image from easyscienceforkids.com
Uranus, one of the bigger planets, was discovered on this day in 1781. How does it stack up in diameter compared to the other planets?
Materials:
- Measuring tape
- String
- Ruler
- Sidewalk chalk
Directions:
- What is the diameter of each planet in our Solar System? Check out EnchantedLearning.com to find out.
- This is best done outside in a space where you can use sidewalk chalk, but could also be done indoors with string and tape.
- Try different scales depending on space, but to offer some perspective, if 1 inch equals 1000 miles, Mercury is only three inches across while Jupiter is nearly three feet!
- To mark a planets’ diameter with chalk, measure a piece of string to HALF the diameter of the planet.
- Once a piece of string is cut to length, one person needs to hold one end steady while a second person holds the other end.
- Keeping the string tight, the second person rotates around the first person, tracing a circle with the chalk as he/she moves. This represents the planet’s diameter.
- Repeat for each planet.
Check out the full March calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.
