FREE Online Classroom Tools
LOGINORREGISTER FOR FREE
HotChalk
LessonPlansPage.com
Math Language Arts Science Social Studies Art Computers & Internet Music P.E. & Health Other Multi-Disciplinary
HotChalk.com EdScope, L.L.C. EduBanners.com Learn PC Hardware @ SitesForTeachers @ Teach-nology Education Master's Teacher Magazines Teaching Jobs About This Site How To Use Contact Info Advertising Info Educational Links Having Problems?
Online Degrees Teacher's Guide
Bookmark and Share
Join LPP Newsletter:  
Search This Site:  
Classification
A SPECIAL INVITATION FOR TEACHERS... LEARN MORE CLOSE

Concordia University Online

LessonPlansPage.com would like to take a moment to let you know about Concordia University's new Master’s Degrees in Education that you can complete online in just one year!

Available Master's Degrees in Education include:

  • Curriculum & Instruction: Reading
  • Curriculum & Instruction: Methods & Curriculum
  • Curriculum & Instruction: English to Speakers
    of Other Languages
  • Educational Leadership

These programs can help you:

  • Open the door to a variety of school leadership career opportunities like higher education teaching, department chair, ELL consultant, literacy coach, or curriculum coordinator
  • Complete your degree in one year, on your schedule,
    from the comfort of your home
  • A Master's Degree could mean an automatic salary increase in your school district!

Find Out More!




A national university system with 10 campuses throughout the United States, Concordia was founded more than 100 years ago and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
CLOSE

Printable Version for your convenience!

    Mercury  Venus   Earth    Mars     Jupiter      Saturn        Uranus      Neptune     Pluto
(Planets are not to scale.)
Classification of the Solar System
The planets of the solar system can be classified in different ways
  1. by size
  2. by composition (or what they are made of)
  3. by distance from the Sun
  4. by history (when they were discovered)

 

Classification by Size
  1. There are the small planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Pluto. These planets have diameters less than 13000 kilometers. Mercury and Pluto are sometimes referred to as lesser planets (not to be confused with minor planets which is the official term for asteroids).
  2. There are also the giant planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The giant planets have diameters greater than 48000 kilometers. These planets are sometimes also called the gas giants.

Classification by composition
  1. There are terrestrial, or rocky planets, the ones made up mostly of rock and metal. These planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The terrestrial planets are have relatively high densities, slow rotation, solid surfaces, no rings and few satellites.
  2. Then there are the jovian or gas planets. These planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The gas planets are made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. They and usually have low densities, rapid rotation, deep atmospheres, rings and lots of satellites.
  3. Pluto is an exception as it thought to be made up of a mixture of rocks and several kinds of "ices". Scientists believe that most of these ices are that frozen gases and liquids such as methane and ammonia.

Distance from the Sun
  1. There are the inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
  2. Then there are the outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and Pluto
  3. The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter forms the boundary between the inner solar system and the outer solar system.

Historical Classification
  1. There are the classical planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. These planets have been known since prehistorical times. They can all been seen from Earth without the use of binoculars or telescopes.
  2. There are also the modern planets: Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. These have been discovered since the invention of telescopes since they are only visible with telescopes.
  3. There is also Earth.


Resources Used
Astronomy for Kids www.dustbunny.com/afk/
Small Worlds David Drew: Nelson, 1989
The Gas Giants David Drew: Nelson, 1989

Solar System Unit Glossary

Images from: Astronomical Pictures & Animations Astronomy Picture of the Day Welcome to the Planets

You will also find this unit here.

E-Mail Helen!

Click to visit other good teacher sites
Click here for more great teacher sites