RILINK Schools: Planets: Resources

Research Assignment

Use books, databases, and approved websites to find information about your planet in our solar system. Be sure to use your graphic organizer to find the following information:

Planet Name
Planet Position
Inner or Outer?
Size
Orbit Time
Gravity
Special Features
Significance of Name
Symbol
Temperature
Moons
Appearance
Exploration
Interesting Facts

Websites

Air and Space Museum
Visit the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum site, Exploring the Planets: Our Solar System. Click on the planet link to access information. Discover surface features and planetary characteristics.
Enchanted Learning Planets
Includes many charts comparing all 8 planets, plus Pluto. Click on the picture of your planet at the top to discover more.
Globio Solar System
Click on your planet to find statistics and fun facts.
NASA
This site from NASA has current information on all the planets. Check out the Homework Helper section.
National Geographic: Planets
Click on your planet to find more information. Check out the interactive feature.
Nine Planets
Scroll to find your planet. There's history, mythology and information about each planet and the moons.
Planet Size Comparison
Compare the size of any two planets. Be sure to change the unit of measure to "miles."
Star Child: The Planets and Dwarf Planets
Look at the table of Inner Planets, Outer Planets and Dwarf Planets. Click on your planet to read basic information and view images. View the planet's symbol. Scroll down the page to click the button "The Facts" and "Did You Know." There is a Level 1 version which may be easier to read.

Credit

The book descriptions on this page are provided by the Follett Catalog Software Company.

Books from Our Catalog

The Planets by Gail Gibbons
Call Number: 523.4 GIB
The planets in our solar system are a constant source of wonder. Gibbons depicts each planet in a full-color spread and explores the latest scientific findings and information. Gibbons discusses what a planet is, a history of the planets' discoveries, an astronomer's role in space exploration, and how to use a telescope.

Type in your topic and the click on the appropriate access point. If you cannot find the book you want at our library, fill out a Book Request form and give it to Ms. O'Kane.

Find:

Look for planet books in 523. 3, 523.4 and 525 in the Nonfiction section of our library and in the Science bucket. Use our library catalog to locate your subject. Here are a few titles to get you started:

Jupiter by Christine Taylor-Butler
Call Number: 523.45 TAY
A basic introduction to the planet Jupiter.
When Is a Planet Not a Planet? by Elaine Scott
Call Number: 523.48 SCO
Space and planets are topics of endless fascination to kids and part of every grade-school curriculum. Yet because of the history-making reassignment of Pluto from “planet” to “dwarf planet” on August 24, 2006, all books on the solar system are now out of date. Enter When is a Planet Not a Planet? The Story of Pluto by Elaine Scott, an esteemed writer of non-fiction for children. Scott is the first to put the answer to the title question into terms simple enough for a very young audience to understand, based upon the new definitions determined by the International Astronomical Union. Well-researched and accompanied by large, awe-inspiring photographs and paintings, this exciting new book makes clear what astronomers have argued about for decades.

Subject Guide

RILINK Staff

Kids Search Database

Type the name of your planet in the search box, then press Return. Click on a useful article. Information for your bibliography will be located at the top of the page.

World Book Student Database

Type the name of your planet and press Return. Click on your planet's name in blue. Information for your bibliography is located at the bottom of the page.