The Planets in Order

Science · Space Systems & Earth's History · ages 5-8

Name ______________________ Date ____________

What do we call the Sun?
- A planet
- A star
- A moon
Which planet is closest to the Sun?
- Mercury
- Venus
- Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun.
Circle one: True False
Count the planets. How many orbit the Sun?
Answer: ______________
What is the path a planet takes around the Sun?
- Galaxy
- Satellite
- Orbit
Which of these orbits Earth?
- The Moon
- Mars
- The Sun
Zara named the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter. What order mistake did she make?
- She swapped Mercury and Venus
- She left out Jupiter
- She swapped Earth and Mars
Leo thinks a comet and an asteroid are the same. What makes a comet different?
- A comet is a moon that orbits a planet
- A comet is made of ice and dust and can have a tail
- A comet is a star that twinkles

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

A star · The Sun makes its own light, so it is a star, not a planet.
Mercury · Mercury circles closest to the Sun of all eight planets.
True · The order is Mercury, Venus, Earth. Earth comes third.
8 · Our solar system has eight planets, from Mercury to Neptune.
Orbit · That circling path around the Sun is called an orbit.
The Moon · The Moon is Earth's satellite, so it orbits Earth.
She swapped Earth and Mars · The correct order is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter. Earth comes before Mars.
A comet is made of ice and dust and can have a tail · A comet is made of ice and dust and can grow a tail. An asteroid is a rocky chunk with no tail.