The Solar System
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Subject Area: Science | Grade Level: 4
Lesson Length: 1 hour
Keywords/Tags: planets, solar system, science, earth, sun, mars, jupiter, stars
Lesson Description: In this lesson, students will be able to look into our solar system, and the planets that body it. This includes the facts and what is closest or farthest from the Sun.

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Video : Planets of our Solar System
Instructions: Please watch the following video as many times as needed before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of the video is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this video content.
Description: You will discover what a planet is, what the two types of planets are and the two different kinds of primary planets!
Reading : Solar System Theme Park
Instructions: Please read the following article as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through the rest of the lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the following lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the article if needed.

The Solar System includes the Sun, the Earth (where you are now!) and all of the other planets, asteroids and comets that go around and around it. 

Everything in the Solar System revolves around the Sun. The Sun is a star – a massive ball of hot gas that gives off light and heat. There are eight planets total that orbit the Sun, which is part of our Solar System. 

  • All of the planets and the Sun are round, like balls.
  • The closest planet to the Sun is Mercury, and the farthest away is Neptune.
  • The biggest planet is Jupiter, and the smallest planet is Mercury.
  • The Earth is the only planet that we know has creatures living on it.
  • The Earth rotates as it orbits the Sun. It takes one day to complete a rotation.
  • It takes 365 days for the Earth to complete one circuit around the Sun. We call this a year.
  • The Sun is just one of hundreds of billions of stars in the galaxy that we live in, which is called the Milky Way. The whole Universe has at least 100 billion galaxies in it.
  • The hottest planet is Venus, with an average temperature of 464 degree Celsius and the coldest planet in the solar system is Pluto with an average temperature of -225 degree Celsius.
  • Not everything in the Solar system orbits directly around the Sun. The Moon orbits around the Earth. 

Description: Launch into a fun scientific exploration of the planets and other objects of our Solar System with our Solar System Theme Park! Interesting facts about the planets are stated here!
Quiz : The Solar System's Planets
Instructions: Please complete this quiz by choosing the correct answer for each question. You can take this quiz as many times needed.
Question #1
Are planets round objects that orbit the sun?
Question #2

How many planets are there in our solar system, that we know of?

Question #3

What is the third planet from the sun?

Question #4

Is the sun a comet, a planet or a star?

Question #5

What is the name of the galaxy that contains our solar system?

Question #6
The planet Earth has 8 moons orbiting it.
Question #7

Which is the hottest of the planets?

Question #8

Which planet is the coldest planet in our solar system?

Question #9
There are two types of planets, primary and secondary.
Question #10
What are common characteristics of the planets closest to the Sun? What are some noteworthy differences between them and those farther from the Sun? What factors in the formation of these planets led to these differences?
Description: This quiz will ask questions regarding what planets are, amongst other features such as types of planets and where they are within the Solar System.
Resources : The Solar System
Instructions: Please see additional external resources below. Feel free visit each link to learn more about this lesson.
The Solar System
Gives fun facts about our solar system, while going into detail about the planets in the Milky Way.
The Solar System and its planets
The Solar System is made up of the Sun and all of the smaller objects that move around it. Apart from the Sun, the largest members of the Solar System are the eight major planets. Nearest the Sun are four fairly small, rocky planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
SpacePlace
Explore Earth and Space with this interactive website!
Exploring Our Solar System: Planets and Space for Kids
Here is an in-depth introduction to the Solar System and the planets that are in it. From the sun to why poor Pluto is no longer considered a planet, come along for a ride across the Solar System and learn a ton of cool facts about Solar System!
Description: The Solar System includes the Sun, the Earth (where you are now!) and all of the other planets, asteroids and comets that go around and around it.