ELA 5.4 Anthology When is a Planet Not a Planet

Cause: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) made an announcement in 2006. Effect:

• Pluto gained a new moon.

• The sentence used to remember the planets no longer worked.

• Scientists discovered a new planet.

• Pluto's orbit became more circular.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.3

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

Cause: The Sun's heat blasted away much of the gas from the planets closest to it. Effect:

• The gas giants formed.

• Pluto became the ninth planet.

• The terrestrial planets were formed.

• The Kuiper Belt was discovered.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.3

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

Cause: Astronomers discovered that Pluto was dense and had a rocky core. Effect:

• Pluto's orbit became more regular.

• Scientists created a new sentence to remember the planets.

• It raised questions about why Pluto was rocky.

• Pluto was confirmed to be a gas giant.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.3

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

Cause: Astronomers found other objects in the Kuiper Belt that were similar in size to Pluto. Effect:

• Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

• The IAU decided Pluto was a planet.

• Scientists stopped searching for new planets.

• Pluto's distance from the Sun decreased.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.3

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

Which of the following best describes how the understanding of Pluto changed "over time," as discussed in the article?

• Pluto was consistently considered the ninth planet and its status never changed.

• Pluto was initially considered a planet, then reclassified, and scientists' understanding of its composition evolved.

• Pluto's size and distance were accurately known from the time of its discovery.

• Scientists always agreed on Pluto's classification, but their understanding of other Kuiper Belt objects changed.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

Which of the following patterns is described in the article?

• All planets orbit the Sun in perfect circles.

• Planets closer to the Sun are larger than those farther away.

• The gas giants are primarily composed of rock and minerals.

• Planets in the outer solar system tend to have more gas and ice.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

What trend in astronomical discovery is highlighted in the article?

• A trend toward relying solely on human observation through telescopes.

• A trend toward using more advanced technology like robotic telescopes and computer analysis.

• A trend toward naming planets after Greek gods and goddesses.

• A trend toward decreasing interest in discovering new objects in the solar system.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Which "big idea" is most central to the article?

• The importance of memorizing facts.

• The unchanging nature of scientific knowledge.

• The idea that scientific knowledge can evolve and change.

• The superiority of older scientific theories.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2