Activity overview
Science topics:
Space
Put your class' observation skills to the test with these three images of planets: Mercury, Earth and Saturn. This activity is great for promoting observation and discussion skills.
Run the activity
This activity has been co-created with Glasgow Science Centre as part of Explorify’s collaboration with Science and Discovery Centres.
1. Show the three images above and ask everyone to come up with as many similarities and differences as they can. If they get stuck, prompt them to think about:
- appearance
- what they do
- where they might be found
2. Then, everyone needs to decide which one is the odd one out and why. Encourage a reason for every answer and there is no wrong answer!
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How to run Odd One Out activitiesBackground science
The three images are the planets Venus, Earth and Saturn as displayed in the Space Zone at Glasgow Science Centre. The white circles indicate each of the known moons orbiting that planet and the fine dotted line the orbital path. Venus has no moons but the display still has the fine dotted line.
There are eight planets in our solar system but only one has the conditions for life.
Earth is the only planet in our solar system to have liquid water on the surface. The water in the seas and rivers evaporate to form clouds, which condense and produce water, hail or snow. The water cycle makes it possible for living things to exist. Planets too close to the Sun are far too hot for water to exist as a liquid; it would be turned to steam and evaporate; too far away from the Sun and water would freeze. Earth’s orbit is just right; neither too hot nor too cold. We call this the Goldilocks or habitable zone.
Venus, the second closest to the Sun, is the hottest planet in our solar system with an average temperature of 464°C. Venus is covered in clouds of sulphuric acid floating in a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide, which smells like rotten eggs. The average temperature on Saturn is -139°C. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and is the second largest in our Solar System. It is a massive ball made mostly of hydrogen and helium with rings around it. Saturn's rings are thought to be pieces of comets, asteroids, or shattered moons that broke up before they reached the planet. They are made of billions of small chunks of ice and rock coated with other materials such as dust.
Earth has one Moon, Venus has none, whereas Saturn has 82 known moons.
Watch out for...
Children can think that the Earth is the biggest object within our Solar System because the Sun, Moon and other planets appear to be small from Earth. Many children are also surprised to learn that the Sun is a star. They may also believe that Mars is a hot planet because of its colour.
This does not need to be corrected during the session, but you can pick it up later.
Take it further
Activities
Children could research the average temperatures of all eight planets in our solar system. This NASA website is a good source of information about the different planets. The class could research the distance from the Sun, how many moons each planet have and what the atmosphere is like.
Model the planet’s distance from the Sun using this Fruit Solar System activity.
For a more in depth exploration of planets outside our solar system you use the different activities in this ESERO-UK publication: Are we alone?
Watch
Visit the Solar System with Paxi or learn about exo-planets in the universe.
Cross-curricular
Build a scale model of our solar system with Glasgow Science Centre’s video guide.
Discover the wonder of STEM at Glasgow Science Centre
Explore incredible experiences for you and your pupils that will fire imaginations and ignite curiosity.
At Glasgow Science Centre you will find a wide a range of in-person and online curriculum-linked STEM learning experiences. Live shows, hands-on workshops and interactive exhibits in an awe-inspiring setting will encourage your pupils to investigate, to be creative and to lead their own learning.
Explorify useful reading
Related activities
Children could compare three other Celestial objects or look at this Zoom In Zoom Out of the Moon, Black hole, or look at Great red spot
Think about What If Humans had never lived on Earth? Other What Ifs include: There was no moon? and There used to be life on Mars? Or consider this Big Question, How many stars can we see?