The solar system (age 11+)

ScienceSpace Systems & Earth's HistoryAges 11–12

Describe the detailed structure of the solar system, including moons, asteroids, and comets, compare orbital periods and distances of the planets, and distinguish between planets, dwarf planets, and other bodies

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Teaching Table

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Organise solar-system bodies and compare two orbital periods using a reference.

Activity

Comfort with the particular task and communication mode; optional oral/scribed work is recorded separately.

Policy

Check the learner can access these words/materials and prerequisite ideas; historical authorship is not readiness or mastery. If not, demonstrate briefly or revisit the named prerequisite.

Use the supplied order strip and cards, not a scale model. Put cards away only for the optional retrieval step. No printer: view only the active learner card on screen, or an adult copies its exact prompts onto plain paper without answers. Oral pointing/dictation is an access option; record it as adapted/supported and do not claim handwriting from it. Keep adult keys/scripts separate; supply only the current stage.

Use fictional cases and invented identifiers; never record personal conflicts, health, bank details or family spending. Adult prompts/keys are private companion files, never learner links.

Use the complete materials on screen or print only the current sheet. Keep adult guidance out of learner view. Retain an earlier model only when the current step supplies it as context.

Teaching limits and safe use

These are finite task opportunities, not proof of mastery. Record what was attempted and what support was used.

Full quantitative distance/period comparison and distinguishing physical fact for every planet remain partial; category definitions need full domain review beyond fetched NASA summaries. No current moon totals used.

Use fictional cases and invented identifiers; never record personal conflicts, health, bank details or family spending. Adult prompts/keys are private companion files, never learner links.

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1590 concepts · 8 subjects

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Organise solar-system bodies and compare two orbital periods using a reference.

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Check understanding

Names the eight planets in order and gives one distinguishing fact about each
Describes the difference between a planet, a dwarf planet, an asteroid, and a comet
Explains the relationship between distance from the Sun and orbital period (planets further out take longer)

“If your child was making a model of the solar system, could they describe the difference between a planet, a moon, an asteroid, and a comet — and explain why planets closest to the Sun take less time to complete an orbit?”

Curriculum record

Type: Conceptual
Subject: Science
Domain: Space Systems & Earth's History
Age range: Ages 11–12

Standards

uk-nc-2013:KS3.Sci.Phys.SpacePhysics.1