Solar System Resources
Websites—Activities
Education Activities on the Solar System at LPI
Many of our activities are available for download at
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/resources/s_system/s_system.shtml and at
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/resources/processes/
Year of the Solar System
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/yss/
This site includes a variety of monthly topics (such as impacts, volcanism, scale) and provides a variety of
activities, information, resources, and event opportunities for each. There is also a location where visitors
can add information about their own events.
Jupiter’s Family Secrets
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/solar_system/
These activities were created for informal education audiences, but most can be applied directly to the
classroom.
Astrobiology Educator Resource Guide
http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/index.php?s=file_download&id=98
This site includes activities and powerpoints used in a NASA Astrobiology workshop given in Houston.
Solar System Cards
A sorting activity using cards of objects in the Solar System, produced by the Astronomical Society of the
Pacific. http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/70/solarsystemcards.pdf
Gravitation 3.8
An interactive gravity modeler that can simulate a solar system, and allows you to drag the planets into
new parameters. http://vps.arachnoid.com/gravitation/
Evolution of Our Solar System
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/timeline/activity/
Students work in groups or as a class to determine the order of events that formed our solar system. This
is an excellent activity to begin discussion of events that shaped the solar system and how Earth's
geosphere and biosphere have changed — in an interrelated manner — through time. It also is a strong
assessment activity.
Project Spectra! @LASP
Project SPECTRA! is a science and engineering program for 6th - 12th grade students, focusing on how light is used
to explore the Solar System. It includes the Goldilocks and the Three Planets activity.
http://lasp.colorado.edu/education/spectra/index.htm
Comets: Very Eccentric Characters!
Information and a large modeling activity for the orbits of comets, to be done outside with chalk and
string. http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/educators/comet_orbits_cnsr.pdf
Highs and Lows, Floods and Flows (5th–8th grade)
Teams of students become familiar with the topography of Mars, its geologic features, and patterns of features using
a color-coded topographic (MOLA) map. They discuss the geologic processes that have or are occurring and assign
relative ages. Based on their observations and interests, they propose a landing site for their exploration team.
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/fieldtrips/2006/teacher_final.pdf and
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/fieldtrips/2006/student_final.pdf
Astronomy Simulations and Animations
A compilation of various online programs on astronomical topics. This site includes a variety of higherend simulations for solar system topics; not appropriate for elementary but some may be useful for middle
school.
http://astro.unl.edu/animationsLinks.html
Websites --Information and Curriculum
Education Resources on the Solar System at LPI
We have placed today’s powerpoints onto our Web site so that you may access
them for yourselves. Feel free to download and share with other teachers.
 The powerpoints are not intended to be used directly as they are in K-12
classrooms. You may edit them to use as appropriate.
The powerpoints are located under the Resources section at:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/resources/s_system/s_system.shtml
Year of the Solar System
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/yss/
This site includes a variety of monthly topics (such as impacts, volcanism, scale) and provides a variety of
activities, information, resources, and event opportunities for each. There is also a location where visitors
can add information about their own events.
NASA Astrobiology Institute
http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/houstonteachers/
This site includes activities and powerpoints used in a NASA Astrobiology workshop given in Houston.
Solar System Simulator
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/
This interactive can be used to visualize the locations of planets, moons, and spacecraft, and their
distances.
StarChild
A learning center for the young astronomer that presents space information for both young and older
children, with a special section on our Solar System. StarChild includes student activities, graphics, and a
glossary, and is offered in several languages.
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/solar_system.html
NASA's Space Science Resource Directory
A useful tool for locating NASA Solar System resources, for particular grade levels or resource types.
http://teachspacescience.org/cgi-bin/ssrtop.plex
The Nine Planets
By Bill Arnett's "Nine Planets" series
Contains detailed and consistently updated information on the objects in our Solar System, including a
multimedia tour of our solar system, information about planets, moons, asteroids, comets, the Kuiper belt,
and the Oort cloud that is most appropriate for young adults and adults.
http://www.nineplanets.org/
Windows to the Universe—Solar System
A program of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, launches you into a variety of Solar
System topics and activities on all levels. The site is user friendly and includes Spanish translations.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/our_solar_system/solar_system.html
SkyTellers
This program includes a dvd with Native American myths and legends about the Universe. The
SkyTeller’s web Site at the Lunar and Planetary Institute includes information, activities, and resources on
a variety of astronomical subjects. Educators can also order the dvd and play the stories for their
classes.
Seasons http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/seasons/
Solar System http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/solar_system/
Exploring Planets in the Classroom - Hands-on Activities
This site contains terrestrial planet geological process pages for teachers, student activity sheets and
activities on meteorites.
http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/SolarSystemDoc.html
NASA’s Solar System Exploration Forum
Provides the latest on missions (past/present/future) with images and releases, as well as up-to-date
background information about our planetary bodies and moons. The education link includes materials,
lesson plans, and resources for children and educators.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/educ/
Zoom Astronomy
By Enchanted Learning, this Web site offers a compendium of information for all ages, allowing readers to
“zoom” to the appropriate level of information for each topic. The user friendly site provides a wealth of
information on the planets, moons, smaller planetary bodies, and the origin of the solar system. There are
numerous crafts, activities, and coloring pages offered as well.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/
Paper Plate Education
Children ages 10–13 can build 3-D models of the planets showing the interiors of each. Using paper
plates and colored markers, children draw the layers of the planet to correspond in scale to the planet’s
interior. The idea is flexible, but instructions are minimal. Images of planetary interiors can be found at
Cutaway Planet Interiors.
http://analyzer.depaul.edu/paperplate/Core_Matter.htm
http://planetscapes.com/art/cutaway.html
3-D Tour of the Solar System
By the Lunar and Planetary Institute, provides images of the Sun, planets, moons, and asteroids, and an
overview of the entire solar system. Some images online at
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/3dsolarsystem/index.shtml
CD available at https://www.lpi.usra.edu/store/products.cfm?prod=2&cat=1 .
The Planetary Photojournal
Provides excellent images of the bodies of our Solar System. This site is suitable for children 11 and up
and is easy to navigate.
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html
Planetary Science Research Discoveries
Offers the latest research on meteorites, planets, and other solar system bodies from NASA-sponsored
scientists. The site has a good search engine and is designed for young adults to adults.
http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/index.html
American Museum of Natural History’s Astronomy magazine
For children ages 10–13, this Web site allows viewers to meet people who study astronomy and learn all
about our Sun, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the universe. Hands-on activities and games are included.
http://ology.amnh.org/astronomy/