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!
- Free Plan
Free Planet Coloring Pages
Use these black and white planet templates as coloring pages for your students.
- Free Plan
If I Could Create My Own Planet Craft Template
Explore planets and let your students get creative by developing their own planet.
- Free Plan
Phases of the Moon – Comprehension Worksheet
Analyze different moon phases and how their visual appearances change over time with this reading comprehension worksheet.
- Free Plan
Day and Night – Worksheet
Encourage your students to illustrate the day and night cycle with this free worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Moon Phases – Task Cards
Review information about the different moon phases with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
Mindfulness Planet Coloring Pages
Get mindful with this set of planet-themed mindful coloring sheets.
- Plus Plan
The Solar System – Cut and Paste Activity
Use this cut-and-paste activity to make a mini solar system book.
- Plus Plan
Planet Research Templates
Explore the planets with these printable planet research templates to use with your students.
- Plus Plan
Planets Fact Sheets and Comprehension Worksheets
Learn the facts of each of the planets in our solar system with these fact files and matching comprehension worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Design a Planet Project
Explore the different planets during this design your own planet project for kids.
- Plus Plan
Order of the Planets Display Banner
Display this banner visually showing the order of the planets for students when they learning about the solar system.
- Plus Plan
Order the Planets Worksheet
Help students remember the order of the planets with this cut-and-paste style worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Planets Collaborative Coloring Display
Combine coloring with awareness of the planets and the solar system with this collaborative coloring sheet.
- Plus Plan
Planets Escape Room Activity
Navigate facts about different planets with this fun and engaging escape room style activity with your students.
- Plus Plan
Planets Flipbook
Discover each of the planets of the solar system with this engaging flip book template.
- Plus Plan
Planet Facts Fan Booklet
Practice knowledge of the planets by creating this fun fan-style activity booklet.
- Plus Plan
Which Planet Am I? Interactive Activity
Explore the planets of the solar system with this fun and engaging interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
Planet Bookmark
Help students remember the order of the planets with these personalized planet bookmarks.
- 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's Rotation – Flipbook
Model and explain how Earth’s rotation causes the sun to move across the sky with this interactive flipbook.
- Plus Plan
Sun Observation Project
Use observations of the sun to describe patterns that can be predicted with this journal project.
- Free Plan
Sun Facts Writing Template
Research, write, and display information about the sun with this printable sun template.
- Plus Plan
Moon Facts Writing Template
Describe and illustrate information about the moon with a printable writing template.
- Plus Plan
Phases of the Moon – Journal Project
Observe, describe, and record patterns of the lunar cycle with this moon tracking project.
- 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
Objects in the Sky – Exit Tickets
Assess understanding of different objects in the sky with this set of 24 exit tickets.
- 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 – Instructional Slide Deck
Teach your students about the moon, sun, stars, and clouds with this 24-slide instructional slide deck.
- 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.
- Free Plan
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.