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Interactive
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Space: Solar System Interactives

For Students 3rd - 8th
Identify the planets in our solar system and discover how much you weigh on another planet with these space interactives.
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Website
Extreme Science

Extreme Science: Space Science: Our Solar System

For Students 6th - 8th
Read about our solar system and its formation over 4.6 billion years ago. Find out about the planets, asteroids, meteors, satellites, and comets. More in-depth planet background can be accessed through links.
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Lesson Plan
The Wonder of Science

The Wonder of Science: Ms Ess1 3: Scale Properties in the Solar System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Work samples, phenomena, assessment templates, and videos that directly address standard MS-ESS1-3: scale properties in the solar system.
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Lesson Plan
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Solar System Science

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Each student becomes the "ambassador" for a planet and prepares by researching their planet, then meets with other ambassadors to form new mini-solar systems.
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Website
Views of the Solar System

Views of the Solar System: The Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the solar system through this site that includes vivid multimedia resources. Learn the latest scientific discoveries, the history of space exploration, and much more. Site includes videos, graphics, articles, and photographs.
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Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: The Universe

For Students 3rd - 5th
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on the Universe and what it is made up of.
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Interactive
BBC

Bbc Schools: Ks2 Bitesize: Science: Physical Processes: Earth, Sun, and Moon

For Students 3rd - 5th
Help Sarah Jane and her team put the solar system's planets back in order. Following the activity, read more about the sun, the Earth, and its moon, and then take a quick quiz to check for understanding.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: What Is the Solar System?

For Teachers 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the solar system. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Simple Science: Planetary Gallery

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The innovative resource examines images of the Sun, Moon, Pluto, and all eight planets in the Solar System. Learners calculate the diameter of each object and rank the objects in order of size. The activity has an interactive online...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Ordering Planets: Math Connections & Number Sense in Science

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Planet Orbits in the Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at the size and shape of planet orbits.
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Website
California Institute of Technology

Spitzer Science Center: Historias Desde Espacio: Premiacion a Las Planetas

For Students 3rd - 8th
All the planets are competing to see who is the best planet in the Solar System. Read the story in Spanish to learn the results of the pageant. Excellent source of information presented in a fun manner.
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Online Course
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Earth and Space Science: Order Out of Chaos: Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Material to begin an exploration of the Solar System: the characteristics of the planets, theories about planet formation, and more. An hour-long video is accompanied by learning goals, an outline and overview, details on star formation,...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Big Are the Planets in Our Solar System?

For Students 3rd - 5th
This activity explores the relative size of the eight planets that circle around the Sun.
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Website
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Astronomy

For Students 3rd - 8th
Eight hands-on lessons module in which students explore the characteristics of planet Earth, its moons, the sun, the solar system, planets, and the difference between science fact and science fiction.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Inner and Outer Planets of the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this science lesson young scholars will work collaboratively to learn and introduce the eight planets, sizes, characteristics, and their order. They will use size comparisons, research a planet, design a poster and create a PowerPoint...
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Handout
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place: Planet X Treme Weather

For Students 3rd - 8th
Ever wonder what the weather is like on other planets besides Earth? This resource explores the extreme weather that occurs on other planets.
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Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Educator Resources: Extreme Weather on Other Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Find lesson plans, worksheets, photo galleries, and related links for teaching about the weather systems of planets in our solar system.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Kids Science: Learn About the Solar System

For Students 1st - 9th
What makes up the Solar System? Kid astronomers learn about the planets and the sun.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Inner Versus Outer Planets

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Compares the characteristics of inner and outer planets.
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Website
Space Telescope Science Institute

Amazing Science: Solar System Trading Cards

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Amazing Science looks at the Solar System with this FAQ site and lesson plan.
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Website
Nine Planets

The Eight Planets: Just for Kids

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a clear, simple picture of the solar system. Click on the names of the planets to learn more about each. Clicking on underlined terms takes you to more and more detailed scientific information.
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Website
Other

Space Science Institute: Alien Earths: Star and Planet Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the lives of stars, and how stars and planets form. The Interactive activity, 'Planet Families' requires Adobe Flash and cannot be launched.
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Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Photo Gallery

For Students 9th - 10th
A website featuring a collection of images from NASA. Collection includes images of planets, comets, nebulae, galaxies, stars, sun, and spacecrafts.