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Gr. 6 Planets: Start Here

Grade 6 Planets

Welcome to the planet research hub! 

This resource page is your launching pad for exploring our fascinating solar system! Here you'll find everything you need for your planet research project, including:

  • Digital books through Sora that you can access anytime, anywhere
  • Reliable websites with up-to-date information about different planets
  • Carefully selected resources to support your research journey

 Whether you're investigating Mars's red surface, Saturn's spectacular rings, or any other planet in our solar system, these resources will help guide your discovery.

Looking for specific information about your planet? This custom search engine is your mission control! Simply type in what you want to know - whether it's about Mars's atmosphere, Jupiter's moons, or Saturn's rings - and discover reliable, student-friendly resources that are perfect for your research project.

 

Planet Videos

Planets for Kids- Website

NASA Science- Space Place

Browse these eBooks!

Solar System

Ebook available on Sora.

This kids educational book is so much more than just another book about space. It allows children to discover the mysteries of asteroids hurtling through space, comets lighting up the sky, and the biggest star in our glorious solar system, the Sun. It also explores the steps we’ve taken to study outer space, like launching the International Space Station. Not to mention the exquisite photographs of nearby planets, stars, and astronomical bodies and stunning details on each of Earth’s neighboring planets, including fascinating facts about their moons, mineral makeup, and more.

Where Is Our Solar System?

Ebook available on Sora

Our solar system consists of eight planets, as well as numerous moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. For thousands of years, humans believed that Earth was at the center of the Universe, but all of that changed in the 17th century. Astronomers like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton proposed the unthinkable theory that Earth and the other planets actually revolved around the Sun. This engaging book chronicles the beginning of the modern age of astronomy, then follows later discoveries, including NASA's current missions in space.

The Outer Planets

Ebook available. 

The outer planets, which are Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus are truly fascinating not only because of their size, but also because they offer some of the most unusual worlds we have ever seen. Readers will be intrigued with the scientific details of each planet, which follow the Next Generation Science Standards focusing on the solar system, including their size, temperature, and pressure of their atmospheres, their weather, and their interiors. Readers will also learn about each planet's moons, which are unique worlds unto themselves and which may offer our best chance for finding extraterrestrial life.

Solar Energy

Ebook available on Sora.

The inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, are important for study because they are so similar. All are terrestrial, meaning they have a solid surface. Mercury, being closest to the Sun, experiences the most intense solar radiation. Venus is an example of an extreme greenhouse environment, with temperatures nearing 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Mars offers us great hope for finding an environment that could have harbored extraterrestrial life. This book follows the Next Generation Science Standards focusing on the Earth and the solar system and shows readers that we can learn a lot about our own planet from our celestial neighbors.

Pluto and the Dwarf Planets

Ebook available on Sora. 

In Pluto and the Dwarf Planets, early readers learn about Pluto and the dwarf planets unique characteristics and compositions. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage early readers as they discover the solar system.

Discover Neptune

Ebook available on Sora. 

How have scientists explored Neptune? What do they hope to discover about the planet in the future? Through vibrant photos and STEM highlights on geography, climate, and more, readers will learn all about Neptune.

Discover Saturn

Ebook available on Sora. 

Informative text filled with STEM highlights teaches readers about Saturn, including recent discoveries made by the Cassini spacecraft and information about how scientists' ideas about the planet have changed over time.

Venus

Ebook available on Sora.

 

Venus is the second planet from the Sun, characterized by its thick, toxic atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide, extreme surface temperatures, and bright visibility from Earth as the "morning star" or "evening star." Articles are a unique way for readers to learn about the world around them. In addition to building reading comprehension skills and increasing vocabulary, articles can be used for writing and research. Each Planet is broken into 6 single-page sections: Introduction, What is it Made of?, By the Numbers, Neighbors, Amazing Facts, and Words to Know.

Venus: The Brightest Planet

Ebook available on Sora. 

In this book, early fluent readers will learn about Venus’ unique characteristics. Vivid, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about the planet’s defining features, composition, atmosphere, weather, gravity, moons, exploration attempts, and more. Take a Look! infographics feature a diagram showing the planet’s location in the solar system as well as a diagram showing the planet’s composition. Sidebars present interesting, supplementary information, and an activity offers readers an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about the Venus using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Venus also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Venus is part of Jump!’s Our Solar System series.

