Instructional Video

The Oort Cloud

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

What lies beyond our solar system? Share an interesting video describing the Oort Cloud with astronomy scholars to find out! The narrator explains that this far-flung region, along with the scattered disk and Kuiper belt, is the birthplace of the comets we see from Earth. The resource includes a discussion of Pluto, whose status as a planet was changed to Kuiper Belt object through the collaboration of many astronomers.

10 Views 9 Downloads
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Have the class create a diagram that illustrates the inner planets, outer planets, Kuiper belt, scattered disk, and Oort Cloud to prevent confusion of these regions
  • Use the video to introduce learners to what lies just beyond our solar system
Classroom Considerations
  • Some prior knowledge of the outer planets and the characteristics of comets is helpful for viewing the resource
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • The content works for both middle and high school learners
  • Careful scripting supplies plenty of information to combat common misconceptions about what lies beyond our solar system
Cons
  • None