Handout
Views of the Solar System

Views of the Solar System: Dwarf Planet Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover interesting information about the planet Pluto through a vast archive of photographs and scientific facts.
Unit Plan
NASA

Dawn Mission: Dawn Classrooms: Dwarf Planets

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn about dwarf planet classification through a researched-based instructional strategy called direct vocabulary instruction. Teacher guide and student activity sheet are included.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Kids Science: Learn About the Dwarf Planet Pluto

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids astronomy. What is Pluto like? How do we know about this dwarf planet?
Handout
European Space Agency

European Space Agency: Esa Kids: Our Universe: Pluto

For Students 3rd - 8th
A basic overview of the dwarf planet Pluto. Links to information about the other planets and objects in our solar system are included.
Article
BBC

Bbc Newsround: Pluto Pictures Show Hazy Horizon

For Students Pre-K - 1st
View photos of Pluto from NASA's New Horizons probe.
Handout
Nine Planets

The Nine Planets: Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains copious information about Pluto. The site contains descriptive and statistical information, as well as a detailed article about the search for trans-Plutonian planets and the "Nemesis" hypothesis.
Handout
Cosmos 4 kids

Cosmos4 Kids: Solar System: Pluto

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn all about Pluto ..its discovery, basic facts, recognition as a planet, and most recently, its 'demotion' from a planet to a dwarf planet. The brief, to the point text makes this site most suitable for younger researchers.
Article
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Why Is the Sky Blue? (On Pluto, That Is)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the atmosphere of Pluto.
Handout
University of California

Ucla: What Makes a Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
This detailed essay defines planets and compares the characteristics to those of Pluto. Orbital graphs and background information clarify the change in Pluto's categorization. A copy of IAU's Resolution 5 is also contained in this essay.
Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: Michael E. Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the life and scientific discoveries of Michael E. Brown. Learn how he is credited with downgrading Pluto from a planet to dwarf planet.
Website
California Institute of Technology

The Discovery of Eris, the Largest Known Dwarf Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
Until the discovery of Eris, Pluto was known as the largest Keiper belt object. This dwarf planet has replaced Pluto in size and is accompanied by a satellite that has been given the name Dysnomia. Learn about this distant world here...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia, a publicly-maintained encyclopedia, provides an article on the dwarf planet, Pluto, including images, physical characteristics, history of its naming, the planet/dwarf planet debate, and more.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Pluto

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Pluto, a dwarf planet.
Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: Clyde Tombaugh

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about Clyde Tombaugh, the scientist who discovered the dwarf planet Pluto in 1930, and also discovered a number of asteroids.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Mission Pluto

For Teachers 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Pluto being classified as a dwarf planet. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place: Hail King of the Ice Dwarfs

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a nice overview of Pluto. Get information on Pluto's size, tilt, orbit and surface features. There is also a brief explanation of the "New Horizons" space probe.
Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, which is provided by the National Space Science Data Center of NASA, is a site with detailed information about Pluto, including planned missions to explore the planet in greater detail.
Handout
NASA

Nasa's the Space Place: King of the Ice Dwarfs

For Students 9th - 10th
An information page all about Pluto! Learn about Pluto's size, path around the sun, temperature, location, and traveling partner Charon.
Website
California Institute of Technology

Cool Cosmos: Ask an Astronomer: Pluto

For Students 3rd - 8th
Visit this site and learn more about Pluto. Provides the answers to kids' most frequently asked questions.
Handout
Other

University of Leicester: The Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource explores the solar system, with an in depth discussion of each of the planets and their properties.
Interactive
A&E Television

History.com: The Space Race: Interactive Universe

For Students 9th - 10th
A virtual journey through space offers photos and facts about Earth and its neighboring planets, comets, other celestial bodies of the Solar System, and the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Solar System Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
This stunning site on the solar system gives a great overview of the planets and our sun. Learn about each object's size, vital statistics, and moons. Then go on for a more in depth look at these objects in the column on the left.
Article
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: The Planet Formerly Known as Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
From ABC News in Science, this article discusses issues related to Pluto its removal from planetary status. The brief article also touches on the renaming and re-listing process of Pluto.
Handout
Cosmos 4 kids

Cosmos4 Kids: Solar System Details: Kuiper Belt

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explore space beyond Pluto in the Kuiper Belt region of our solar system. Find out about the space bodies that exist there and what our space missions have taught us about this far away region.