Neptune appears as a beautiful blue color, but why? Some scientists suggested the methane in the atmosphere gives it that color, but Uranus contains more methane than Neptune. The mystery, along with three others, requires an orbiter to...

It's no secret that most of the galaxy is a mystery. Data suggests that the known exoplanets may be most similar to our own neighborhood planet Uranus. Unfortunately, scientists know little about Uranus. The video lesson presenter in the...

Do other planets experience night, day, and the seasons like humans do here on Earth? Examine planetary motion using real images of the planets through a simulation from PBS's Space lesson series. After observing the motion of each...

Launch a lesson that's sure to capture middle schoolers' interest! Exploration enthusiasts examine the planets of our solar system using an activity from PBS's Space series. The resource includes images and information for each planet,...

Could humans survive on Uranus or Neptune? As an installment of a larger solar system series, the video lesson continues in its description of planets in our solar system. A thorough analysis of the two planets describes the physical...

Take a trip back in time to the Age of Enlightenment. A video lesson describes the sequence of events leading to the discovery of the planet Uranus. Previously, Uranus was considered a faint star, then a comet, and finally correctly...

Either way you pronounce it, Uranus is one cool planet! An ice giant, to be exact, just like its neighbor, Neptune. Travel to the far reaches of our solar system in a video filled with amazing images and interesting facts. The...

Does your class know their planets? Implement an activity that has them describing the solar system, identifying properties of the planets, and placing them in order from their distance from the sun.

Find all things solar system in a set of reference cards. Even Pluto makes an appearance! Each of the 24 cards has a picture and accompanying informational text that gives brief background about the object.

Take a trip to space's gas giants, also known as the outer planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—with an interesting video equipped with a spirited host, a cartoon sidekick, and bright, colorful graphics.

Get crafty with the help of pictures and a real-time demonstration from a video that details the step-by-step process in creating a paper solar system. 

Explore outer space and decorate your classroom with an astronomy project. Learners create a visual model with the creation of a scaled solar system using different sized balls.

Add a visual aid to your solar system lessons. Enthusiastic astronomers create a model depicting the nine planets and their distance from the sun. 

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune make up the outer planets. How extreme is the weather on these planets? This is the focus of a video that explains how the gas giants have "crazy storms," strong winds, methane rain, and very cold...

What are all those shiny things we see in the sky at night? It could be a star, planet, or asteroid! This is the focus of a video that helps viewers distinguish between these three objects in the sky.

After reading an informational text passage, learners answer four multiple choice questions about the third largest planet in our solar system.

Math and science come together in this cross-curricular astronomy lesson plan on planetary motion. Starting off with a hands-on activity that engages the class in exploring the geometry of circles and ellipses, this lesson plan then...

How in the world can something as big as the solar system possibly fit in your pocket? Complete this simple modeling activity and find out, as young scientists gain an appreciation for the incredible scale of outer space.

Trying to understand the vastness of outer space can be quite a challenge for young scientists. Help put things in perspective with this cross-curricular activity as students work in pairs creating scaled models of the solar system,...

This highly visual video will take learners on a journey through the solar system. Void of narration and accented with music and key facts about each planet, this beautiful clip will inspire as it educates. Have the class take notes...

A slide for each of the planets (including recently downgraded Pluto), the sun, our moon, four of Jupiter's moons, and the rings of Saturn make up this visually appealing PowerPoint. A few facts for each body in the solar system...

A brief reading comprehension exercise, this worksheet covers the characteristics of the outer planets. It still considers Pluto a planet and Charon its moon. It is therefore a little out of date, but this fact can be discussed as part...

What makes Uranus unique? Watch this video to discover the planet, its astrological sign, its moons, etc. Note: this film is not narrated; instead, text is shown in front of the picture it describes. Even for a seven-minute video, it's a...

Students identify Neptune. For this planet lesson students describe the defining characteristics of Neptune. Students compare and contrast Neptune to the planets Uranus and Jupiter. Students also discuss how God created the solar system.