Using NewsHour Extra Worksheets

 

Overview: NewsHour Extra worksheets can help students follow along and identify key points in NewsHour science broadcast pieces.

Warm Up: Introduce the topic of the broadcast piece and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Hand out the worksheet and have students answer the questions as they watch the NewsHour segment.

Need a DVD of the science segment?: Write to science@newshour.org.

 

Story: Scientists Debate Pluto's Planetary Status, 1/31/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/jan-june07/pluto_01-31.html


Worksheet Questions: (click here for printout)

1. Why did Pluto not fit the new definition of a planet?

The astronomers defined a planet as an object in the solar system that must be round, must orbit a star and must clear out its neighborhood. In other words, it must not share its orbit around the sun with any other large objects. They said Pluto didn't fit the bill because it had many other objects nearby.

2. Why are some astronomers upset with Pluto's downgrading?

Some scientists thought the way the decision was made -- by voting -- was wrong. Others disagreed with the astronomers' definition of a planet.

3. How might the new definition of a planet impact the other eight, according to astronomer David Weintraub?

He said the new definition may confuse the status of other planets, including Jupiter and Neptune, which have not cleared their orbits.

4. What happened when the Hayden Planetarium in New York City decided not to include Pluto in its planetary display?

Students and teachers sent letters, urging the planetarium to include Pluto, even sending pictures so Pluto could be included in the planetary display.

5. Why is it useful to have a definition of a planet, according to astronomer Mike Brown?

He said a definition of a planet will be useful as astronomers discover more and more objects in the universe.

 

For more NewsHour Science Reports, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/science.

For more science lesson plans and worksheets, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/science.