Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site from NASA's Space Place is geared towards early elementary learners. It offers detailed instructions for crafts and activities related to space, games and a teacher resource area. Students can also ask an expert at this site.
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Planet Hop

For Students 3rd - 8th
Figure out your age and your weight on all the planets in the solar system using the formulas given here. Then type them into the correct place, and let the computer check to see if you are correct.
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Mercury

For Students 3rd - 8th
Provides good information about Mercury and is a good starting point for information about the planet along with pictures and audio. Links to a simple fact table, puzzle, glossary, and more detailed information.
eBook
Cornell University

Cornell University: Astronomy: Orbital Motion and Kepler's Laws

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site from the Astronomy Department of Cornell University, Kepler's three laws of planetary motion are stated. There are brief explanations of each, along with links to additional information on related subjects.
Website
NASA

Nasa: The Planets Mercury

For Students 9th - 10th
Official NASA information page about the planet Mercury.
Lesson Plan
Other

Sandburg Center for Sky Awareness: What Are the Shapes of the Planets' Orbits?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan investigation students learn about the shapes of the planetary orbits by experimenting with ellipses of different proportions.
Graphic
Other

All (Known) Bodies in Our Solar System Larger Than 200 Miles in Diameter

For Students 9th - 10th
How big is the Earth compared to the Sun? Is Mars bigger than the Moon? Seeing all bodies in the solar system larger than 200 miles in diameter side by side provides an excellent comparison and an interesting perspective.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Earth

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the geography and composition of Earth, the third closest planet to the sun and the only planet that contains life.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Jupiter

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the weather, composition, and discovery of Jupiter, the largest of all the planets.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Mars

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the weather, geography, composition, and discovery of Mars, the fourth closest planet to the Sun.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Mercury

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Mercury, the closest planet to the sun.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Neptune

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, composition, and discovery of Neptune, the last planet in our solar system.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Pluto

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Pluto, a dwarf planet.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Saturn

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, composition, and discovery of Saturn, the second largest planet.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Uranus

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, composition, and discovery of Uranus, the seventh closest planet to the sun.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Venus

For Students K - 1st
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Venus, the second closest planet to the sun.
Handout
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Planet Viewing

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Guide to the best time to view planets.
Article
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: How Big Is the Universe?

For Students 2nd - 8th
Provides facts about the Universe, Jupiter, the Milky Way Galaxy, and Superclusters.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Place: All About Earth

For Students 3rd - 8th
Brief description of the earth's structure, surface, neighbors, and history with images.
Article
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: What Is Solar System?

For Students 4th - 6th
Features 10 fascinating facts about the solar system.
Interactive
Quia

Quia: Luna and Beyond (Quiz)

For Students 3rd - 8th
A series of questions about the moons of our Solar System is presented in a millionaire game format.
eBook
Quia

Quia: Brushing Your Teeth

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site gives you opportunities to practice putting the planets in the correct order from the sun. Press "Click here to begin" to get started.
Graphic
Other

Uppsala Astronomical Observatory: Planetary Imaging

For Students 9th - 10th
Images of Mercury, Venus, the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter by the Swedish Vacuum Solar Telescope.
Graphic
Curated OER

Photojournal

For Students 9th - 10th
This NASA site provides access to publicly released images from various Solar System exploration programs.