The Planets

The Sun is at the center of the planets. Close to it are the inner planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.

Mercury the planet closest to the Sun, is a cratered rock not much bigger than our Moon. It is incredibly hot
and unable to support any kind of life. The atmosphere contains sodium and potassium.

Venus is the next planet from the Sun and is about the same size as the Earth. The atmosphere is made up of
mainly carbon dioxide. The surface temperature can be as high as 480 degrees Celsius. There is no life of any
kind on the planet Venus.

Earth is the only planet that has the conditions to support life. The surface is neither very cold nor very
hot. Water can exist in all its three forms - as gas, liquid, and solid. These conditions allow plants and animals
to live and reproduce.

Mars, the first planet beyond Earth is smaller than the Earth. The atmosphere is made up mostly of carbon
dioxide. Water exists on this planet, but only in the form of ice. The whole planet is a red, lifeless desert.

The outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are called the gas giants. They are much larger than
the Earth. The outermost planet, Pluto, is no longer classified as a planet. It is now called a dwarf Planet. It is
so far away, it is a mystery.
 Answer the questions below

How many planets are there?

six

seven

eight

The is at the center of the planets.

The dwarf planet, , is a mystery.

is the planet closest to the Sun.

The planet is about the same size as the Earth.

Water exists on the planet Mars in the form of .

Water exists on the planet in three forms.

Which planet is a red, lifeless desert?

Mars

Mercury

Venus

Which planets are called the gas giants?

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

 Global Warming or Climate Change?

Climate Change is any significant change in the climate of the Earth. These changes can be temperature,
precipitation, wind, humidity, etc. Climate Change occurs because of many things. The heat from the sun and
a change in the Earth's orbit may affect the climate on Earth. The way the oceans on Earth circulate can have
an effect on the Earth's climate. And finally, human activity can change the climate of the Earth. For example,
burning fossil fuels such as gasoline and coal can affect the climate on Earth. Changing the landscape of the
Earth, by cutting forests, filling swamps, laying large amounts of concrete over grasslands, can have a great
effect on the Earth's environment.

Global Warming is an average temperature increase in the atmosphere of the Earth's surface and
troposphere. Global Warming can be caused by natural and human events. Too much carbon dioxide (CO2)
introduced into the air can produce Global Warming. Global Warming often refers to a warming that can occur
as a result of increased CO2 emissions by man. This can create a greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect
traps heat within the atmosphere causing the average temperature of the Earth to increase. This increased
temperature causes ice caps to melt. The melting of the Earth's ice caps causes sea levels to rise, thus changing
the Earth's landscape.
1. Climate Change is

significant change in the climate on the Earth.

significant change in the size of the Earth.

significant change in the rotation of the Earth.

None of the above.

2. Global Warming is

an average temperature decrease in the atmosphere of the Earth's surface and

troposphere.

an average increase in the rainfall on the Earth's surface.

an average temperature increase in the atmosphere of the Earth's surface and

troposphere.

All of the above.

3. Climate Change can occur because of a change

in the rainfall on Earth.

in the sun's heat.

in the moon's orbit.

None of the above.

4. Too much carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere can cause

carbon rain.

high oxide levels.

 Global Warming.

All of the above.

5. Heat trapped in the Earth's atmosphere, causing the average temperature to rise,
is called

the warming house.

the changing climate.

the clean-house effect.

the greenhouse effect.

6. The way the ocean's currents flow can effect the

sun.

climate.

atmosphere.

All of the above.

7. Human activity, such as burning fossils fuels, can

effect the sun.

effect the climate on Earth.

effect the climate on the moon.

All of the above.

8. The melting of the Earth's ice caps causes

rainfall increases.

a rise in oxygen levels.

 a rise in sea level.

None of the above.

9. Humans can change the landscape of the Earth by

space travel.

using telescopes.

cutting trees and filling swamps.

All of the above.

10. Climate Change can be seen in

temperature changes.

rainfall changes.

wind changes.

All of the above.

 American Inventors
An inventor is someone who makes something for the first time. Three American inventors
of the nineteenth-century were Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Graham
Bell. Their inventions helped change our way of life.

Thomas Edison came up with over 1,000 new inventions. Some of his inventions were the
phonograph (record player), the mimeograph (a type of copy machine), and wax
paper. However, Edison's most famous invention was the light bulb. Thomas Edison also
worked on improving the inventions of others. Edison helped make the telephone, the
typewriter, and the movie camera work better. Thomas Edison is known as one of the
greatest inventors in history.

Benjamin Franklin was another important American inventor. Franklin wore eyeglasses,
but he wasn't able to see near and far with them. This problem led him to invent bifocal
glasses. Many people today wear bifocal glasses to see both distances, near and
far. Some people recall Ben Franklin flying a kite and think that he discovered
electricity. Franklin did not discover electricity, however, he did invent the lightning rod
which helped protect buildings from lightning strikes.

In the 1800s, when people heard about an idea to put a telephone in every home, people
often laughed and didn't believe it could happen. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of
the telephone, proved them wrong. Today, most people do have a telephone in their home
and have Alexander Graham Bell to thank for it.

These three inventors have made important contributions to the American way of life. What
will you invent to change the lives of others?

Use the above information to complete the following statements.

1. An is someone who makes something for the first time.

2. Three famous American inventors were Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and
Alexander Graham Bell. Their inventions helped our way of life.

3. Thomas Edison came up with over new inventions.

4. Benjamin Franklin invented the eyeglasses.

5. Alexander Graham Bell invented the .

True or False?

6. Thomas Edison helped improve the inventions of other people.

True

False

7. Thomas Edison invented the typewriter.

True

False

8. Benjamin Franklin invented electricity.

True

False

9. The lightning rod was invented by

Edison

Franklin

Bell

10. Thomas Edison invented which of the following?

Phonograph

Mimeograph

Wax paper

All of the above.