Solar System Lesson Plans

Students access prior knowledge and to become familiar with the solar system. In this solar system lesson, students use felt to build a solar system model. Students label their solar systems. Students use chalk and correct scaling to position a solar system diagram outside.

Have your class explore space with this resource. Learners identify the different planets in our solar system and watch a video on the topic. They design posters about meteors, asteroids and comets. This is a motivating way for learners to discuss the solar system.

Everyone loves learning about the solar system. Learners choose a planet to do research on and are evaluated on a precise summary of the planet they chose. They work in small groups to do this activity and post the summary on slapastory.com. This lesson includes resource links and a rubric for grading.

Young scholars research the orbits of objects in the solar system. They change colors in an Excel chart and change settings in an Excel chart. They save a file to a network drive or other storage device.

What a creative way to discuss the solar system! First, learners get an overview of the solar system. Then, they plan out and organize a trip to one of the planets. And, finally, they describe their imaginary experience. This is a motivating lesson.

Start a unit on the solar system with a visit to the NASA website, then navigate the stars with an exciting web-quest. After all that exploration, learners will be ready to jump into a team-centered research project in which they prepare an oral presentation on one of the nine planets. This lesson could span several days and ends with an independent assignment in which each learner creates a model of our solar system. There are links to web resources and extensions included.  

Third graders examine space science by creating a model in class. In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders utilize the web to research the nine planets in our system, their relation to each other and individual characteristics they each have. Students create a solar system model using arts and crafts which they present to the class.

Motivate your class with this lesson plan. Learners explore the solar system and practice working with fractions using this resource. They construct scale models of our solar system, and use fractions to correctly configure the solar system to scale.

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. 

Students research the solar system. In this space science lesson, students listen to space stories and watch videos. They write about their favorite planet, do a choral reading of "Planet Roll Call" and sing a song.