Solar System – Planets (with supports)

Student Name: _____________________________ Date: _____________________________

Visual aid – Order from the Sun (use this to help answer questions)

Vocabulary (supports) Inner planets = Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars (closest to the Sun). Outer planets = Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Orbit = the path a planet takes around the Sun.

Question 1

Which planet is closest to the Sun?

Support: Look at the diagram. The first planet after the Sun is ___

A) Mercury

B) Venus

C) Earth

Question 2

Which planet do we live on?

Support: We live on the third planet from the Sun.

A) Mars

B) Earth

C) Venus

Question 3

Which planet is known for having rings?

Support: One of the outer planets has big, visible rings.

A) Jupiter

B) Saturn

C) Uranus

Question 4

How many planets are in our solar system?

Support: Count the planets in the diagram (do not count the Sun).

A) 7

B) 8

C) 9

Question 5

What is at the center of our solar system?

Support: It is a star. It is the first circle in the diagram.

A) The Sun

B) Earth

C) The Moon

Question 6

Which planet is farthest from the Sun?

Support: Look at the last planet in the diagram.

A) Uranus

B) Neptune

C) Saturn

Question 7

Which planet is called the Red Planet?

Support: It is the fourth planet. Its name is short.

A) Mars

B) Jupiter

C) Venus

Question 8

Which planet comes right after Earth when we go away from the Sun?

Support: In the diagram, Earth is third. The next one is ___

A) Venus

B) Mars

C) Jupiter

Question 9

What does “orbit” mean?

Support: Use the vocabulary box. Orbit = the path a planet takes around ___

A) The Moon

B) The Sun

C) Earth

Question 10

Which planet is the largest in our solar system?

Support: In the diagram, the biggest circle (after the Sun) is ___

A) Saturn

B) Jupiter

C) Neptune

Question 11

Which planet has a famous “Great Red Spot”?

Support: It is the largest planet. The spot is a giant storm.

A) Mars

B) Jupiter

C) Saturn

Question 12

Name the four inner planets (closest to the Sun).

Support: Use the vocabulary box. Inner = first four in the diagram.

A) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

B) Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter

C) Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

Question 13

Name the four outer planets (farthest from the Sun).

Support: Outer = last four in the diagram.

A) Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus

B) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

C) Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto

Question 14

Which is the smallest planet in our solar system?

Support: It is the first planet in the diagram (closest to the Sun).

A) Mercury

B) Mars

C) Venus

Question 15

Is Venus an inner planet or an outer planet?

Support: Venus is the second planet. Inner = first four.

A) Inner

B) Outer

Question 16

Is Uranus an inner planet or an outer planet?

Support: Uranus is the seventh planet. Outer = last four.

A) Inner

B) Outer

Question 17

Which planet comes after Saturn when we go away from the Sun?

Support: In the diagram, count: after Saturn comes ___

A) Jupiter

B) Uranus

C) Neptune

Question 18

True or false: Neptune is closer to the Sun than Mars.

Support: Mars is the fourth planet. Neptune is the last. Which is closer to the Sun?

A) True

B) False

Question 19

Which planet is between Earth and Jupiter?

Support: Order: Earth, ___, Jupiter. Look at the diagram.

A) Venus

B) Mars

C) Saturn

Question 20

What is the name of the star at the center of our solar system?

Support: It is the first circle in the diagram. We see it in the sky during the day.

A) The Moon

B) The Sun

C) Earth

The Solar System: Planets

Visual aid – Order from the Sun (use this to help answer questions)