Library of Congress
Loc: Poetry 180: Forgotten Planet
This poet reminisces about childhood as he listens to his daughter's lack of undertanding about the names of the all of the planets.
NASA
Nasa: Mission Science: What Is a Planet?
Find out about how planets have been classified historically, and what scientists use to study them.
NASA
Nasa: Planets in a Bottle
In this simple lesson, students grow yeast to learn how the climates on each of the nine planets would affect life.
Read Works
Read Works: Mission Pluto
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Pluto being classified as a dwarf planet. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Cool Math
Coolmath: Science Monster: Pluto
A cool fact sheet about Pluto including a place for students to enter their weight on Earth to convert it to what it would be on Pluto.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Pluto
Wikipedia, a publicly-maintained encyclopedia, provides an article on the dwarf planet, Pluto, including images, physical characteristics, history of its naming, the planet/dwarf planet debate, and more.
Nine Planets
The Nine Planets: An Overview of the Solar System
A detailed overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in the solar system.
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Pluto
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Pluto, a dwarf planet.
Other
University of Leicester: The Solar System
Resource explores the solar system, with an in depth discussion of each of the planets and their properties.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Outer Planets
Young scholars explore the outermost planets of our solar system: Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. They also learn about characteristics of Pluto and its interactions with Neptune. Students learn a little about the history of space travel as...
Nine Planets
The Eight Planets: Just for Kids
Here is a clear, simple picture of the solar system. Click on the names of the planets to learn more about each. Clicking on underlined terms takes you to more and more detailed scientific information.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: What Happened to Pluto?
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart was created to teach students about Pluto and the recent news of it NOT being a planet (officially). Lots of ways for students to vote on why as well as discussions about what other facts...
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Clyde Tombaugh
Find out about Clyde Tombaugh, the scientist who discovered the dwarf planet Pluto in 1930, and also discovered a number of asteroids.
Washington State University
Washington State University: Ask Dr. Universe: Is Pluto a Planet Again or Not?
Dr. Universe answers this question after talking with WSU's Katie Cooper. Katie is an expert in the geology of Earth and objects in outer space.
Space Telescope Science Institute
Hubble Site: Solar System Images
A listing of clickable images of objects in the Solar System from the Hubble telescope that includes the following: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Jupiter's satellites, Saturn, Saturn's rings and satellites, Uranus, Uranus' rings and satellites,...
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Michael E. Brown
This article discusses the life and scientific discoveries of Michael E. Brown. Learn how he is credited with downgrading Pluto from a planet to dwarf planet.
California Institute of Technology
The Discovery of Eris, the Largest Known Dwarf Planet
Until the discovery of Eris, Pluto was known as the largest Keiper belt object. This dwarf planet has replaced Pluto in size and is accompanied by a satellite that has been given the name Dysnomia. Learn about this distant world here...
A&E Television
History.com: The Space Race: Interactive Universe
A virtual journey through space offers photos and facts about Earth and its neighboring planets, comets, other celestial bodies of the Solar System, and the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Zoom Astronomy: All About Space
A fantastic collection of information about the solar system. Includes information on all of the planets, the moon, the sun, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and stars. Also find puzzles, a dictionary, quizzes, classroom activities, and...
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: The Planet Formerly Known as Pluto
From ABC News in Science, this article discusses issues related to Pluto its removal from planetary status. The brief article also touches on the renaming and re-listing process of Pluto.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Pluto Redefined
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart briefly describes the new definition of planet as determined by the International Astronomical Union.
NASA
Nasa: Solar System Exploration
This stunning site on the solar system gives a great overview of the planets and our sun. Learn about each object's size, vital statistics, and moons. Then go on for a more in depth look at these objects in the column on the left.
Harvard University
Harvard University: The Solar System
These hands-on activities are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.
Johns Hopkins University
New Horizons Website
This site from the Solar System Exploration section of NASA provides an overview of the space mission to Pluto, Charon, and the fringes of our Solar System. It describes the Kuiper Belt, and the objects involved with it, provided links...