Introduction
The Planet Walk is an opportunity for members of the Anchorage community to explore the relative size and distance of the solar system while discovering interesting information about the structure of our solar system.
Anchorage's Planet Walk Web Site
The Planet Walk is interesting for students of all ages, though this curriculum is recommended for students in Grades 5 - 8.
The Planet Walk is a wonderful extension to the Anchorage School District 6th grade curriculum. Take the Planet Walk anytime after completing Lesson 4 of the Astronomy Kit. 8th grade teachers may want to incorporate the Planet Walk during their astronomy unit.
All students will get more out of the Planet Walk if they first complete some kind of scaling activity that helps give them a sense of the relative size of the planets in our solar system and the distance between them.
The Earth as a Peppercorn Activity
Scaling Activity from 6th Grade Astronomy Kit
Planet Walk Web Quest - You have been selected to help design a vacation package to one of the planets in Earth's solar system. You and your team will create a company that will put together a vacation package that can safely deliver your clients to your vacation destination. There are many competitors in this market. Your team consists of a rocket specialist, space suit designer, travel agent and astronomer.
Activities at each station of the Planet Walk include cooperative learning strategies. In order to prepare for using these strategies, we include:
Pre-Planet Walk Cooperative Learning Lesson
Planet Walk Traveler's Log -
You may download all pages as a single file or each station separately:
Teacher's Notes for Traveler's Log
ALL (or)
Cover Page
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Asteroid Belt
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Blank Note PagePlanet Walk Resources
Teacher generated and student tested Planet Walk activities geared for 8th grade Algebra I students. Activities for the Sun station through Saturn (downtown to Lyn Ary Park). For more information and a copy of the lessons, please contact Everette Burk.
Planet Images -
Image #1, Image #2, Image #3, Image #4, Image #5
ASD AudioVisual Resources
Standards
The following Alaska State GLE's can be addressed by the Planet Walk curriculum:
[6] SD4.1 The student demonstrates an understanding of the theories regarding the origin and evolution of the universe by: contrasting characteristics of planets and stars (i.e., light reflecting, light emitting, orbiting, orbited, composition).
[6] SD4.2 The student demonstrates an understanding of the theories regarding the origin and evolution of the universe by: defining a light year.
[8] SA1.1 The student demonstrates an understanding of the processes of science by: asking questions, predicting, observing, describing, measuring, classifying, making generalizations, inferring and communicating.
[8] SD4.1 The student demonstrates an understanding of the theories regarding the origin and evolution of the universe by: creating models of the solar system illustrating size, location/position, composition, moons/rings, and conditions.
The following Anchorage School District 6th Grade Science Concepts can be addressed by the Planet Walk:
Nine planets of very different size, composition, and surface features move around the sun in nearly circular orbits. Some planets have a variety of moons and even flat rings of rocks and ice particles orbiting them. some of these planets show evidence of geologic activity. The earth is orbited by one moon, many artificial satellites, and debris.
The sun's gravitiational pull holds the earth and other planets in their orbits, just as the planet's gravitational pull keeps their moons in orbit around them.
A model is something very different from the real thing but can be used to learn something about the real thing.
The following Anchorage School District 8th Grade Integrated Science Frameworks are also addressed by the Planet Walk:
8 ES 1 The Solar System consists of planets that move around the Sun. Many of these planets have objects that orbit them. In addition to the planets, the solar system also includes asteroids and comets.
8 ES 2 Planets in the Solar System have different compositions and conditions.
8 ES 3 The light-year is used to measure vast distances in space.
8 ES 5 The Sun's gravitational pull holds Earth and other planets in their orbits, just as the planets gravitational pull keeps their moons in orbit around them.
Language Objectives
Students will:
• discuss in both small and large groups the characteristics of the nine planets in our solar system
• read, listen to, and discuss information on the Planet Walk signs
• record their ideas and notes in their Planet Walk Traveler’s Log
Content Objectives:
Students will:• use models to explore the relative size and distance from the Sun of the planets in our solar system
• compare and contrast the characteristics of the nine planets in our solar system
• gain an understanding of a light year
Culturally Responsive Schools Goal
Students will make effective use of the knowledge, skills and ways of knowing from their own cultural traditions to learn about the larger world in which they live.
