Voyage Solar System
Round and Round We Go — Exploring Orbits in the Solar System
Math and science come together in this cross-curricular astronomy lesson plan on planetary motion. Starting off with a hands-on activity that engages the class in exploring the geometry of circles and ellipses, this lesson plan then...
Center for Math and Science Education
Pocket Solar System
How in the world can something as big as the solar system possibly fit in your pocket? Complete this simple modeling activity and find out, as young scientists gain an appreciation for the incredible scale of outer space.
Center for Math and Science Education
Solar System Launch
Trying to understand the vastness of outer space can be quite a challenge for young scientists. Help put things in perspective with this cross-curricular activity as students work in pairs creating scaled models of the solar system,...
Mr. Hill's Science Website
Solar System Fact Sheet
Here is a fantastic, educational handout packed with information and facts not only about the planets in our solar system, but also regarding major moons and their surface features, dwarf planets, comets, and asteroids.
Vosonos
Interactive Minds: Solar System
Travel through space as you learn about the galaxy, solar system, planets, and much more. An extensive resource for studying astronomy in upper-elementary and middle school classrooms.
Curated OER
Target Earth
Space scientists use water displacement to determine the mass of a cubic centimeter mini meteorite, and then use it as a small-scale representative of an asteroid. They figure out the orbital velocity of an asteroid. Then they use a...
Simply Worksheets
Solar System - Missing Words
In this space science worksheet, students complete nine sentence fill-in's about the planets in the solar system. There is no word bank.
Curated OER
Astronomy Jeopardy
There are 5-point level questions available for each of the categories in this Jeopardy game. The categories are the main topics within astronomy; stars, galaxies, the sun, planets, meteors etc. The game is logically set up and clear to...
Curated OER
The Story of the Solar System
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...
Curated OER
Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets
Although a bit confusing, this is an interesting exercise which will lead to greater understanding of the differences between asteroids, meteors, and comets. Learners must find the correct path that takes them through a series of...
Curated OER
Solar System Review
After a unit on the solar system, this resource would be a motivating way for students to review what they have learned. The presentation does not have in-depth questions, but could be used as a quick review of basic concepts relating to...
Curated OER
Space Science
Eighth graders study the objects in our solar system. In this space lesson students identify and describe planets, then classify them as terrestrial or gaseous.
Curated OER
TARGET EARTH
Students explore the possibility of an asteroid hitting planet earth. In this planetary lesson students complete a lab activity to see the effects of an asteroid hitting earth and compare different craters.
Curated OER
Changes Inside Planets
Students relate meteorites to the mantle and crust of asteroids. For this planetary lesson students complete experiments to model the separation of light.
Curated OER
Teacher Notes - "Comets And Asteroids - What They Are, Where They Are, They and Us"
Students examine the make-up of comets and asteroids. In this comets and asteroids lesson, students examine pictures of comets in asteroids that are included in a teacher presented PowerPoint. They complete an associated worksheet.
Curated OER
From Dust Balls to Asteroids
In this asteroids worksheet, students solve six problems where they find the equation for the mass of asteroids, they find the equation for the growth of asteroids, and they integrate their answers.
Curated OER
From Asteroids to Planets
In this asteroids and planets worksheet, students read about the formation of planets from asteroids. Students solve 6 mathematical problems including finding the rate of growth of a planet, determining the mass of a planet at a given...
Curated OER
Asteroid Eros
In this asteroid image worksheet, learners observe a photograph taken by the NEAR imager and they determine the scale of the image following the given steps. They solve 4 problems using the scaled image and determine the dimensions, the...
Curated OER
Asteroids Between Mars and the Sun
In this asteroids of the solar system activity, students observe a diagram showing all the minor planets found in the orbit of Mars. Students answer 4 questions about the minor planets inside the orbit of other planets, they find the...
Curated OER
Hubble Spies Colliding Asteroids!
In this colliding asteroids worksheet, learners are given the equation to determine the collision time for asteroids. Students use this equation to solve 4 problems including finding the area of a cross-section through the body of an...
Curated OER
Spotting an Approaching Asteroid or Comet
In this asteroid and comet activity, students read about the formula used to determine the brightness of asteroid. They apply this formula to solve 2 problems about asteroids and their brightness.
Curated OER
The Sun and Its Planets-Practice Test
In this sun and planets instructional activity, 3rd graders answer 14 multiple choice questions about the solar system, the size of planets in comparison to the sun, asteroids, the components of the sun and features of planets.
Curated OER
Asteroid, Comet, or Meteor?
In this asteroid, comet and meteor worksheet, students complete a chart by determining which of 8 given characteristics belong to asteroids, comets or meteors.
Curated OER
Other Objects in the Solar System
In this solar system learning exercise, students complete a crossword puzzle given 11 clues about objects in the sky such as asteroids, meteoroids, comets and planets.