Inner Planet Poetry worksheet with a diagram of the inner solar system and a poem about Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Let’s go step by step to fill in the chart using the poem.

We are given a table with 6 columns:
- Inner Planet
- Distance From Sun (millions of miles)
- Length of Year (in Earth days)
- Highest Surface Temperature (°F)
- Diameter (miles)
- Number of Moons

We need to find missing values for Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars — using clues from the poem.

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Step 1: Mercury

From the poem:

> 1. At 36 million miles away, Mercury’s nearest to the sun.
→ So distance = 36

> Though smallest of the inner planets, it’s not the hottest one.
→ Doesn’t give temp directly, but we’ll see later.

In the table, Mercury already has:
- Length of Year: 88 → matches known fact (and poem doesn’t contradict)
- Highest Temp: 800 → given in table
- Diameter: 3,032 → given
- Moons: 0 → given

So only missing value for Mercury is Distance from Sun = 36

✔ Fill in: 36

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Step 2: Venus

Poem says:

> 2. On the second planet, Venus, you could easily melt lead.
At 870°F, we might call it a hothead.
→ So highest temperature = 870

Table shows:
- Distance: 67 → given
- Length of Year: 225 → given
- Diameter: ? → missing
- Moons: ? → missing

Also, line 6 says:

> 6. And speaking of poor Venus, she hasn’t any moons.
→ So number of moons = 0

Now, diameter? The poem doesn’t say directly… but wait — look at line 5:

> 5. If size is what you need to know, Earth is a bit wider Than the 7,521-mile-wide planet that rotates beside her.

“Rotates beside her” — meaning next to Earth? That would be Venus or Mars. But Venus is closer to Earth than Mars in orbit order? Actually, in the solar system, Venus is between Mercury and Earth; Mars is after Earth.

But the phrase “rotates beside her” likely means adjacent planet — so either Venus or Mars.

It says Earth is wider than the 7,521-mile-wide planet.

Earth’s diameter is given as 7,926 in the table.

So if Earth is wider than 7,521, then that other planet must be smaller.

Venus is actually very close in size to Earth — about 7,521 miles? Let me check logic.

Wait — the poem says: “Earth is a bit wider than the 7,521-mile-wide planet that rotates beside her.”

So the planet beside Earth (either Venus or Mars) has diameter 7,521.

Mars is much smaller — around 4,200 miles (given in table). So 7,521 must be Venus!

Yes — because Venus is similar in size to Earth.

So Venus diameter = 7,521

And we already have moons = 0

Temperature = 870 (from line 2)

✔ Fill in for Venus:
- Highest Temp: 870
- Diameter: 7,521
- Moons: 0

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Step 3: Earth

Given in table:
- Distance: 93
- Length of Year: 365
- Diameter: 7,926
- Moons: ? → missing
- Highest Temp: ? → missing

Poem line 3:

> 3. If you like things a little cooler, Mars tops out at 70°F;
Earth hits twice that number. Now what exactly will that be?

Twice 70 = 140°F

So Earth’s highest surface temperature = 140

Line 6:

> Earth has just one satellite → satellite = moon → so 1 moon

✔ Fill in for Earth:
- Highest Temp: 140
- Moons: 1

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Step 4: Mars

Given in table:
- Distance: 142
- Diameter: 4,222
- Moons: ? → missing
- Highest Temp: ? → missing
- Length of Year: ? → missing

Poem line 3:

> Mars tops out at 70°F → so highest temp = 70

Line 4:

> A Mars year lasts 687 days → so length of year = 687

Line 6:

> ...and Mars leads the way with two. → meaning 2 moons

✔ Fill in for Mars:
- Highest Temp: 70
- Length of Year: 687
- Moons: 2

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Now let’s compile all filled values:

Mercury:
- Distance: 36
- Year: 88
- Temp: 800
- Diameter: 3,032
- Moons: 0

Venus:
- Distance: 67
- Year: 225
- Temp: 870
- Diameter: 7,521
- Moons: 0

Earth:
- Distance: 93
- Year: 365
- Temp: 140
- Diameter: 7,926
- Moons: 1

Mars:
- Distance: 142
- Year: 687
- Temp: 70
- Diameter: 4,222
- Moons: 2

All blanks are now filled.

Final Answer:
Mercury - Distance: 36
Venus - Highest Temp: 870, Diameter: 7,521, Moons: 0
Earth - Highest Temp: 140, Moons: 1
Mars - Highest Temp: 70, Length of Year: 687, Moons: 2