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!
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Phases of the Moon – Comprehension Worksheet
Analyze different moon phases and how their visual appearances change over time with this reading comprehension worksheet.
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If I Could Create My Own Planet Craft Template
Explore planets and let your students get creative by developing their own planet.
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Moon Phases – Cut and Paste Activity
Create a diagram showing the different moon phases and their names with this cut-and-paste activity sheet.
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Day and Night – Worksheet
Encourage your students to illustrate the day and night cycle with this free worksheet.
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The Solar System - Planets in Order
Show the planets in order with this beautifully designed printable science poster.
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Free Planet Coloring Pages
Use these black and white planet templates as coloring pages for your students.
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Phases of the Moon – Worksheet
Label the phases of the moon as they appear in the northern hemisphere with this printable science worksheet.
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Inner vs. Outer Planets – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Sort inner and outer planets with this cut-and-paste science worksheet.
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Our Solar System - Interactive and Printable Cloze Reading Activity
Practice and review concepts associated with the solar system using a cloze passage.
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Mindfulness Planet Coloring Pages
Get mindful with this set of planet-themed mindful coloring sheets.
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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 – Worksheet Pack
Use this set of worksheets to practice identifying and labeling objects in the sky as well as describing the moon, stars, sun, and clouds.
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Moon Phases Mini-Book
Read, learn, and complete comprehension exercises while studying the 8 moon phases.
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Planets of the Solar System Posters
Use this set of visually striking and informative posters about the planets of our solar system in your classroom.
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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.
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Planets Collaborative Coloring Display
Combine coloring with awareness of the planets and the solar system with this collaborative coloring sheet.
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Planet Bookmark
Help students remember the order of the planets with these personalized planet bookmarks.
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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 – Mini Workbook
Observe, describe, and illustrate different objects in the sky with this printable mini-workbook.
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The Moon – Reading Passage and Response Sheet
Engage your students with a high-interest reading passage about the moon with this informative article and accompanying response sheet.
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What Causes the Seasons? Mini-Book
Explore what causes the seasons on Earth to change with this printable mini-book.
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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.
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3D Astronaut Template
Create astronauts with this 3D net.
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Rotation vs. Revolution Poster Set
Display information in your classroom about the differences between rotation and revolution with this poster set.
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The Solar System in Our Space – Mathematics Investigation
A mathematics investigation about number and the scale of the solar system, embedded in a real-world context.
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Planet Research Templates
Explore the planets with these printable planet research templates to use with your students.
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Design a Planet Project
Explore the different planets during this design your own planet project for kids.
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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.
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Order the Planets Worksheet
Help students remember the order of the planets with this cut-and-paste style worksheet.
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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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Planets Flipbook
Discover each of the planets of the solar system with this engaging flip book template.
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Planet Facts Fan Booklet
Practice knowledge of the planets by creating this fun fan-style activity booklet.