Solar System Teaching Resources
Rocket your students into your next space lesson with solar system projects and diagrams, activities designed around the planets and moon phases, and hundreds more teaching resources created by teachers for your classroom!
Aligned with NGSS curriculum standards, each solar system-focused teacher resource has undergone the Teach Starter teacher team's thorough review process to ensure it's ready to use in your classroom.
This collection of curriculum-aligned teaching resources makes teaching about the planets, sun, moon, and the rest of the galaxy easy with editable templates that can be easily adapted to differentiate instruction for your individual students.
New to this part of the science curriculum or just looking for fresh ideas to inspire kids about space? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a definition of solar system to share with students and a look at the difference between this space concept and galaxies.
What Is the Solar System? A Kid-Friendly Definition
To start you off, our teacher team has created a definition you can use in the classroom to introduce the solar system to your students.
The solar system is made up of a single star with planets rotating around it.
The solar system that we call home has the sun at the center — yes, the sun is a star! — and it includes planet Earth, plus other planets, moons, asteroids, comets and other outer space objects.
The sun, which is seen at left, is the only star in our solar system.
Solar System vs. Galaxy — What's the Difference?
If a solar system is comprised of the sun and the planets, what's a galaxy?
The easiest way to explain the difference between these two is to tell your class that a galaxy is a gigantic group of solar systems, all gathered together.
Kids can think of the galaxy as a big, extended family of solar systems.
Earth is located in the Milky Way galaxy, which includes a huge number of different solar systems — more than 3,000!
How Many Planets Are in Our Solar System?
The solar system that we call home as residents of Earth is made up of eight planets — Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — plus one dwarf planet, Pluto!
- Plus Plan
Orbital Period of Planets Poster and Worksheet
Learn about the time it takes each planet to orbit the sun with this poster and cut-and-paste worksheet for your students.
- Plus Plan
Earth, Sun, and Moon – Vocabulary Cards and Puzzles
Reinforce science vocabulary with this set of word wall cards and vocabulary puzzles covering the Earth, sun, and moon.
- Plus Plan
Rotation and Revolution Bingo
Engage your students with a lively game of bingo while learning about Earth’s rotation and revolution.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky Bingo
Learn about different objects in the sky with a bingo game!
- Plus Plan
Earth and Space Vocabulary Posters
Display this set of 18 mini-posters in your classroom when learning about Earth and space vocabulary.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky – Interactive Clip Cards
Practice identifying different objects in the sky and associated vocabulary terms with this set of 24 interactive clip cards.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky – Mini Workbook
Observe, describe, and illustrate different objects in the sky with this printable mini-workbook.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky Flipbook
Describe and illustrate different objects found in the sky with this printable science flipbook.
- Plus Plan
Earth, Sun, and Moon – Comprehension Worksheet
Read about and compare physical characteristics of the Eath, sun, and moon with this reading comprehension sheet.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky – Write the Room Activity
Improve your students’ understanding of science vocabulary terms that relate to objects in the sky with this “Write the Room” activity.
- Plus Plan
Day and Night Mini-Book
Learn about the differences between night and day with this printable mini-book designed for kindergarten and first-grade students.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky – Sorting Activity
Determine if statements about different objects in the sky are true or false with this sorting activity.
- Plus Plan
Moon Phases Diagram
Learn about the position of the moon and its phases as it orbits the Earth with this illustrated diagram.
- Plus Plan
All About Stars – Mini-Book
Learn about the stars in the night sky with this printable mini-book designed for kindergarten and first-grade students.
- Plus Plan
Celestial Bodies – Earth, Sun, and Moon – Instructional Slide Deck
Learn information about the Earth, sun, and moon while comparing the physical characteristics of each with this 22-slide instructional slide deck.
- Plus Plan
What Causes the Seasons to Change? – Instructional Slide Deck
Explore what causes the seasons to change and learn about solstices and equinoxes with this instructional slide deck.
- Plus Plan
Day and Night Worksheets
Use this set of printable worksheets to encourage students to think about the differences between night and day.
- Plus Plan
Day and Night Cycle – Poster
Display information about Earth’s day and night cycle with this colorful science poster.
- Plus Plan
Snapshots of the Moon – Moon Tracking Booklet
Obverse the moon over the course of the month and chart observations with this moon phases mini-book.
- Plus Plan
Moon Phases – Instructional Slide Deck
Learn about the different phases of the moon and how its appearance changes over time with this instructional slide deck.
- Plus Plan
Earth's Rotation and Revolution – Instructional Slide Deck
Explore the difference between rotation and revolution while learning about the day and night cycle, what causes the seasons to change, and more with this instructional slide deck.
- Plus Plan
Cause of the Seasons – Task Cards
Demonstrate an understanding of what causes the seasons with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
We Are Moving – Planet Project Bundle
Use this printable Earth and Space project teaching resource bundle to create projects that develop knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts, research skills and writing skills.
- Plus Plan
How to Make a Sundial Activity and Worksheet
Print this sundial science worksheet, and follow the instructions to make a sundial with your students when exploring concepts of time.
- Plus Plan
Phases of the Moon Bulletin Board Kit
Display information about the phases of this moon with an out-of-this-world bulletin board display.
- Plus Plan
Oreo® Moon Phases Worksheet
Engage your students with a science snack-tivity by completing this Oreo® moon phases worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Phases of the Moon – Data Worksheet
Use data to identify and predict when different phases of the moon are visible with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Moon Phases Tic-Tac-Toe (Small Group)
Identify and remember the different phases of the moon with this small group tic-tac-toe game.
- Plus Plan
Moon Phases Mini-Book
Read, learn, and complete comprehension exercises while studying the 8 moon phases.
- Plus Plan
Rotation vs. Revolution – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Demonstrate an understanding of rotation vs. revolution with this cut and paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Rotation vs. Revolution Poster Set
Display information in your classroom about the differences between rotation and revolution with this poster set.
- Plus Plan
Sun, Earth, and Moon Task Cards
Review information about the Earth, Sun, and Moon with this set of task cards.