Planetary Power Play Slides Planetary Power Play
Terrestrial Worlds vs. Gas & Ice Giants
Grade 6 Earth & Space Science
Mission Briefing: Warm-Up
"Solid ground or gas clouds—where would you build a base?"
Solid Surface
Rock, craters, and tectonic plates
Gas & Ice Clouds
Swirling storms and metallic liquids
Be ready to explain your choice!
Observation Mode
Part 1: The Inner Ring
Embedded media
WATCH UNTIL 13:37
Keep your eyes peeled for info on Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the Sun!
Mission Status Check
The Terrestrial Group
Made mostly of rock and metal
Solid surfaces we can walk on
Small in size compared to giants
Few moons and zero rings
Predict: How will the Outer Planets be different from these rocky worlds?
Observation Mode
Part 2: The Outer Giants
Embedded media
RESUME UNTIL 33:13
Look for Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune... and finally, Earth!
Planet Sorting Hat
ACTIVITY!
Your Mission Tasks:
Identify the 12 Planetary Facts from your worksheet.
Sort them into the Venn Diagram: Inner vs. Outer.
Solve the Earth Mystery: Why is our home in the Inner group if it has so much water?
Mission Accomplished
"One major difference between Terrestrial and Giant planets is..."
Rock vs. Gas
Fast vs. Slow Rotation
Rings vs. No Rings
Planet Sorting Hat Worksheet Planet Sorting Hat
Mission: Planetary Comparison
Agent Name:
Date:
Target 1 Inner Planets
Target 2 Outer Planets
Objective Compare composition, orbits, and rotation.
The Fact Bank
Read these facts carefully. You will write these into the correct section of the Venn Diagram below.
Made primarily of rock and metal
Have rings made of ice and rock
Orbit the Sun
Have a slow rotation (long days)
Have a very fast rotation (short days)
Are massive in size (many times Earth)
Have many moons (often 20 to 80+)
Formed from a solar nebula
Have few or zero moons
Spherical in shape due to gravity
Known as Gas Giants or Ice Giants
Known as Terrestrial Planets
The Sorting Diagram
Inner Planets
Outer Planets
Both Groups
The Earth Mystery
Earth is covered in water (liquid, ice, and gas) and has a thick atmosphere. The Outer Planets are also made of gases and ice. In a well-written paragraph, explain why Earth still belongs to the Inner Planet group despite these features. (Hint: Think about what is underneath that water!)
Galactic Neighborhood Anchor Chart Worlds of the Sun
The Two Great Families of Planets
Terrestrial
The Inner Ring
Key Features
1
Solid Surfaces
Made of rock and metal. You can stand on them!
2
Compact & Dense
Smaller diameters but very high density.
3
Slow Spin
Longer days. No rings and very few moons.
The Lineup:
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Giants
The Outer Frontier
Key Features
1
Fluid Worlds
Made of Hydrogen, Helium, and Ices. No solid surface.
2
Massive Scale
Huge diameters. Fast rotation = extremely short days.
3
Ringed Moons
Complex ring systems and dozens of moons.
The Lineup:
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Orbit the Sun
Spherical Shape
Cleared Orbital Path
Sun's Gravity Rules
Mission Command Teacher Guide Mission Command Guide
Planetary Power Play | Teacher Resource
Lesson Duration 50 Minutes
Lesson Objective
Students will categorize the eight planets of our solar system into two groups—Terrestrial and Gas/Ice Giants—based on physical properties including composition, rotation, moons, and ring systems.
Key Vocabulary
Terrestrial Gas Giant Ice Giant Rotation Nuclear Fusion Tectonic Activity
Materials
Planetary Power Play Slides
Sorting Hat Worksheet
Galactic Neighborhood Anchor Chart
Glue/Scissors (Optional)
Execution Plan
5m
Warm-Up: The Base Debate
Use the slide poll. Most students choose "Solid Ground." Ask why they might choose "Gas Clouds"—can we even land there? (Highlight the lack of solid surface in Giants).
15m
Interactive Video Viewing
Play the video. MANDATORY PAUSE AT 13:37.
Discussion Prompt (13:37): "The video just finished the Inner Planets. What do they all share? They're small, rocky, and have few moons. As we watch the rest, look for how the scale completely changes."
20m
Sorting Hat Activity
Students sort 12 facts. Use the Anchor Chart as a visual scaffold for students who need support.
Differentiation: Allow students to draw symbols (a rock vs. a cloud) next to facts instead of writing full sentences if handwriting is a barrier.
5m
The Earth Mystery Debrief
Discuss the writing prompt. Highlight that Earth is "Terrestrial" because beneath the water/air, there is a solid crust. Gas giants are "fluid" almost all the way to their tiny cores.
Venn Diagram Answer Key
Inner Only
• Made primarily of rock/metal
• Slow rotation (long days)
• Few or zero moons
• Known as Terrestrial Planets
Both
• Orbit the Sun
• Formed from a solar nebula
• Spherical in shape due to gravity
Outer Only
• Have rings of ice and rock
• Very fast rotation (short days)
• Massive in size (vs Earth)
• Have many moons (20-80+)
• Gas Giants or Ice Giants
Sample Writing Response: The Earth Mystery
"Earth belongs to the Inner Planet group because its primary structure is a solid, rocky crust. While it does have oceans and an atmosphere, these are thin layers resting on top of a massive rocky mantle and iron core. Gas Giants like Jupiter lack this solid surface; they are made of layers of gas that gradually become liquid under high pressure. Earth's high density and solid foundation make it a terrestrial planet, not a giant."
