Description
Make learning about the solar system and planets engaging and interactive with this Google Classroom activity pack! Perfect for 4th-grade students, this no-prep, standards-aligned resource explores the characteristics of planets, their movement in the solar system, and how they compare in size to each other and the Sun.
With editable reading passages, drag-and-drop tasks, and short-answer questions, students will gain a deeper understanding of planetary rotation and revolution, the order of the planets, and the relative sizes of celestial bodies. These hands-on, interactive activities make science lessons easy to plan and fun to teach.
Solar System & Planets Passages & Activities Includes the Following Google Slides:
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- Editable reading passages
- Short answer: Solar system KWL
- Drag-&-drop: identify the components of our solar system
Inner & outer planets
- Drag-&-drop: read the description and identify if it is a characteristic of an inner or outer planet
- Drag-&-drop: identify if the planet is a gas planet or a terrestrial planet
- Drag-&-drop: sort the planets as either inner or outer planets
Planet order
- Drag-&-drop: order the planets from closest to the sun to farthest
- Short answer: identify each planet on the real-life model
- Drag-&-drop: order planets according to their size
Planet research
- Drag-&-drop: figure out which planet each description refers to
- Independent research: Mercury focus
- Independent research: Venus focus
- Independent research: Earth focus
- Independent research: Mars focus
- Independent research: Jupiter focus
- Independent research: Saturn focus
- Independent research: Neptune focus
- Independent research: Uranus focus
- Drag-&-drop: all about dwarf planets
Why Teachers Love these Solar System & Planets Activities:
- No Prep: Ready-to-assign on Google Classroom™, Canvas, or Schoology
- Engaging and Interactive: Includes drag-and-drop tasks, visual prompts, and short-answer questions
- Flexible Use: Perfect for independent practice, science centers, or early finishers
- Real-World Connections: Helps students understand how planets move and compare in size
Ideal For:
- Introducing Key Concepts: Simplifies teaching about planetary motion and characteristics
- Independent Work: Students complete interactive activities at their own pace
- Science Centers: Digital, hands-on tasks make learning exciting
- Early Finishers: Keeps learners engaged with meaningful, self-checking tasks
- Sub Plans: Stress-free, ready-to-go activities for substitute days
- Assessment Prep: Reinforces key concepts for quizzes and tests
Standards Covered:
- SOL 4.5: The student will investigate and understand that the planets have characteristics and a specific place in the solar system. Key ideas include a) planets rotate on their axes and revolve around the sun; b) planets have characteristics and a specific order in the solar system; and c) the sizes of the sun and planets can be compared to one another.
This Solar System and Planets Activity Pack makes learning about this important science topic engaging and effective. With interactive activities, real-world examples, and standards-aligned content, it is a must-have for your science classroom.
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