A data table drives this 3rd grade solar system sheet. Page 1 lists the eight planets in order from the Sun with each diameter in miles, from Mercury at 3,000 to Jupiter at 89,000, under a row of small planet pictures. Page 2 has six questions that use the table: the largest and smallest planets, Earth against Venus, Uranus against Neptune, ordering four planets by size and finding the planet closest in size to Earth. Page 3 is the answer key with the figures.
“Read a data table to find the largest and smallest values.”
Questions 1 and 2 give Jupiter at 89,000 miles and Mercury at 3,000.
“Compare numbers up to 89,000.”
Questions 3 and 4 put 8,000 against 7,500 and 32,000 against 31,000.
“Order four numbers from smallest to largest.”
Question 5 orders Mars, Earth, Neptune and Jupiter.
Three columns for planet, order from the Sun and diameter in miles. Venus is 7,500, Earth 8,000, Mars 4,000, Saturn 75,000, Uranus 32,000 and Neptune 31,000.
Four short boxes for largest, smallest, Earth against Venus and Uranus against Neptune. Then two lines to order Mars, Earth, Neptune and Jupiter, and two lines for the planet closest in size to Earth and the next closest inner planet.
All six answers, each with the diameters used, such as Uranus 32,000 miles across against Neptune at 31,000.
Math link
Use it in a week when students are comparing and ordering large numbers. The table gives them real figures with an answer that is easy to check.
A close call
Uranus at 32,000 and Neptune at 31,000 are only 1,000 apart. Ask students how they could tell which is bigger without subtracting.
Closest to Earth
Question 6 asks for the size of the gap between two numbers, which is harder than saying which one is bigger. Venus is 500 miles off, so it leads to a short talk about what closest means.
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