3.4 The stars and planets

Natural sciences

Grade 4

Planet earth and the universe

Module 41

The stars and planets

Activity:

Collecting information about the stars and planets for building models of them and talking about them

[lo 1.2, 2.1]

We often hear the expression: “Wow, you’re a star!” This means that you have performed brilliantly. It is wonderful to be compared with a star that holds so much fascination for people; they shine and are very beautiful.

Stars occur in groups and people who looked at them in the past imagined that they represented something. People who live south of the Equator can easily identify what they call the Southern Cross on a clear evening. On a dark night the Milky Way galaxy can be seen very clearly. But how does a star come into being?

There is a lot of gas and there are many clouds of dust in the universe.

Sometimes these are drawn together and form bigger masses. As they increase in size, they become very hot - hotter than 1 000 000 degrees Celsius.

The gas Helium is formed and when this happens, an incredible amount of energy and light is released.

This mass of gas and dust now begins to sparkle as a star!

There are nine planets that orbit the sun. Their sizes differ, they take different numbers of days to orbit the sun and they are at different distances from the sun.

1. Find a book that deals with the planets in the library and do some research. Write the names of all the planets on triangular pieces of paper and attach each of them to a stick like a flag. Also make one of these for the Sun. Go to the schools playing field/s and stick the Sun flag into the ground. Now place the other planets around the Sun in their correct order, e.g. Mercury is the nearest to the Sun, etc.

2. Cut circles of paper and write the name of a planet on each one. Hang these below one another on a clothes hanger, in the correct order with the Sun at the top. Join them together with any suitable thread and hang them in the classroom.

Assessment

LEARNING OUTCOME 1: SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONSThe learner will be able to act confidently on curiosity about natural phenomena, and to investigate relationships and solve problems in scientific, technological and environmental contexts.

Assessment Standard

We know this when the learner

• leads investigations and collects data.

LEARNING OUTCOME 2 : CONSTRUCTING SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE The learner will know and be able to interpret and apply scientific, technological and environmental knowledge.

Assessment Standard

We know this when the learner

2.1 recalls significant information.

Memorandum

Mr Brain cell

• Find out what the word "planet" meansAnswer
• Wanderer