How to Teach the Solar System to Kids
Teach the solar system with the wow factor intact: learn the planets, grasp the scale, and understand that space is mostly empty.
The solar system is one of the easiest and most thrilling topics to teach because the child already cares. Every four-year-old wants to know about space. All you have to do is not drain the wonder out of it.
Start with the planets in order and the standard mnemonic (My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Names — Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune). Then do scale. This is where it gets good. Put the sun as a football and the planets at their correct distances in the garden — most of them won't fit in the garden. Scale is the point of the lesson, not the names.
Then pick one planet a week and go deep on it. Jupiter's storm is older than the United States. Saturn's rings are mostly ice chunks. Mars has the tallest volcano in the solar system. Each fact is a doorway. The colouring pages and activities below are all built to complement this kind of curiosity-led teaching.
Practise With These Free Games
Printable Worksheets to Go With This Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the mnemonic for planets in order?+
'My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Names' — Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Pluto is now a dwarf planet and usually not included.
Is Pluto still a planet?+
No. In 2006 the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet. There are now eight major planets.
How do I teach the scale of space?+
With a physical model. Sun as a football, Earth as a pea 30 metres away, Neptune as a small marble 900 metres away. Most children's minds are blown by this and they never forget the lesson.
What age should I introduce the solar system?+
From age 4. Children love space topics and can handle the planet names and basic concepts from the start.