Planet Mystery
Directions:
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Groups or students guess the correct planet based on the characteristics provided
Students can do the activity either individually or in small groups. Additionally, you can
make copies of each Planet Card for each group, or do it as a rotation where groups
rotate each card to another group after a 30 seconds or less.
Answers:
o Planet Mystery #1: Mars
o Planet Mystery #2: Uranus
o Planet Mystery #3: Venus
o Planet Mystery #4: Neptune
o Planet Mystery #5: Mercury
o Planet Mystery #6: Saturn
o Planet Mystery #7: Earth
o Planet Mystery #8:Jupiter
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Planet Mystery #1
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“Earth-like” characteristics
Smaller in size than the earth
Cannot support life
Atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide
All water is frozen and once had active volcanoes
Has severe dust storms at hurricane speed
Called the Red Planet
Fourth planet from the sun
Planet Mystery #2
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Larger than the earth
Atmosphere contains mostly Hydrogen,
Helium, and Methane
It cannot support life
Tipped on its side
Third largest planet
Seventh planet from the Sun
Outer planet
Planet Mystery
Planet Mystery #3
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Close to the earth’s size
Hottest planet
Atmosphere contains Carbon Dioxide
It cannot support life
Second planet from the Sun
A day is longer than a year due to its slow spin
Brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon
Sometimes called Earth’s twin because of its
characteristics
Planet Mystery #4
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Larger than earth
Atmosphere contains Methane
It cannot support life
Outer planet
Eighth planet from the Sun
Coldest planet
Has large storm systems like the Great Dark Spot
Planet Mystery
Planet Mystery #5
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Smaller than earth
Surface features: many craters and high cliffs
Atmospheric features: no atmosphere
Closest planet to the Sun
It cannot support life
Inner planet
Has no moons
“earth-like” characteristics
Planet Mystery #6
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Larger than earth
Surface features: Surface is fluid; it is the least dense
planet
Atmospheric features: Contains mostly Hydrogen (H2) and
Helium (He)
Sixth planet from the Sun
It cannot support life
Outer planet
Gaseous planet
1 year equals 29 ½ Earth years
Largest, most impressive ring system
Second largest planet in the solar system
Planet Mystery
Planet Mystery #7
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Surface features: Has canyons, craters, mountains,
volcanoes; more than 70% of the surface is covered by
water
Atmospheric features: Contains Oxygen (O2) and Nitrogen
(N2)
Third planet from the sun
Only planet known to support life
Inner planet
Has one moon
Planet Mystery #8
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Larger than the earth
Surface features: Gaseous planet
Atmospheric features: Contains mostly Hydrogen (H2) and
Helium (He)
Fifth planet from the Sun
It cannot support life
Outer planet
Largest planet
Faint ring of dust
Spins the fastest
Has 63 moons
Has a large red spot