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Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: The Universe

For Students 3rd - 5th
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on the Universe and what it is made up of.
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Interactive
BBC

Bbc Schools: Ks2 Bitesize: Science: Physical Processes: Earth, Sun, and Moon

For Students 3rd - 5th
Help Sarah Jane and her team put the solar system's planets back in order. Following the activity, read more about the sun, the Earth, and its moon, and then take a quick quiz to check for understanding.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: What Is the Solar System?

For Teachers 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the solar system. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Simple Science: Planetary Gallery

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The innovative resource examines images of the Sun, Moon, Pluto, and all eight planets in the Solar System. Learners calculate the diameter of each object and rank the objects in order of size. The activity has an interactive online...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Ordering Planets: Math Connections & Number Sense in Science

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
For this Solar System Investigate, students will determine ways to order the planets. Teacher directed inquiry will suggest that they first order the planets according to their distance from the sun. Students will then work on their own...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Planet Orbits in the Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at the size and shape of planet orbits.
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Website
California Institute of Technology

Spitzer Science Center: Historias Desde Espacio: Premiacion a Las Planetas

For Students 3rd - 8th
All the planets are competing to see who is the best planet in the Solar System. Read the story in Spanish to learn the results of the pageant. Excellent source of information presented in a fun manner.
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Online Course
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Earth and Space Science: Order Out of Chaos: Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Material to begin an exploration of the Solar System: the characteristics of the planets, theories about planet formation, and more. An hour-long video is accompanied by learning goals, an outline and overview, details on star formation,...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Big Are the Planets in Our Solar System?

For Students 3rd - 5th
This activity explores the relative size of the eight planets that circle around the Sun.
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Website
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Astronomy

For Students 3rd - 8th
Eight hands-on lessons module in which students explore the characteristics of planet Earth, its moons, the sun, the solar system, planets, and the difference between science fact and science fiction.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Inner and Outer Planets of the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
For this science lesson students will work collaboratively to learn and introduce the eight planets, sizes, characteristics, and their order. They will use size comparisons, research a planet, design a poster and create a PowerPoint...
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Handout
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place: Planet X Treme Weather

For Students 3rd - 8th
Ever wonder what the weather is like on other planets besides Earth? This resource explores the extreme weather that occurs on other planets.
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Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Educator Resources: Extreme Weather on Other Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Find lesson plans, worksheets, photo galleries, and related links for teaching about the weather systems of planets in our solar system.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Kids Science: Learn About the Solar System

For Students 1st - 9th
What makes up the Solar System? Kid astronomers learn about the planets and the sun.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Inner Versus Outer Planets

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Compares the characteristics of inner and outer planets.
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Website
Space Telescope Science Institute

Amazing Science: Solar System Trading Cards

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Amazing Science looks at the Solar System with this FAQ site and lesson plan.
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Website
Nine Planets

The Eight Planets: Just for Kids

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a clear, simple picture of the solar system. Click on the names of the planets to learn more about each. Clicking on underlined terms takes you to more and more detailed scientific information.
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Website
Other

Space Science Institute: Alien Earths: Star and Planet Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the lives of stars, and how stars and planets form. The Interactive activity, 'Planet Families' requires Adobe Flash and cannot be launched.
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Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Photo Gallery

For Students 9th - 10th
A website featuring a collection of images from NASA. Collection includes images of planets, comets, nebulae, galaxies, stars, sun, and spacecrafts.
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Nasa: Mars and Earth: Science Learning Activities for Afterschool

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This set of activities teaches students about the big picture of science using Mars as an example: how to collect data, use evidence, and look at models.
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Handout
NASA

Nasa: Mission Science: What Is a Planet?

For Students 5th - 9th
Find out about how planets have been classified historically, and what scientists use to study them.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Geo Logic: Terrestrial and Jovian Planets

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Through GEOLogic puzzles, students are given clues about properties about the terrestrial and Jovian planets respectively, and challenged to match the planet with the correct equatorial radius, mean orbital velocity, and period of rotation.
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Interactive
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe

For Students 9th - 10th
Windows to the Universe has developed an interactive resource about the earth, space, biological and physical sciences. Content includes information on our planet, the solar system, the universe, myths associated with space, space...
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Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Formation of the Sun and Planets Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the formation of the sun and planets in our solar system.