Solar System / Lesson Plan

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Objective

The objective of this lesson is for the student to learn about the solar system, including the planets, the sun, and other celestial bodies.

Materials and Prep

  • Blank paper
  • Coloring supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils)
  • Scissors
  • Tape or glue

No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.

Activities

  1. Create a Solar System Mobile:

    Using the blank paper, have the student draw and color the sun and the planets of the solar system. Cut out the shapes and attach them to a string or ribbon. Hang the mobile in a prominent place in the student's learning area.

  2. Planet Matching Game:

    Print out pictures or draw simple representations of the planets. Cut them out and mix them up. Have the student match each planet to its name.

  3. Solar System Collage:

    Provide the student with old magazines or printouts of space-related images. Have them cut out pictures of the sun, planets, and other celestial bodies and create a collage on a piece of paper.

Talking Points

  • The sun is a star that gives us light and heat. It is very big and hot. The sun is in the center of our solar system.

  • There are eight planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each planet is different and has its own characteristics.

  • Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, and it is very hot. Venus is the second planet, and it is covered in thick clouds. Earth is our home planet, and it has water and air. Mars is known as the "Red Planet" because it looks red. Jupiter is the largest planet, and it has a big storm called the Great Red Spot. Saturn has beautiful rings around it. Uranus and Neptune are very far away from the sun.

  • There are other things in our solar system, like moons, asteroids, and comets. Moons go around planets, and some planets have many moons. Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the sun. Comets have a tail and are made of ice and dust.

  • Remember, the solar system is a big place with many interesting things to explore. It's exciting to learn about the planets and everything else in space!