1. NATURAL SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGY GRADE 5
Planet Earth and Beyond
NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

2. Planet Earth
(This presentation serves as an introduction – it also covers some Grade 4 work and it serves as revision.)
NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

3. The Solar System We live on Planet Earth
There are 8 planets in our Solar System
My (Mercury) Very (Venus) Evil (Earth) Mother (Mars) Just (Jupiter) Served (Saturn) Us (Uruanus) Niknaks (Neptune).
Listen to both audio clips

4. Let’s have a closer look at the planets
Mars
Earth
Venus
Mercury
Saturn
The planets in the top row are called the inner planets. They are the closest to the Sun and they are mostly made up of rock
The planets in the bottom row are called the outer planets. They are further away from the Sun and they are mostly made up of gas.
Which one is your favourite?
Jupiter
Neptune
Uranus
NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

5. The sun is our closest star
A VERY big star
Largest object in our solar system
VERY hot
All the planets revolve around the sun.
Dark spots called sunspots.
NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

6. Planet Earth Third planet from the Sun Round like a ball / sphere
A thin layer of air around it
From Earth, we can see the Sun, Moon and stars
NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

7. Planet Earth – more interesting facts
About 5 billion years old
The word “Earth” means soil / ground
Has water in all three phases: solid (ice), liquid (water) and gas (clouds)
Earth is the only known planet to support life
70% of Earth is just water
It is no coincidence we landed up on Earth. Planet Earth has the perfect conditions for human beings like you and me, to survive.
NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

8. NATURAL SCIENCES GRADE 5

9. Acknowledgements
Image credit: Dave Jarvis of
Image credit: Deborah Gage of
Image credit: Dr Nathan Horek
Image credit Ron Leighman of
CAPS Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5
Bevan W, Collett H, Dilley L, McKay R Oxford Successful Natural Science Grade 5 Learner's Book. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
Barnard T, Bevan W, Collett H, McKay R, Turley C Oxford Successful Natural Science Grade 5 Leaner’s Book. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.