Activity overview
Science topics:
Space
Explore Jupiter, the 'gas giant', and discuss what you see as you zoom in and out of its multi-coloured surface. Can your class use their reasoning skills to work out what it is?
Run the activity
You will be zooming in and out of the image above – starting very close and stepping back slowly.
1. Start by asking everyone:
- What do they think the image is and why?
- What does the image remind them of and why?
2. Every time you zoom out, ask the class:
- Can they describe the colours, shapes and textures?
- What do they think the image is now – have they changed their minds?
Top Tips:
How to run Zoom In, Zoom Out activitiesBackground science
Jupiter is the largest planet, a gas giant, in our solar system. It also has more moons orbiting it than any other planet in the solar system.
Jupiter’s great red spot is actually a huge violent storm which has been raging for hundreds of years. The storm itself is larger than planet Earth. The spot is not always red and varies in colour depending on the chemical composition of Jupiter’s atmosphere.
Take it further
You could position yourself where you can’t see the images. Ask the class to describe them to you.
Why not try some of our other activities related to space? What if there was no moon?
Image credits:
Bruce Irving via Flickr CC BY-NC-SA;
Jan Sandberg via Wikimedia CC BY;
Bruce Irving via Flickr CC BY-NC-SA;