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Handout
Nine Planets

The Nine Planets: Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains copious information about Pluto. The site contains descriptive and statistical information, as well as a detailed article about the search for trans-Plutonian planets and the "Nemesis" hypothesis.
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Article
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover interesting information about Pluto, a member of the Kuiper Belt and no longer a planet since 2006.
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Handout
Cool Math

Coolmath: Science Monster: Pluto

For Students 3rd - 8th
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.
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Website
NASA

Nasa: Planetary Data Sytem: Welcome to the Planets

For Students 9th - 10th
Collection of images, with vocalized explanatory captions, of the planets acquired by NASA as part of its exploratory space programs.
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Website
California Institute of Technology

Cool Cosmos: Ask an Astronomer: Pluto

For Students 3rd - 8th
Visit this site and learn more about Pluto. Provides the answers to kids' most frequently asked questions.
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Handout
Cosmos 4 kids

Cosmos4 Kids: Solar System: Pluto

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn all about Pluto ..its discovery, basic facts, recognition as a planet, and most recently, its 'demotion' from a planet to a dwarf planet. The brief, to the point text makes this site most suitable for younger researchers.
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Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: Space Place: Messenger: Planet Mass Comparison

For Students 3rd - 8th
Compare the masses of planets in this interactive animation. Simply pile a number of Earths on one side of the scale, to balance with the mass of one Jupiter. Then try this with all the planets.
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Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Poetry 180: Forgotten Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
This poet reminisces about childhood as he listens to his daughter's lack of undertanding about the names of the all of the planets.
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Handout
NASA

Nasa: Mission Science: What Is a Planet?

For Students 5th - 9th
Find out about how planets have been classified historically, and what scientists use to study them.
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Activity
NASA

Nasa: Planets in a Bottle

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
In this simple lesson, students grow yeast to learn how the climates on each of the nine planets would affect life.
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Website
Nine Planets

The Nine Planets: An Overview of the Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in the solar system.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Kids Science: Learn About the Dwarf Planet Pluto

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids astronomy. What is Pluto like? How do we know about this dwarf planet?
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Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Pluto

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Pluto, a dwarf planet.
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Article
Washington State University

Washington State University: Ask Dr. Universe: Is Pluto a Planet Again or Not?

For Students 1st - 8th
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.
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Website
California Institute of Technology

The Discovery of Eris, the Largest Known Dwarf Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Zoom Astronomy: All About Space

For Students 3rd - 8th
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...
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Article
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: The Planet Formerly Known as Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: What Happened to Pluto?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[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...
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Pluto Redefined

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart briefly describes the new definition of planet as determined by the International Astronomical Union.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Outer Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students 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 well...
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Website
Nine Planets

The Eight Planets: Just for Kids

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Handout
Other

University of Leicester: The Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource explores the solar system, with an in depth discussion of each of the planets and their properties.
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Website
NASA

Nasa: Solar System Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
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.

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