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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets in Balance

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students study the solar system by researching the planets.  In this exploratory lesson plan students divide into teams and create mobiles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Bead Distance Activity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a scaled solar system model using colorful beads. In this space science instructional activity, students convert AU units into metric measurements. They arrange the planets according to their distances from the sun.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders engage in a study of the solar system. The teacher constructs an outside model of it. They walk through it making constructive observations. Students conduct a class discussion about the solar system and planets. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voyage to Titan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students go to the linked web page "The Nine Planets" to find facts about Titan. They list elements of the solar system and the five planets of the outer solar system. Students find their weight on each planet. Titan is selected from the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Students 4th - 5th
In this crossword puzzle learning exercise, students read the 20 clues about the solar system. Students then complete the puzzle with 20 words related to the solar system.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet/Constellation Mobile

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils, through small group discussion, identify and share a rationale for shapes and patterns in the construction of a mobile that represents the solar system that makes them think of the creation of our solar system.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Our Solar System #1

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the different theories on how our solar system was formed. They discover the order of the nine planets. They also identify the surface features of each planet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space - In Your Face or Not?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders, in groups, examine how it doesn't matter if they can see the planets in the solar system or not--they're there.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Our Universe: Always Moving, Always Changing

For Teachers 3rd
Students explore the main concepts of astronomy through the eleven lessons of this unit. The past, present, and future methods of studying the science are examined in this unit.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Distance Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students examine the distances between the Sun, planets, and smaller objects in the Solar System. They design a model using beads that shows the scale distances of the Solar System using astronomical units converted into a 10 centimeter...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Last Year on Pluto

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars examine the astronomical concept of a year. They relate the passage of time on planets to historical events in the USA.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Place in the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students study and discuss the planets. They create a visual representation of the layout of the solar system and color it. They also write an informative/narrative summary report on the cultural relevance of the Sun.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon, Mars, and Beyond-Mission Briefing

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students complete this introductory instructional activity in which they find out about the scenario for a simulated online space mission. They review vocabulary and complete a review sheet to reinforce the details of the mission and its...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar System

For Students 5th
In this Solar System instructional activity, 5th graders demonstrate knowledge of parts of the Solar System. Students unscramble letters to list these parts.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar System

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this space activity, students identify and locate vocabulary terms and names related to the Solar System. There are 23 words located in the puzzle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
For this solar system worksheet, students find the names of the eight planets in the word search puzzle. The names of the planets are listed.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Planets in our Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students learn the order and key characteristics of each planet in our solar system. For this solar system lesson, students work in groups to characterize each planet on an index card. They use their index cards to put the planets in...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Space Facts

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read space facts and click on the links to research more about space objects. In this space lesson plan, students read about comets, planets, the moon, and more.
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Handout
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: Cronus (Saturn)

For Students 9th - 10th
"In Greek mythology, Cronus was the son of Uranus and Gaea." He led a revolt against his father and thereby became the king of the gods. He was later overthrown by his own son Zeus.
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Website
Space Telescope Science Institute

Hubble Site: Solar System Images

For Students 9th - 10th
A listing of clickable images of objects in the Solar System from the Hubble telescope that includes the following: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Jupiter's satellites, Saturn, Saturn's rings and satellites, Uranus, Uranus' rings and satellites,...
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Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Place: How Many Moons?

For Students 3rd - 6th
Find out about different planets' moons in our solar system.
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Website
Kidport

Kidport: Space Science

For Students 3rd - 5th
This complete resource will help students to improve their understand of space exploration. Includes images of the universe, galaxies, stars and planets.
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Website
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Zoom Astronomy: All About Space

For Students 3rd - 8th
A fantastic collection of information about the solar system. Includes information on all of the planets, the moon, the sun, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and stars. Also find puzzles, a dictionary, quizzes, classroom activities, and...
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Graphic
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Our Solar System Lithograph Set

For Students 6th - 8th
View these amazing high-quality images of our solar system from NASA with this lithograph set. Each lithograph contains images, facts, dates, and general information on a particular subject. Background information and teaching tips are...