The Planet Quiz Show

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Student Activity:   Can you devise your own mnemonic to help you remember the correct ordering of the planets? Examples are found below.

• a. M VEM J SUN
• b. My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos (Marlena Gonzalez, Jackson, 2008).
• c. My Very Energetic Mom Just Sliced Up Nectarines.
• d. Mary Viking Eats Many Juicy Steaks Using Nutmeg.
• e. My Very Evil Mother Just Sliced Unicorns Neatly.
• f. My Vicious Enemy Mom Just Sliced Up Ninjas.
• g. Mary’s Violet Eyes Make Joe Stay Up Nights.
• h. Mother Very Eagerly Made Jelly Sandwiches Using Noodles.
• i. Mr. Valentine Eats Many Jelly Sandwiches Using Napkins.

• a. M VEM J SUN P
• b. My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles (Pizzas).
• c. My Very Educated Mother Just Sat UnderNeath Pluto.
• d. Mary Viking Eats Many Juicy Steaks Under North Pole.
• e. Many Vultures Eat Meat Just So Ugly Neighbors Panic.
• f. Mary’s Violet Eyes Make Johnny Sit Up ‘N Purr.
• g. Mary Voraciously Eats Marshmallows Just Scorched Under Neptune’s Pyre.
• h. Mary Very Easily Makes John Sell Used NewsPapers.
• i. My Very Eager Mother Jumped Straight Under Ned’s Pillow.
• j. Martha Visits Every Monday and Just Stays Until Noon, Period.
• k. Mary’s Violet Eyes Make Joe Stay Up Nights, Period.
• l. Mother Valentine Eats More Jelly Sandwiches Under No Protest.
• m. Mother Very Eagerly Made Jelly Sandwiches Under No Protest.
• n. My Very Excellent Mother Just Sat Under New Pines.
• o. My Very Excited Mother Just Slurped Up Nuclear Pie!
• p. My Very Excited Mother Just Sat Upon Nine Pins.
• q. Many Very Excited Mice Just Slept Under Ninety Potatoes.
• r. Matt’s Very Evil Mother Just Stood Upon Nice People.
• s. Maybe Victor Earned Money Juggling Sandwiches Up Near Pathmark.
• t. Many Volcanoes Erupt Moldy Jam Sandwiches Usually Not Palatable (S&T, 4/1961, p. 216).
• u. My Very Eager Mom Just Sliced Up Nine Pirates.
• v. My Vicious Enemy Mom Just Sliced Up Nine Pears.
• w. My Very Evil Mother Just Sliced Unicorns Near Pillows.
• x. My Van Engine Moved Jan’s Swing Under North Pole.
• y. My Very Earthly Mother Just Said, “U Naughty Pups.” (Maxime Iten, Lausanne, Switzerland).
• z. Mr. Vampire Eats My Juicy Steak Using No Pepper (Sasha Nunez, Dodd).
• aa. My Very Evil Mother Just Served Us Nasty Peas (Ruby DeJesus, Sheridan).
• bb. My Van Engine Made Jam Soda Under Nicole’s Pontiac (Room 207, Ritter).
• cc. My Very Educated Mother, the Astronomer, Just Showed Us Nine Planets. The "A" in Astronomer stands for the asteroid belt. (Dean Denis Vancouver, BC, Canada).

The New Solar System no Longer Includes Pluto:   This drawing is courtesy of the International Astronomical Union which voted to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet in August 2006.