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Photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope

This is a collection of four Hubble Space Telescope images of the giant planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Facts of interest about the image

The text outlines some of the remarkable attributes that set these planets apart from the smaller, rocky, terrestrial planets and includes a discussion of the planets' rings, moons, and atmospheric conditions.

Classroom activity

Included is an inquiry-based classroom activity that focuses on the image and text.

Description

This is a collection of four Hubble Space Telescope images of the giant planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The text outlines some of the remarkable attributes that set these planets apart from the smaller, rocky, terrestrial planets and includes a discussion of the rings, moons, and atmospheric conditions on the planets. An inquiry-based classroom activity is included in the lithograph package.

FORMATS AVAILABLE:

PDF

GRADES:

8-10, but the material can be adapted for use in other grades at the teacher's discretion

How to use in the classroom

Teachers can use this lithograph as:

An engagement tool in an inquiry-based lesson. Have students study the image side of the lithograph. Ask them to write down any questions they have about the image. When the students are finished, their questions can be used in a variety of ways:

Ask students to find the answers to their questions by reading the back of the lithograph and/or the related materials listed below.

Have students exchange papers so that each student has someone else's questions. Then have them find the answers to the other students' questions by reading the back of the lithograph and/or the related materials listed below.

Gather the questions into a list by asking students to volunteer to read their questions while you or another student records them on the board or overhead. Ask students to raise their hands if they had the same or a similar question. Count the number of hands raised and record this number next to the question. Once all the student questions have been added to the list, have students search for the answers to their questions in the text on the back of the lithograph. When they complete that task, ask them to decide if each of their questions was answered completely, answered partially, or not answered at all. Go through the original list and place an "A" in front of the questions that were answered completely, a "P" for those that were partially answered, and an "N" for those that were not answered at all. Determine if the most commonly asked questions were also completely answered. Encourage students to conduct further research to find answers to the unanswered questions.

A content reading tool. Have students read the back of the lithograph and then write a quiz for the class.

A component in a compare/contrast activity. Use the inquiry-based classroom activity called "In Search of Jovian Planets," which is included with the PDF lithograph. Have students compare the features/structure of the terrestrial planets with those of the giant planets depicted in this lithograph and discussed in the text. A T-chart or Venn diagram would be a good organizational tool to use with this activity. Examples of Graphic Organizers are included in the related resources below.

Related materials

HubbleSite press release: "Going, Going, Gone: Hubble Captures Uranus's Rings on Edge"

HubbleSite press release: "Neptune Completes Its Frist Circuit Around the Sun Since Its Discovery"

Lithograph: Mars 2003: Closest Approach

Amazing Space resources by type: Graphic Organizers

Amazing Space resources by topic: Solar system