Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Place in the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students study and discuss the planets. They create a visual representation of the layout of the solar system and color it. They also write an informative/narrative summary report on the cultural relevance of the Sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
In this solar system worksheet, students find the names of the eight planets in the word search puzzle. The names of the planets are listed.
Organizer
Curated OER

The Planets in our Solar System

For Students 5th
In this solar system worksheet, students will write in the nine planets that are found orbiting around our sun in our solar system.
Worksheet
Curated OER

What Makes Up the Solar System?

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this solar system worksheet, learners will fill in the blanks for 5 statements in this graphic organizer based on the objects found in space that make up the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are Stars?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research the solar system and it's characteristics.  For this solar system lesson, students are broken into 4 groups, each assigned a specific part of the solar system.  Students use the Internet to research their part...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classroom Planetarium

For Teachers K - 4th
Students work in groups to create the planets of the solar system.  In this planets lesson, students create a hanging solar system taking into account the size, shape and position of the planets.  Students discuss the gravity...
Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Planetary Distances on the Playground

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Earth is 149,600,000 km, or 92,957,130.4 miles, from the sun. Young astronauts create an interactive model to learn the distances between planets. Nine groups, each representing a different planet, are spread around at class-calculated...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Ellipse

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
This is a practical sheet with the instructions to draw a set of ellipses. After following the diagrams, there are ten questions to complete, with calculations expected for alternate orbits and comparisons related to actual planets in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Discovery of the Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study the ideas behind the heliocentric theory of Copernicus. They examine about retrograde motion of the planets as they move around the sun. They study astronomers who include Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Galileo.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Objects in the Solar System

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders define a planet by the orbit around the sun, have a large enough gravitational force to hold a sphere shape and needs to clear the neighboorhood of it own orbital zone. They describe comets, meteoroids, meteor, meteorites...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Is There a Tenth Planet?

For Students 5th - 12th
In this planets worksheet, students read about how our solar system's planets were discovered and how scientist believe there might be a tenth planet. After reading, students complete 4 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Trail

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars explore the solar system by conducting Earth science experiments. In this Sun instructional activity, students identify the different seasons on Earth and discuss their purpose and cause. Young scholars create a sundial...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Planetary Soils

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system.  In this soil activity students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples. 
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Day and Night in the World

For Students 1st - 5th
How do different parts of the world experience day and night? Introduce scholars to the concept of global citizenship while teaching about animal behavior with discussion of nocturnal and diurnal animals. Then, learners complete...
Worksheet
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Let's Save Water: Water Conservation

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
Did you know that cutting down your shower by one minute a day can save five gallons of water? Learn about water conservation with a science reading activity. After kids finish reading key terms and water-saving tips in a reading...
App
Midnight Martian

Mars Globe HD

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explore the surface of Mars without leaving the comforts of your home or classroom! Learn about volcanoes, missions to the red planet, view the topography, and more. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Mobile

For Teachers K - 4th
Students receive pre-cut templates of cardboard with appropriate diameters of each planet and the sun. They use multi-colored construction paper, scissors, yarn, and other art supplies to create their own models of planets. When students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Models To Understand Our Home

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate the concept of a model and how it is used to represent something that is real. They recognize how the model can be applied to other types of concepts like the solar system. Students create a scale drawing of a house...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rolling Through Space

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders use a foll of toilet paper to visualize the vast distance that separates the sun and the planets of our solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use the internet to examine the different bodies in space. In groups, they select one project they want to complete and are given a timeline for when the sections are due. To end the lesson, they present their information...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Venus Wordsearch

For Students 5th - 6th
There are a ton of great vocabulary words to be found in a word search about the planet Venus. Learners will locate and circle 34 wonderful words related to planetary science and the solar system. Printing instructions are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Neighbors: Planets Around Nearby Stars

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners explain why a transiting planet causes a periodic dimming in the light from its parent star. They determine the radius of a planet, and its orbital distance, by analyzing data and manipulating equations. Students compare the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Weather, and the World

For Teachers 4th - Higher Ed
Students in a special education classroom examine the role of weather and water in their lives. Each day, they add a symbol for the weather outside and identify the proper activities for the weather on that day. In groups, they...
Lesson Plan
Journey Through the Universe

Is There Anyone Out There?

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
What is an alien's favorite game? All-star baseball! Scholars start defining living and non-living. Then, they conduct experiments to research if life exists, keeping in mind that life could be in many forms, not just human.