A star is an extremely large sphere of hot gas that emits light.

A planet is a very large sphere of rock or gas that orbits a star.

A dwarf planet is a large, round object that orbits a star but is not big enough to clear its orbital path of other debris.

An asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the Sun.

Our solar system includes the Sun and all the objects in orbit around the Sun.

Our solar system

Science

The spinning Earth

Gravity

Stars, galaxies and the universe

Heating by the Sun

Earth's tilt

Seasons on Earth

Changing ideas about Earth

In the Gravity in space unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn to how gravitational forces cause orbital motion and about stellar evolution and cosmology, including red-shift and the big bang. 

In primary science, pupils learnt about the cause of day and night, the movement of Earth orbiting the Sun and the Moon orbiting Earth, and about stars and planets we can see in the night sky.

This unit explores gravity as the force between masses, including weight calculation using gravitational field strength. It covers the relationship between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun, the concept of light years, and seasonal changes due to Earth’s tilt.

Our solar system and beyond

Planets are usually much smaller than stars.

Which of these statements about planets is incorrect?

Which of these objects is not found in our solar system?

Which of the planets listed is small and rocky?

Between which two planets is the asteroid belt found?

If a scale model was made of our solar system, and the Sun was represented by a tennis ball, what size would the planets be?

Which of these planets is an outer gas planet?

Which of these objects in the solar system is a planet?

Put these planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun, starting with the closest one.

Put these planets in order of increasing size, starting with the smallest.

Which of these statements is correct about Earth?

Which of these objects are not found in our solar system?

Which of these planets does not have any moons?

Our solar system

Lesson outcome