How can the planets of the solar system be presented to children? This question is of interest not only to teachers, but also to parents who want to introduce their kids to astronomical observations. The description of the solar system is best started with the most ardent star - a source of heat and energy.
For example, you can tell children that the planet appeared due to a strong explosion of several stars, which occurred almost 4.5 billion years ago.
The origin of the solar system was studied by ancient astronomers, trying to connect the sun with the phenomena that occurred on Earth.
Planets of the Solar System
Its center is the Sun, around which eight planets move in their own orbits, each of which deserves close attention.
An interesting fact is that until 2006, Pluto was also included in the structure of the solar system, calling it the ninth planet. But, after the sizes of the planet, the distance to the Sun were determined, astronomers found out that it was a dwarf planet, and therefore it began to be attributed to the Kuiper belt.
Division into groups
Considering the structure of the solar system with students, it can be noted that all the planets are divided into groups:
The first group includes the following planets: Venus, Mercury, Mars, Earth. They are small in size, rocky surface, closest to the Sun.
The gas giants include: Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter. These planets are characterized by large sizes. Some have rings that are made up of ice dust and rocky pieces.
The sun
Astronomy for children is impossible without a story about this star. It is around it that the planets revolve, as well as the satellites in the solar system. The celestial body consists of helium and hydrogen. The age of the Sun is 4.5 billion years. Currently, it is at the center of the life cycle, a gradual increase in size is observed. After the same number of years, the star will expand, closer to the Earth’s orbit.
It is the Sun that is the main source of light and heat for the Earth. The star changes its activity once every 11 years. On its surface, temperatures are so high that no special device has yet been able to get close to the star and take clear pictures.
Earth group
Astronomy for children includes an overview of each planet.
Mercury is a planet that can be called the smallest in the solar system.
Its diameter is only 4879 kilometers. Mercury is closest to the Sun. In the daytime on the planet, the temperature is about +350 degrees Celsius, and at night the indicator drops to -170 degrees.
If we compare with the Earth year, then Mercury makes a complete revolution around the Sun in 88 days, and the day is 59 Earth days. Astronomers were able to establish that the rotation speed of Mercury around the Sun periodically changes.
Mercury is deprived of the atmosphere, which is why the planet is often attacked by asteroids, which leave a huge number of craters on the surface.
Due to its proximity to the brightest star in our Galaxy, Mercury is poorly understood. Astronomers were able to detect helium, oxygen, argon, hydrogen, sodium on the planet. What secret does this planet of the solar system have?
For children, it can be noted that according to one version, Mercury is considered a former satellite of Venus, but evidence of this theory has not yet been found.
Venus
This planet is the second remotest from the Sun. It is close in size to the Earth, its diameter is 12 104 kilometers. As for the remaining parameters, they differ significantly from our planet.
The day lasts on Venus - 242 Earth days, a year lasts 255 days. 95% of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide, which is why Venus creates a greenhouse effect, the result is a temperature of 475 degrees Celsius. It was possible to detect 0.1% oxygen and 5% nitrogen in the atmosphere.
There is practically no liquid on Venus, it is covered with frozen basaltic lava. There is an interesting version according to which once there were oceans on the planet, but because of the high temperature, they evaporated, the solar wind blew steam into outer space.
Near the planet, slight winds are noted, but, at an altitude of 50 kilometers, their speed increases significantly, and reaches 300 m / s.
A large number of hills and craters have been discovered on the planet that resemble earthly continents. The formation of craters is due to the fact that once the planet had a less dense atmosphere.
As a distinctive feature of Venus, one can note its movement from east to west, which is unusual for other planets. The reason for this anomaly is the ability of its atmosphere to fully reflect sunlight. Venus has no natural satellites.
Land
Arguing over how many planets are in the solar system, one cannot but mention our Earth. It is located at a distance of 150 million kilometers from the sun. Such remoteness explains the comfortable temperature on our planet, suitable for liquid water. That is why the Earth in the solar system is the only planet on which there is life.
More than 70% of its surface was covered with water. There is a version according to which, many thousands of years ago, the atmosphere contained steam, which made it possible to create the temperature on the surface necessary for its transition to a liquid state of aggregation.
Earth in the solar system is a special planet. Indeed, in its atmosphere there is oxygen, which is necessary for the process of photosynthesis, as well as for the respiration of living organisms.
The diameter of our planet is 12 742 km.
The duration of earthly days is 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds. What is the peculiarity of this planet of the solar system? It will be interesting for children to learn that there are huge tectonic plates in the bowels of the planet, upon collision of which a change in the landscape occurs.
In addition to oxygen, there are inert gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, and 77% is nitrogen.
What other features does this planet of the solar system have? For children, you can prepare a story that the moon acts as a natural satellite of the planet, which is always turned to the Earth on one side.
Mars
Let's try to find out the secret of the "red" planet of the solar system. For children, it should be noted that Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is much smaller than the Earth, its radius is only 6779 km. On the planet, a temperature difference of -155 degrees to +20 degrees at the equator is allowed.
Mars has an insignificant magnetic field, a very rarefied atmosphere, so solar radiation penetrates unhindered onto the surface of the planet. Answering the question about the possibility of life on the planet, scientists come to the conclusion that living things can only survive inside Mars.
Automatic devices that examined the surface of the planet found glaciers and dried up river beds. The Martian sand contains iron oxide, which gives the planet a red color.
There are often dust storms of destructive nature. 96% of the Martian atmosphere is carbon dioxide, and the content of water vapor and oxygen is minimal. The planet has two satellites: Deimos and Phobos. They are small, irregular in shape, similar to asteroids.
Gas giants
Arguing over how many planets are in the solar system, Jupiter, Uranus, and Saturn cannot be ignored.
The largest planet in the solar system is Jupiter. The diameter of this planet exceeds the Earth by 19 times. Most of the planet is argon, xenon, krypton. There is helium and hydrogen in the atmosphere of this planet, and there is no water on the surface. Jupiter has about 67 satellites. Among the largest emit: Europe, Callisto, Io, Ganymede.
Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system. It is similar in composition to the sun. The planet’s atmosphere contains hydrogen and a small amount of helium. In its upper layers, auroras and thunderstorms are often observed.
Saturn's uniqueness in the presence of 65 satellites and several rings, consisting of small particles of ice and stone formations.
Uranus is the third largest planet, the seventh - by location from the Sun. Astronomers call it the "ice planet", because on its surface the temperature is -224 degrees.
Of the 27 satellites of Uranus, the largest are: Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Miranda.
Neptune is rightly called the ice giant. Scientists have found that on this planet the wind speed reaches 700 m / s. The largest of the 14 moons of this planet is Triton.
Conclusion
In order to interest children in astronomical research, the teacher must choose the right material for the initial acquaintance with the planets of the solar system. The schoolchildren are interested in legends and myths told in such a way that children have a desire to independently find material about each planet.