Grade 6 Galaxies & Space Tech worksheet
from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
How to explain it
- Our solar system is in a galaxy called the Milky Way, one of billions of galaxies.
- Many Nations have their own names and stories for the stars, so there isn't just one story.
- Canadians help explore space: Roberta Bondar was the first Canadian woman in space, in 1992.
- In 2013, Chris Hadfield became the first Canadian to command the International Space Station.
Example: What is the name of the galaxy our solar system is in? Our Sun is one star in a huge spiral of stars. Answer: the Milky Way
Question 1
What shape is the Milky Way?
🌀- a spiral, with curving arms
- a cube
- a straight line
- a perfect ball
a spiral, with curving arms
Hint: Seen from above, our galaxy would look like a giant pinwheel.
Question 2
Which tool would an astronomer use to study faraway galaxies?
🔭- a periscope
- a telescope
- a microscope
- a thermometer
a telescope
Hint: This tool gathers light from very distant objects.
Question 3
Which is the closest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way?
🌀- the Sombrero Galaxy
- the Andromeda Galaxy
- the Cartwheel Galaxy
- the Whirlpool Galaxy
the Andromeda Galaxy
Hint: It's about 2.5 million light-years away and can be seen without a telescope on a very dark night.
Question 4
Put these in order from smallest to largest.
- 🌌the Milky Way
- 🪐our solar system
- 🌍Earth
- ☀️the Sun
- 🌙the Moon
the Moon → Earth → the Sun → our solar system → the Milky Way
Hint: The Moon orbits Earth. Earth orbits the Sun. The Sun and its planets make our solar system, which is one tiny part of the Milky Way. The universe holds billions of galaxies.
Question 5
Is it in our solar system or beyond it? Tap an item, then tap its basket.
Sort into: ☀️ in our solar system · 🌌 beyond our solar system
- 🪨the asteroid belt
- 🌀the Andromeda Galaxy
- ⭐Proxima Centauri, the nearest other star
- 🧊Jupiter's moon Europa
- ☄️Halley's Comet
- ✨the North Star (Polaris)
☀️ in our solar system: the asteroid belt, Jupiter's moon Europa, Halley's Comet · 🌌 beyond our solar system: the Andromeda Galaxy, Proxima Centauri, the nearest other star, the North Star (Polaris)
Hint: Our solar system is the Sun and everything that orbits it. Other stars, nebulas and galaxies are far beyond it.
Question 6
What is a light-year?
- the distance light travels in one year
- a year on another planet
- the time Earth takes to orbit the Sun
- how long a star shines
the distance light travels in one year
Hint: Even though it has “year” in its name, a light-year measures distance. It's about 9.5 trillion km.
Question 7
Why are robotic rovers used to explore Mars?
🤖- Robots are needed to make Mars red
- They can go places too far or dangerous for people
- People are not allowed in space
- Mars is too small for people
They can go places too far or dangerous for people
Hint: A trip to Mars takes many months, and its surface is very cold with thin air.
Question 8
What is a galaxy?
🌀- a huge system of billions of stars, gas and dust held together by gravity
- a planet with many moons
- a single very bright star
- a group of planets around one sun
a huge system of billions of stars, gas and dust held together by gravity
Hint: Our Sun is just one of the hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy.
Question 9
What is the name of our galaxy?
🌌- the Big Dipper
- the solar system
- the Milky Way
- Andromeda
the Milky Way
Hint: On a very dark night, it looks like a hazy, milky band of light.
Question 10
What are the three main shapes of galaxies?
- hot, cold and warm
- round, square and triangle
- rocky, gassy and icy
- spiral, elliptical and irregular
spiral, elliptical and irregular
Hint: Some galaxies have arms, some are smooth ovals, and some have no clear shape.
Answer key
- 1. a spiral, with curving arms
- 2. a telescope
- 3. the Andromeda Galaxy
- 4. the Moon → Earth → the Sun → our solar system → the Milky Way
- 5. ☀️ in our solar system: the asteroid belt, Jupiter's moon Europa, Halley's Comet · 🌌 beyond our solar system: the Andromeda Galaxy, Proxima Centauri, the nearest other star, the North Star (Polaris)
- 6. the distance light travels in one year
- 7. They can go places too far or dangerous for people
- 8. a huge system of billions of stars, gas and dust held together by gravity
- 9. the Milky Way
- 10. spiral, elliptical and irregular
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback.