Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to name the planets in our solar system, understand their basic characteristics, and create a fun visual representation of the planets.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Crayons or colored pencils
• Access to a computer or tablet (optional, for videos)
• Knowledge of the order of the planets from the sun

Activities

• Planet Order Game:

  Start by teaching the order of the planets from the sun using a fun song or rhyme. The student can repeat after you and then try to sing it on their own!

• Planet Drawing:

  Ask the student to draw each planet on a piece of paper. They can use different colors and sizes to represent how the planets look and how they differ from each other.

• Planet Facts:

  Research one fun fact about each planet together. The student can choose their favorite planet and share the fact with you.

• Planet Model:

  Using the drawings, create a simple model of the solar system on the floor. The student can place their drawings in order from the sun and talk about each planet as they go.

Talking Points

• "Did you know that there are eight planets in our solar system? Can you name them?"
• "The first planet is Mercury, and it's the closest to the sun! It's really hot there!"
• "Venus is the second planet, and it's sometimes called Earth's twin because they are similar in size!"
• "Earth is our home! It has water and air, which makes it special!"
• "Mars is known as the red planet. Do you know why it's red?"
• "Jupiter is the biggest planet! It's so big that you could fit all the other planets inside it!"
• "Saturn has beautiful rings made of ice and rock! Would you like to visit it?"
• "Uranus is unique because it spins on its side! Can you imagine rolling like that?"
• "Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun. It's very cold and windy there!"