PBS
Pbs Learning Media: All Planet Sizes
This illustration from the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory shows the approximate sizes of the planets relative to each other. Note that the planets are not shown at appropriate distances from the Sun.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Planetary Size and Distance Comparison
Students review the sizes of planets and their order relative to the Sun. They then learn about astronomical uses and create a model of the solar system that reflects planetary distances. Includes handouts and worksheets as well as a...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Ordering Planets: Math Connections & Number Sense in Science
In 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...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Planets Made Real: Creating Size and Distance Scale of Planets
An activity where students build a scale model of the solar system based on a marble they pick from a bowl. After choosing a marble that represents Earth, students must calculate the size of the other planets and the sun. Site includes...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Space Math Scale of the Solar System
Practice Space Math! Math is the cornerstone of space travel. Familiarize yourself with all the ways math can help you study the solar system. Practice math problems in areas such as speed of light, the distance of planets to the sun,...
Harvard University
Harvard University: The Solar System
These hands-on activities are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Scaled Images of the Solar System
Use the following lithographs to envision the scale of our solar system. View different models of planets at different scales, an infographic about the relative sizes of the planets and distance from the sun, and images of the largest...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Classroom Planetarium
Create a classroom model of the solar system while teaching about relative size of all the planets, and each planet's distance from the sun.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: The Planet Earth
This site is astronomy for kids and teachers! Here students can learn about the planet Earth of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: The Planet Uranus
Kids learn about the ice giant planet Uranus of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun. Astronomy for kids and teachers.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: The Planet Venus
Kids learn about the planet Venus of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun. Astronomy for kids and teachers.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: The Planet Jupiter
Kids learn about the planet Jupiter of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun. Astronomy for kids and teachers.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: The Planet Mars
Kids learn about the planet Mars of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun. Astronomy for kids and teachers.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: The Planet Mercury
Kids learn about the planet Mercury of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun. Astronomy for kids and teachers.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: The Planet Neptune
Kids learn about the ice giant planet Neptune of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun. Astronomy for kids and teachers.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: The Planet Saturn
Kids learn about the planet Saturn of the Solar System including its rings, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun. Astronomy for kids and teachers.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Solar System Scale Model
Teach the concept of scale models and the size of the solar system through this extensive lesson plan. Students will learn about scale models, estimate which objects to use to create a scale model of Earth and Sun, and figure out how far...
NASA
Nasa: Mercury Planet Profile
This page from NASA provides a chart of statistical information on planet Mercury. Its mass, diameter, average temperature, and distance from the Sun are among the characteristics listed.
NASA
Nasa: Mars Planet Profile
This site has a data table of statistical information about Mars. Among the things listed are density, diameter, distance from the Sun, and much more.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Uranus
This comprehensive site provides a wealth of information about the seventh planet from the sun. Topics include rotational axis, size, mass and gravity, length of day, distance from the sun, and more. The information is supplemented with...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Neptune
A wealth of facts await you on this complete site. Topics include size, mass and gravity, length of day, orbit, distance from the sun, and more. A coloring page, quiz, fill-in-the-blanks activity, and interactive puzzle will challenge...
Other
Making a Scale Model of the Solar System
In this lesson plan site, students are asked to construct a scale model of the planets to help visualize the relative size of planets and their relative distance from the Sun. Links are provided to the Sun and the planets which contain...
Other
Space weather.com
Want to know what the current weather conditions are in space? Find everything here you may want to know about the latest solar flares, sunspots, asteroids and more. Site also includes essential web links to quench any user's thirst for...
Other
Christopher Crockett: The Astronomy Word of the Week Is "Barycenter"
While astronomers and philosophers have long mused on the possibility of other solar systems, the first planets confirmed to orbit a star other than our Sun weren't found until 1992. The reason it took so long is that it's really hard!...