Uranus: The Coldest Planet

Ebook available on Sora. 

In this book, early fluent readers will learn about Uranus’ unique characteristics. Vivid, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about the planet’s defining features, composition, atmosphere, weather, gravity, moons, exploration attempts, and more. Take a Look! infographics feature a diagram showing the planet’s location in the solar system as well as a diagram showing the planet’s composition. Sidebars present interesting, supplementary information, and an activity offers readers an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about the Uranus using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Uranus also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Uranus is part of Jump!’s Our Solar System series.

Mercury: The Fastest Planet

Ebook available on Sora. 

In this book, early fluent readers will learn about Mercury’s unique characteristics. Vivid, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about the planet’s defining features, composition, atmosphere, weather, gravity, moons, exploration attempts, and more. Take a Look! infographics feature a diagram showing the planet’s location in the solar system as well as a diagram showing the planet’s composition. Sidebars present interesting, supplementary information, and an activity offers readers an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about the Mercury using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Mercury also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Mercury is part of Jump!’s Our Solar System series.

Mars: The Red Planet

Ebook available on Sora.

In this book, early fluent readers will learn about Mars’ unique characteristics. Vivid, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about the planet’s defining features, composition, atmosphere, weather, gravity, moons, exploration attempts, and more. Take a Look! infographics feature a diagram showing the planet’s location in the solar system as well as a diagram showing the planet’s composition. Sidebars present interesting, supplementary information, and an activity offers readers an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about the Mars using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Mars also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Mars is part of Jump!’s Our Solar System series.

Jupiter: The Biggest Planet

Ebook available on Sora. 

In this book, early fluent readers will learn about Jupiter’s unique characteristics. Vivid, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about the planet’s defining features, composition, atmosphere, weather, gravity, moons, exploration attempts, and more. Take a Look! infographics feature a diagram showing the planet’s location in the solar system as well as a diagram showing the planet’s composition. Sidebars present interesting, supplementary information, and an activity offers readers an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about the Jupiter using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Jupiter also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Jupiter is part of Jump!’s Our Solar System series.

Mars (Worlds Beyond)

Ebook available on Sora. 

Provides a biography of the red planet, including early observations by the ancient Greeks, geographical features, and the possibility of life being found.

Saturn (Worlds Beyond)

Ebook available on Sora.

Chronicles the discovery and exploration of the planet Saturn and discusses its rings and moons, and its place in the solar system.

Voyage to Pluto (Destination Space)

Ebook available on Sora. 

Explores scientists' thrilling quest to send a spacecraft to Pluto. Engaging text, vibrant photos, and informative infographics help readers learn about this important advancement in exploring space, as well as the people and technology that made it possible.

Academic Integrity

Citing (saying where you got your information) and providing a bibliography (or list of those sources) is a way of giving credit to the original authors and creators whose works you've used.

By giving credit, you are being honest in how you use the resources you find and you are also respecting the law of copyright (the legal right of authors/creators over their creations).

Here are some tools to help you create citations and a bibliography:

Information you will need: 

  1. Author name
  2. Book title
  3. Publication year
  4. Publisher Name

Example: 

Rowling, J.K. (2021). Harry Potter and the half-blood prince. Bloomsbury Children's Books.


EBooks: just add the ebook link to your book reference!

Example: 

Rowling, J.K. (2021). Harry Potter and the half-blood prince. Bloomsbury Children's Books. https://soraapp.com/library/theyorkschoolca/search/query-harry%20potter%20and%20the%20half-blood%20prince/titles/200131/791288

Information you will need: 

  1. Author's name
  2. Article title
  3. Publication year
  4. Website name + URL

Example: 

Crossingham, J. (2022, June 07). Ancient city revealed after dam dries up.  , Retrieved from https://owlconnected.com/archives/ancient-city-revealed.

Information you will need: 

  1. Author's name
  2. Title of article
  3. Publication year
  4. Database name + URL

Example: 

Smith, J. (2013). Learning to reference articles. School database. www.schooldatabase.com/learning-to-reference-articles/123456xyz.

Information you will need: 

  1. Creator's name (or username)
  2. Photo or image title
  3. Publication year
  4. Website name + URL

Example: 

Lava by Denali National Park and Preserve, 2013, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/denalinps/8639280606/).