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!
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky – Mini Workbook
Observe, describe and illustrate different objects in the sky with this printable mini-workbook.
- Plus Plan
Rotation vs. Revolution – Sorting Activity
Determine if examples are due to Earth’s rotation or revolution with this sorting activity.
- Plus Plan
Individual Planet Posters
Use this set of posters with your space unit to teach about the individual planets.
- Plus Plan
Moon Phases – Teaching Presentation
Learn about the different phases of the moon and how its appearance changes over time with this teaching presentation.
- Plus Plan
Planet Bookmark
Help students remember the order of the planets with these personalised planet bookmarks.
- Plus Plan
Sun Observation Project
Use observations of the sun to describe patterns that can be predicted with this journal project.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky – Exit Tickets
Assess understanding of different objects in the sky with this set of 24 exit tickets.
- 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.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky – Vocabulary Cards and Writing Templates
Create a vocabulary and writing center with a word wall and writing templates that cover objects in the sky.
- Plus Plan
Moon Phases – Poster Set
Learn about the lunar cycle with this this set of posters showing the different phases of the moon.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
Space Adventure Board Game
Review the order of the planets with a fun space adventure board game.
- Free Plan
Inner vs. Outer Planets – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Sort inner and outer solar system planets with this cut-and-paste science worksheet.
- Free Plan
The Relative Distance From the Sun to Earth
Scaled images of the sun and Earth to use when exploring relative size and distance.
- Plus Plan
Planet Facts Fan Booklet
Practise knowledge of the planets by creating this fun fan-style activity booklet.
- Plus Plan
Moon Facts Writing Template
Describe and illustrate information about the moon with a printable writing template.
- Plus Plan
Objects in the Sky – Interactive Activity
Demonstrate an underestansding of the sun, moon, stars and clouds with this interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
Sun, Earth and Moon Task Cards
Review information about the Earth, Sun and moon with this set of task cards.
- Plus Plan
The Nighttime Sky - Worksheet
Explore features of the nighttime sky with this one-page worksheet.
- Free Plan
Day and Night Venn Diagram
Brainstorm the similarities and differences between day and night using this Venn Diagram worksheet with 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
Objects in the Sky Flipbook
Describe and illustrate different objects found in the sky with this printable science flipbook.
- 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
Objects in the Sky – Sorting Activity
Determine if statements about different objects in the sky are true or false with this sorting activity.
- Free Plan
Phases of the Moon – Data Worksheet
- Plus Plan
Planet Mini-Book Collection
Read and learn about the planets of our solar system with this collection of 8 mini-books.
- Plus Plan
Day and Night, Night and Day Worksheet
Compare day and night with this one-page worksheet.
- 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
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.
- Plus Plan
Phases of the Moon Class Display
Learn about the phases of this moon with an out-of-this-world classroom display.
- Plus Plan
Moon Phases – Vocabulary Cards
Reinforce science vocabulary with a set of 15 vocabulary cards covering the different phases of the moon and related terms.