RIC-20953 Early years Science - Space

Teacher background information
The theme Space is extremely broad. The following aspects have been included: the eight planets of the solar system; including
Earth; stars and constellations; astronauts; comets and meteors; the sun; telescopes; the moon; and satellites. Only brief details
have been included about each below. However, more detailed information can be found using internet sources. Also included is
the concept of ‘aliens’.
‘Outer space’ can be defi ned as the relatively ‘empty’ regions in the universe beyond the atmosphere of celestial bodies, including
Earth. Space includes planets, stars, comets, the sun, moons, asteroids, meteors, natural and built satellites and spacecraft. There
is no air in space.
The solar system is our sun and the eight planets that travel around it: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and
Neptune. Each planet moves around the sun in its own special pathway called an orbit. The planets in order of size from largest
to smallest are: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars and Mercury. The sun, of course, is much larger than all of
them. The colours of the planets are: Jupiter (red/brown and cream stripes with a red ‘eye’, Saturn (yellow and grey stripes), Uranus
(light blue with white at the polar cap), Neptune (blue), Earth (blue and green), Venus (bright yellow and orange), Mars (red) and
Mercury (brown and grey).
The movement of the Earth on its axis in relation to the sun creates day and night. The tilt of the Earth on its axis creates the different
seasons.
Stars are giant spheres of gas which give off both heat and light. They appear to twinkle because their light is bent by turbulence in
the Earth’s atmosphere. They can be many different colours, depending on their temperature. The hottest stars are blue. Our sun is
an example of a cooler, yellow star. Some stars form patterns called ‘constellations’. A galaxy is by defi nition any large system of
stars held together by gravitation and separated from any other similar system by great areas of space.
Meteors are pieces of rocky or metallic material which come into the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up. Comets are chunks of dirty
ice, dust and gas.
A telescope is an optical instrument or device for making distant objects appear nearer and larger. Astronomical telescopes are used
for viewing objects outside the Earth. Most telescopes are located on Earth, but others have been put in space.
Concepts to be developed
• Outer space is made up of many things—natural and human-made.
• The eight planets in the solar system in order are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. (Pluto is no longer considered a ‘full’ planet.)
These orbit the sun.
• The sun gives heat and light to Earth.
• The moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It has lots of different landforms and
different phases.
• Astronauts go into space. They need special clothes to help them survive, and special transport to travel in space.
• Stars are large bodies in space. There are many stars in space including those in constellations. They appear to twinkle.
• Meteors (falling or shooting stars) and comets are found in space.
• Astronomers use telescopes to learn about space.
• We can imagine that there are aliens in space and what they may be like.
Phases of the moon
1.
2.
3.
4.
New moon
Waxing crescent
First quarter
Waxing gibbous
5.
6.
7.
8.
Full moon
Waning gibbous
Last quarter
Waning crescent
48 Early years themes—Science—Space www.ricpublications.com.au – R.I.C. Publications ®