+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Story of the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
There is more to the solar system than the typical study of the sun and planets. Launch a study of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets by watching the video The Story of the Solar System, available for purchase through this resource on the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading and Writing About the Solar System

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Utilizing the classic Magic School Bus series, young scientists explore the solar system. Some excellent worksheets are included in this plan, such as Planet Roll Call and Solar System in Motion. This is an ambitious 5-day unit that...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading and Writing about the Solar System

For Teachers K - 2nd
A superb interdisciplinary approach highlights this lesson which incorporates space science knowledge and narrative skills. After reading The Magic School Bus, two excellent poems, and watching a video, all about our solar system, young...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Could the Solar System have Ten Planets?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about the solar system, then read a news article about a recently discovered object that could be another planet. In this space science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ceres and Pluto: Dwarf Planets as a New Way of Thinking about an Old Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the new categories of planets and how planets were reclassified.  In this solar system lesson students complete activities using Venn diagrams and images of planets. 
+
Interactive3:41
Scholastic

Study Jams! The Universe

For Students 4th - 8th
Take your kids on a trip through the universe as they explore galaxies, solar systems, stars, and more. Watch the short video, then have learners show their knowledge with the included quiz. Supplement the video by having teams build a...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nine Planets

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
A solid lesson on teaching the nine planets in our solar system is here for you. In it, young scientists learn the correct order of the planets, and they choose one of the planets to do a research report on. They must come up with five...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Adventure

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners study the solar system and our galaxy, then write a science fiction story based on what they discover. They utilize worksheets and access websites imbedded in this plan to gain ideas for their stories.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore the solar system on the internet and video programs. They investigate the names of each planet and their places in the solar system. They chose their favorite planet and design an advertisement to sell a vacation to...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System: Let's Take a Trip

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders consider outer space. In this introductory solar system lesson plan, 3rd graders complete a KWL chart and listen to the story The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen. They will...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beyond the Solar System

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders simulate solar system exploration and write fictional story about their journey through the galaxy.
+
Lesson Plan
Journey Through the Universe

Impact Craters: A Look at the Past

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
The Galle crater on Mars is also known as the Happy Face crater because of its appearance. First, scholars use pebbles and flour to simulate craters and study their properties. They then apply this knowledge to help decipher the history...
+
Worksheet
K5 Learning

The Sun and the Stars

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
How are the stars similar to the sun in our galaxy? Learn all about the solar system with a reading excerpt about the sun and the stars. Kids read an informational passage before they answer questions about reading comprehension,...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discover Magazine: The Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research ideas for NASA's space exploration. In this Space Science lesson plan, students will try to find a way to bring NASA back into the spot light. Students will presented their ideas to the class for review.
+
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Introduction to the Universe

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders write descriptive imagery and identify facts about various components of the universe. They listen to the book "The Magic School Bus, Lost in the Solar System," develop a list of descriptive words from the story, compose a...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Planet Mars

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders gain knowledge about Mars and Earth. In this compare and contrast instructional activity, 5th graders use visual representations of the solar system to observe the characteristics of the planets. Students read fiction and...
+
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

The Moon

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
Young scholars explore the phases of the moon. In this solar system lesson, students listen to several books about the moon including The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons. Young scholars complete a KWL activity concerning the phases of the moon...
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Baylor College

Using Heat from the Sun

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Let's heat things up! This simple experiment demonstrates for students the important role the sun plays in providing the earth with energy. Place one cup of water in direct sunlight and one in shade, then take measurements in order to...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System: Fantasy Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create their own fantasy planet using computer software on KidPix. In this planets lesson plan, students also write a paragraph about their planet including the name, population, weather, and more.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explain the classification of planets according to various criteria. They create charts illustrating comparative data.
+
App
1
1
NASA

NASA

For Students 3rd - 12th
Everything you have ever wanted to know about our solar system, space exploration, and more can be found here. Be prepared to clear your schedule; you will be sucked into the app like a star into a black hole.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ordinal Numbers Are Out of This World

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify and write ordinal numbers by following the sequence the school bus followed during a field trip to the nine planets in the solar system. This is based on the book The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Destination Outer Space

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use effective writing skills, their imagination, and their knowledge of the nine planets as they create travel pamphlets of the solar system.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets

For Teachers 1st
First graders study the planets in the solar system.  In this planets lesson, 1st graders read Planets, then create a mobile containing all of the planets in the correct order. Students will label the planets with descriptive words.