Sponge activity for learning about the sun (about 4th, 5th or 6th grade level).

1. About the Sun
Tuesday
1. The object in the center of our solar system is
a. the Earth c. the Sun
b. the Moon d. The Milky Way
2. Put a check the objects that revolve (move) around the Sun. Do not check
those objects that do not revolve around the Sun.
_____a. the Earth _____f. Mercury
_____b. asteroids in the asteroid belt _____g. a black hole
_____c. the Milky Way _____h. Jupiter
_____d. Pluto _____i. comets
_____e. Andromeda
3. We say the planets revolve or __________ around the Sun
a. rotate b. orbit c. jump d. drive
Wednesday
1. Although the picture below does not accurately represent the sizes of the
planets in our solar system or their distances from the Sun , it does show them
in correct order. Write the correct name of each planet beside each letter.
Earth, Uranus, Mercury, a.
Pluto, Jupiter, Mars,
b.
Venus, Neptune, Saturn
c.
d.
a.
b. e.
c.
f.
d.
g.
e.
h.
f.
g. i.
h. i.
2. All these planets
a. are made of rock c. revolve around the Sun
b. give off light and heat d. stay in a line as they move

2. Thursday
1. A star is an object in space that
a. is made of rock c. is made of gases
b. gives off its own light and heat d. both b and c
2. The two types of energy the Earth gets from the Sun are
and
3. The Sun is a. a rock b. a medium sized star c. a comet
4. To us, the Sun looks brighter and bigger than other stars in the sky because
a. it has more hydrogen than the other stars c. it is the biggest star in the Universe
b. it is closer to Earth than other stars d. it is hotter that other stars
5. If you drove from the Earth to the Sun at 55 miles per hour without ever
stopping for food, sleep or to go to the bathroom, about how long would it
take you to get to the Sun.
a. 10 years b. 25 years c. 50 years d. 200 years
6. About how many Earthʼs could fit inside the Sun
a. 10 b. 1,000,000 c. 50 d. 25
Friday
Write T or F about each of the following statements about the Sun.
______1. The core of the Sun is its coolest part of the Sun.
______2. The sunspots or dark areas on the Sunʼs surface are the cooler
parts of the Sunʼs surface.
______3. The Sun is mainly made up of two gases called hydrogen and helium.
______4. The core of the Sun is the hottest part of the Sun.
______5. The corona is the name of the center of the Sun.
______6. The core is the name of the center of the Sun.
______7 The corona is a layer of hot gases on the surface of the Sun that
extend out in space.
______8. Solar flares are dark cooler spots on the Sun.
______9. Solar flares are violent eruptions of hot gases that flare out from the
surface of the Sun.
_____10. Solar flares are made of liquid hydrogen found deep inside the Sun.
_____11. Life on Earth could exist without the Sun.
_____12. The Milky Way is the center of our Solar System.
_____13. The Sun is the center of our Solar system.