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 primary teachers for your classroom!
Aligned with Australian science 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!
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 orbiting 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 made up 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 3000!
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!
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Inner vs. Outer Planets – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Sort inner and outer solar system planets with this cut-and-paste science worksheet.
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Moon Phases – Vocabulary Cards
Reinforce science vocabulary with a set of 15 vocabulary cards covering the different phases of the moon and related terms.
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The Relative Distance From the Sun to Earth
Scaled images of the sun and Earth to use when exploring relative size and distance.
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Sun, Earth and Moon Task Cards
Review information about the Earth, Sun and moon with this set of task cards.
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All About Stars – Mini-Book
Learn about the stars in the night sky with this printable mini-book designed for year 1 and 2 students.
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Rotation vs. Revolution – Sorting Activity
Determine if examples are due to Earth’s rotation or revolution with this sorting activity.
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Earth, Sun and Moon Pictures
Colourful pictures of the sun, Earth and moon.
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Planet Facts Fan Booklet
Practise knowledge of the planets by creating this fun fan-style activity booklet.
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Phases of the Moon – Journal Project
Observe, describe and record patterns of the lunar cycle with this moon-tracking project.
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Objects in the Sky – Exit Tickets
Assess understanding of different objects in the sky with this set of 24 exit tickets.
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Rotation and Revolution Bingo
Engage your students with a lively game of bingo while learning about Earth’s rotation and revolution.
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Space - Word Wall Vocabulary
Use these space vocabulary words and space terms to unlock the solar system for your elementary students as they learn about space, the solar system, and the world far beyond your school.
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Objects in the Sky – Writing Prompts
Describe objects in the sky, such as the clouds, moon and sun, with this set of 8 space science writing prompts.
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Space Adventure Board Game
Review the order of the planets with a fun space adventure board game.
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Earth, Sun and Moon – Poster Pack
Display these posters with information about the Earth, Sun and moon in your science classroom.
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Why Teach About Aboriginal Astronomy? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about Aboriginal astronomy.
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Objects in the Sky – Sorting Activity
Determine if statements about different objects in the sky are true or false with this sorting activity.
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Sun Observation Project
Use observations of the sun to describe patterns that can be predicted with this journal project.
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Objects in the Sky Bingo
Learn about different objects in the sky with a bingo game!
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Objects in the Sky – Interactive Peg Cards
Practise identifying different objects in the sky and associated vocabulary terms with this set of 24 interactive clip cards.
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Objects in the Sky Flipbook
Describe and illustrate different objects found in the sky with this printable science flipbook.
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Objects in the Sky – Interactive Activity
Demonstrate an underestansding of the sun, moon, stars and clouds with this interactive activity.
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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.
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Day and Night Booklet
Learn about the differences between night and day with this printable Day and Night Booklet.
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Celestial Bodies – Earth, Sun and Moon – Teaching Presentation
Learn information about the Earth, sun and moon while comparing the physical characteristics of each with this 22-slide teaching presentation.
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Night and Day Word Wall
A set of vocabulary words related to night and day.
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Solar and Lunar Eclipse Posters
Display these solar and lunar eclipse diagrams in your classroom when learning about the alignment of the Sun, Earth and moon.
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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.
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Planet Puzzle Match-Up Activity
Use your knowledge of the solar system to complete 8 different planet puzzles.
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Phases of the Moon Activity - Task Cards
Review information about the different moon phases with this set of 24 Phases of the Moon Activity task cards.
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Moon Phases Tic-Tac-Toe (Small Group)
Identify and remember the different phases of the moon with this small group tic-tac-toe game.
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Rotation vs. Revolution – Cut and Paste Worksheet (Stage 2)
Demonstrate an understanding of rotation vs. revolution with this cut and paste worksheet.