elliptical orbits around the Sun for each planet.
(1)
Answer the following questions:
1.
Which planet is the :
(a)
(b)
2.
smallest?
biggest?
(1)
(1)
Which planet is :
(a) Closest to the sun?
(b) Furthest from the sun?
3.
(a)
(b)
(1)
(1)
Look at the column on the information table showing the time it
takes each planet to orbit the Sun. What trend or pattern do you
notice.
(2)
Explain the trend by referring to the circumference of the orbits.
(2)
TOTAL ACTIVITY B: 16
ACTIVITY C
Choose any object found in our Solar System which you find interesting and
present your research on a fact sheet. Use the following headings:








Name of object
Diameter / size
Distance from the Sun / position in space
Gravity
Revolution : time it takes to go around the Sun
Surface temperature
Atmosphere
Other interesting information
TOTAL: 11
GRAND TOTAL: 45
NATURAL SCIENCES
GRADE 8
RESEARCH PROJECT
TOTAL: 45
MARKING GUIDELINES
ACTIVITY A
1.
Name of
planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Distance from
sun (millions
of kilometers)
58
108
150
228
778
1 425
2 870
4 490
Diameter
(kilometers)
Relative distance
from the sun
(millions of km)
Relative
distance
(kilometers)
4 880
12 100
12 760
6 790
143 000
120 500
51 100
49 500
1 mark for drawing of table with 5 columns
1 mark for both headings with units of columns 4 and 5
(2)
2.
Name of
planet
Distance from
sun (millions
of kilometers)
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
58
108
150
228
778
1 425
2 870
4 490
Diameter
(kilometers)
Relative distance
from the sun
(millions of km)
(mm)
4 880
4,9
12 100
12,1
12 760
12,76
6 790
6,8
143 000
143,0
120 500
120,5
51 100
51,1
49 500
49,5
1 mark for showing calculations
Relative
distance
(kilometers)
(cm)
(9)
3.
Name of
planet
Distance from
sun (millions
of kilometers)
Diameter
(kilometers)
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
58
108
150
228
778
1 425
2 870
4 490
4 880
12 100
12 760
6 790
143 000
120 500
51 100
49 500
Relative distance
from the sun
(millions of km)
(mm)
Relative
distance
(kilometers)
(cm)
5,8
10,8
15
22,8
77,8
142,5
287
449
1 mark for showing calculations
(9)
TOTAL ACTIVITY A: 20
ACTIVITY B
RUBRIC TO ASSESS MODEL
Criteria
1. Circles drawn with compass which represents the planets
2. Each planet is labeled
3. Half circle drawn at edge of card board and is bigger than the
biggest planet
4. Relative distance of each planet measured correctly
Planets are arranged in the correct position
Planets arranged in straight line
5. Elliptical orbits drawn around the sun for each planet
6. Model is neat, colourful
TOTAL:
1.
2.
Marks
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
10
(a)
Mercury
(1)
(b)
Jupiter
(1)
(a)
Mercury
(1)
(b)
Neptune
(1)
3.
(a)
The planets closest to the sun revolves around the sun over
a shorter period of time than those planets further away
OR
The further away the planets are from the sun the longer it
takes for that planet to complete one revolution around the sun
(b)
(2)
- All planets spin on their own axis and also orbit the Sun
- The time taken for each planet to orbit the sun varies from planet
to planet.
- Some planets spin quite quickly on their axis and others more
Slowly
(2)
TOTAL ACTIVITY B: 18
ACTIVITY C
Learner’s answers will vary according to which object in the Solar System they chose to
research
If one of the 8 planets is chosen, then slotting the information gathered under the fact
sheet headings should be easy
Slight modifications of headings may be required if learners choose to research
asteroids, meteors, comets
RUBRIC TO ASSESS RESEARCH
CRITERIA
Name of object being researched is given
Diameter / size of object is provided
Distance from the sun/ position in space is provided
Gravity mentioned
Time it takes to revolve around the sun
Surface temperature mentioned
Atmosphere discussed
Other interesting factors mentioned
All factors are included in research
TOTAL:
GRAND TOTAL: 50
MARKS
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
12