Digital Inquiry - Sun, Earth, & Moon - NICHOLAS GLAESER | Library

VIDEO: EARTH'S CHARACTERISTICS
(Use headphones)
In order to compare and contrast Earth with both the Sun and the Moon, we first need to identify the characteristics of Earth.

1

What covers most of Earth’s surface?

2

What 2 things does Earth have that living creatures need?

VIDEO: THE MOON

The Moon is one of more than 190 moons in our solar system, but it is very special to those of us on Earth. Find out more about this rock in space, how it is was formed and what it's impact on our planet is.

1

What is the Moon composed (made) of?

1

Is the Moon larger or smaller than Earth?

VIDEO: MOON CHARACTERISTICS

1

What 3 characteristics of the Moon?

VIDEO: SUN

The sun is a medium sized dwarf star in the Milky Way galaxy and it is what fuels all life on our planet. Find out how the sun was formed, what its layers are, and how it impacts life here on Earth.

1

Is the Sun a star or a planet?

1

Is the Sun larger or smaller than Earth?

1

What is the Sun made of?

TEXT: COMPARING ATMOSPHERE


Earth
You are a person on Earth.  You breathe in our atmosphere, the gases that surround Earth. There is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, with some other gases. Because you need oxygen, Earth is a great place to breathe. Our atmosphere blocks radiation from the Sun.

Moon
There is very little atmosphere on the Moon, and definitely not enough oxygen. The Moon’s weak magnetic field can’t keep gas in place well.  Dangerous radiation from the Sun is not blocked. Without a special suit, your body would be damaged.

Sun
The Sun’s atmosphere is deadly to you. The Sun is all gas and so are its layers of 
 atmosphere: the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outer corona. Sunspots and
solar flares happen in the photosphere, where the Sun’s energy is released as light. Hydrogen is burned off in the super-hot chromosphere. The corona flares out into space at a
temperature of more than 3 million degrees F.  No living thing would survive the Sun.

1

What is in Earth’s atmosphere?

1

Describe the Moon’s atmosphere.

1

Describe the Sun’s atmosphere.

13

Both the Moon and the Sun very different from Earth.

While both the Moon and Earth are composed primarily of _________  and ____________  light from the Sun, they have significant differences.  First of all, the Moon is much ____________ than Earth. The Moon’s main landforms are ____________ and maria.  While the Moon has almost no _______________ , Earth has an atmosphere made of nitrogen, ___________ , and other gases. The moon has no air or _________________  to support life. Earth, on the other hand, has what plants and animals need to survive.

Earth and the Sun have very little in common. The Sun is a _________  made of __________  and Earth is a ___________  composed of rock.  The Sun has unique features such as sun spots, _________________ , and a bubbly surface. The Sun is much ___________  than Earth. While the Sun and Earth both have atmospheres, the Sun’s atmosphere is __________________ .