Spark students’ interest in science with a study unit about the solar system. Still one of the last frontiers of science, outer space holds modern day mysteries of unknown origins that will have your students feeling like space science adventurers.
Sometimes students just need to take a break from the textbooks and delve into topics of study that pique their interest. Students love learning about the world around them, especially when it relates to space science.
Create a study unit with informational space lessons and hands-on activities with these TPT solar system lessons:
Earth Is a Part of a Solar System
Grades 1–3
Start your space study with this introductory unit on the Milky Way Galaxy. It teaches students about the order of planets in our galaxy and their relation to each other. This unit includes directions for implementing activities, experiments, and a minibook about the solar system, the order of the planets, and our universal address.
Each Planet in Our Solar System Has Unique Characteristics
Grades 1–3
This unit provides detailed information about the individual planets. Included are directions and hands-on experiments about orbits, the distances between the sun and the planets, and a minibook on each of the eight planets in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Pocket Book on Space
Grades 1–3
Perfect for displaying on Open House night, this extensive hands-on unit provides detailed directions, patterns, and ideas through which students create a “pocket book” about planets, the moon, stars, humans in space, and other topics. Activities include information pages, making a flip book of the planets, art projects, a minibook, a space puppet, writing activities, and more.
This unit is a short, fun addition to any outer space unit. It provides directions for creating a question-and-answer minibook in the form of riddles about our planets and other objects from space.
The Moon (Earth & Space Science/Moon)
Grades 2–3
This informational reading unit investigates information about the moon, including its phases. The unit contains a two-page article, plus three student activities on answering comprehension questions, developing vocabulary, and keeping a log of observing the moon.
Outer Space Center Activities
Grades 3–4
This “Take It to Your Seat” science center provides information and activities in which students match terms about the sun, moon, planets, and outer space with definitions and write sentences. The unit is also includes directions for creating a center with a file folder that contains directions, task cards, and answer forms.
Phases of the Moon: Take It to Your Seat Science Center
Grades 3–4
This “Take It to Your Seat” science center provides information and activities in which students match descriptions with pictures of the phases of the moon, write a paragraph, and draw a diagram. The unit is placed into a file folder that contains directions, picture/definition task cards, information sheet, and response forms.
Moon Phases Match Game and Activities
Grades 3–6
This short activity bundle includes information, activities, and a memory match game about the phases of the moon, plus student record sheets.
Gravity (Physical Science)
Grades 4–6
This “Read & Understand Science” unit investigates the concept and effects of gravity in the solar system and on Earth. The unit contains a two-page article including directions for creating a poster, plus three activities to answer comprehension questions, use vocabulary, and use notes to explain the poster.
Gravity in Our Solar System (Reading Informational Text)
Grade 5
This nonfiction reading unit (level V) focuses on gravity. Students learn how all objects in the universe exert gravitational force on all other objects. The unit contains teacher support pages, a reading selection with supporting illustrations, and activities to guide students in close reading of the text. Students also gain practice applying content and academic vocabulary. The unit concludes with a lesson exploring text structure (Question and Answer) and a text-based writing activity.
Fun Hands-on Group Activities
Orbiting the Sun Grades 1–3
Get your students moving with this fun outdoor demonstration of orbiting planets.
Directions:
- Create a large yellow sun from butcher paper.
- Cut individual planets out of colored butcher paper. Download these free images of the planets to guide you.
- Assign one student per planet and tell the rest of the class that they are astronomers studying the planets.
- Take your class outside and assign a student to hold the paper sun in the center of the playground.
- Place each student and his or her planet in the correct order from the sun. (Neptune will be at the very edge of the playground.) Planets (students) begin to orbit around the sun.
- Ask your “astronomers” to explain what they see.
- It takes some planets much longer to go around the sun than others.
- Why? Some planets have to go farther than other planets.
- Which planet has the shortest trip?
- Which planet has the longest trip?
- Explain that the amount of time it takes each planet to revolve around the sun is called a year. Ask your students, “Is a year the same amount of time on Venus as on Neptune?”
For more information, view these free educational videos from NASA for grades 1–6:
- What Is a Dwarf Planet?
- Where Does the Sun’s Energy Come From?
- Mars in a Minute: How Do You Get to Mars?
- Build a Satellite with Your Students with These Directions from NASA
Heather Foudy is a certified elementary teacher with over 7 years’ experience as an educator and volunteer in the classroom. She enjoys creating lessons that are meaningful and creative for students. She is currently working for Evan-Moor’s marketing and communications team and enjoys building learning opportunities that are both meaningful and creative for students and teachers alike.