Recently, it was decided that Pluto no longer should be considered a planet. Do you agree with this decision made by the International Astronomical Union, or IAU?
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, arguing either for or against Pluto as a planet. You will need to research the planets, the Kuiper Belt, and Pluto. Also, you may refer to page 454 in your textbook. Here are some questions to guide your research:
How is Pluto similar to the planets in our solar system?
How does Pluto differ from the planets in our solar system?
What is the Kuiper Belt?
What similarities exist between Pluto and the other objects in the Kuiper Belt?
Are you ready? Begin by visiting the Web sites in Step 2. Look for answers to the questions above, and write down what you learn in the note-taking boxes.
With teacher supervision, you may use search engines to research other Web sites. You also can research Pluto and our solar system at the library. When you are ready, follow Steps 3 and 4 to write your letter.
Step 2. Research
Research answers to the questions you were asked in Step 1. Visit these Web sites. Take notes about them on this page, too!
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