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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Planets Escape Room Activity
Navigate facts about different planets with this fun and engaging escape room style activity with your students.
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Earth's Rotation – Flipbook
Model and explain how Earth’s rotation causes the sun to move across the sky with this interactive 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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Night and Day Word Wall
A set of vocabulary words related to night and day.
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Planets of the Solar System Factbook & Worksheet
Bring the planets in the solar system into focus with a fun worksheet that can be turned into a factbook!
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All About the Sun – Comprehension Worksheet
Integrate science and reading while learning about the Sun with this comprehension worksheet.
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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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Day and Night Venn Diagram
Brainstorm the similarities and differences between day and night using this Venn Diagram worksheet with your 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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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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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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Day and Night Cycle Poster
Display information about Earth’s day and night cycle with this colourful science poster.
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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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Why Teach About Aboriginal Astronomy? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about Aboriginal astronomy.
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We Are Moving Project
An Earth and Space project that develops knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts, research skills and writing skills.
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Interplay of the Sun, Earth and Moon Poster
A poster showing the interplay of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
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Which Planet Am I? Interactive Activity
Explore the planets of the solar system with this fun and engaging interactive activity.
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Planet Bookmark
Help students remember the order of the planets with these personalised planet bookmarks.
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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.
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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.
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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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Objects in the Sky Bingo
Learn about different objects in the sky with a bingo game!
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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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Space Adventure Board Game
Review the order of the planets with a fun space adventure board game.
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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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How to Make a Sundial - Template
Print this sundial template, and follow the instructions to make a sundial with your students when exploring concepts of time.
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Day and Night, Night and Day Worksheet
Compare day and night with this one-page worksheet.
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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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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.