A 5-day lesson plan where children learn the names, sequence, and features of the eight planets orbiting the Sun. Through games, movement, painting, and models, they explore planet characteristics, orbits, and dwarf planets like Pluto.
What children learn
- Name and sequence the eight planets that orbit the Sun.
- Compare defining characteristics of the planets, including size, composition, colour, temperature, and rings.
- Understand that planets revolve around the Sun in separate orbits and at different speeds.
- Recognise Pluto and other dwarf planets and discuss why Pluto is classified differently.
- Represent the structure and order of the solar system through models and movement.
Key activities
- Introducing the Solar System through reference books, video, and playdough planets
- Painting Rocky Planets on differently sized stones and arranging them in order
- Matching planet characteristics in a memory game and presenting planet costumes
- Enacting the Revolving Planets on chalk-drawn orbital paths
- Creating a splatter-painted model of dwarf planet Pluto
- Building and labelling a hanging Solar System Model with foam balls and skewers
You’ll need
solar-system books and pictures, Sun and planet cards, playdough, stones and foam balls in varied sizes, paint and brushes, paper and paper plates, chalk, markers, bamboo skewers, string and tape
Structure: 5 days; each day: Thought of the Day, Tuning-in Time, Warm-up, Social Studies/Science, Creative Learning, English, Maths