The Solar System: The Sun, the Planets and Their Orbits

Learning Objectives

• Name the Sun, the eight planets and Earth's Moon, and put the planets in order from the Sun.
• Explain that planets orbit the Sun and that a moon orbits a planet.
• Compare simple facts about planets, such as size and distance from the Sun.

Lesson Procedure

• Print one worksheet per student and keep the answer key.
• Teach the vocabulary and the planet order using the lesson plan.
• Do activities 1 and 2 together, then let students finish activities 3 to 5.
• Use activity 6 (draw and label) as an exit task or homework.

Assessment

Activities 1 to 5 check vocabulary and planet facts with the answer key. Activity 6 shows whether students can order and label the planets.

Differentiation

Support: give students a picture of the planet order to keep on the desk. Challenge: ask students to find one fact about each planet and share it.

Classroom Activity Ideas

• Walk a scale model of the solar system along the school hallway.
• Make a mnemonic sentence to remember the planet order.
• Use a lamp and a ball to model day and night on Earth.

Teacher Tips

Use a lamp as the Sun and a small ball as Earth to show orbits. Remind students never to look directly at the real Sun.

What's Included

• 6-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
• Key vocabulary list (7 words with meanings and examples)
• Student worksheet (6 activities)
• Editable Word version of the worksheet
• Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

• Editable Worksheet (Word) (DOCX)
• Answer Key (PDF) (PDF)

Teacher Reviews