Free Planets of the Solar System Worksheets

Today we have a free set of worksheets you about the planets of our solar system. These will work for a wide range of ages – PreK to Grade 5 or so. Here what is included:

• Solar System Poster
• Inner – Outer Planets fill-in-the-blank page – Fun Clipart
• Remembering the Planets – Mnemonics
• Inner – Outer Planets fill-in-the-blank answer page
• Our Solar System – Fun Clipart – Tracing Page
• Solar System Fast Facts Page (largest/smallest planet, shortest day, hottest planet, etc.) (page. 9)
• Solar System Fast Facts Page (largest/smallest planet, shortest day, hottest planet, etc.) Answer Page (page. 10)
• Identify the planets page – NASA images
• Identify the planets page – NASA images – Tracing Page
• Identify the planets page – NASA images – Answer page
• Identify the planets page – NASA images
• How to Use Montessori Cards Instruction page
• Planet Montessori 3-Part Cards
• Blank Research Cards

Scroll on down for the link to download this free packet!

We spent about two weeks delving into space. This time around I got about 35 books from the library that would appeal to my three kids.  Each day we set the timer for 20-25 minutes and just read!  The kids were *SO* into it. They sure learn a lot when they’re let loose to learn on their own!

The last time we dove into a study of the Solar system, we got a hands-on kit called the 4M Solar System Planetarium (affiliate link) (which is about $10 over at Amazon) that my homeschooling friend used with her kids last spring. I got one for each of the kids and I’m really glad I did. They all really enjoyed putting it together and painting it. I know we could have done something similar with foam balls or paper mache or what have you, but to be honest it was really lovely just opening the box and letting the kids go.

This kit required the kids to pop out the plastic pieces, snap the planets carefully together, paint the planets, and assemble the model’s base. The kids really enjoyed this.  For some parts, my 6 and 8 year olds needed help from me (like snapping the planets together.), but for the most part they worked on their own. ED really loved that it glows in the dark (after it is painted with the “glow” paint.)

While they worked on the project, I read a number of books about the planets. I would definitely recommend this as an easy, hands-on project. If you have a science-loving child I think they would really enjoy this as a gift (mine would!).  I would recommend it for ages 6-11 or so. (And just so you know, I’m not affiliated with them or anything, I’m recommending it simply because the kids enjoyed it so much!)

Make your own — 4M Solar System Planetarium

We used a lot of books for this unit. We borrowed a lot of books from the library for this unit. In fact, I suggest you just raid the junior section of your library!  Some of the books and curriculums we have used included:

These are affiliate links (If you do purchase any of these books, thanks bunches for supporting our blog!):

• The Solar System by Howard Trammel (Good for ages 7-11)
• The Solar System by Laura Hamilton Waxman (Good for ages 7-11)
• The Planets: (Out in Space) by Martha Rustad (Good for ages 4-6)
• Planets Around the Sunby Seymour Simon (Good for ages 4-6)
• Planet Earth/Inside Out by Gail Gibbons
• Real Science 4 Kids (Homeschool Science Curriculum we have used a lot over the years.)
• Focus On Middle School Astronomy Student Textbook, Student Textbook (homeschool curriculum book)

Constellations:

If you plan to go into detail about the constellations, your kids might enjoy this book (for ages 4-8), but my kids enjoyed (ages 8, 10, 12): Constellations, A Field Guide for Young Stargazers.

If your kids are a little older or are avid young astronomers, they might enjoy Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations–and How You Can Find Them in the Sky. (Probably for ages 10+ unless really into astronomy.)

You might also enjoy this board game (recommended for 7+) called Constellations (affiliate link) which helps kids learn about the stars and star types. 🙂  We bought this and my kids have really enjoyed it! (We’re doing that in conjunction with our study of Greek mythology & the the myths about the constellations.

Now onto what’s included in our free Solar System Packet…

If you have kids who are 4-6 years old, you can use the planet cards page as 3-part cards. Print out two copies of the cards on card stock. Cut one set apart with the picture and names together.  Cut the other set apart so the pictures and names are separate. Have the kids match the pictures and then have them match the name cards.

There are also a couple of different options for tracing the names of the planets.

For older students there are some basic pages for identifying the planets and a Solar System Fast Facts Page which includes questions like what is the largest/smallest planet, shortest day, hottest planet, etc.

You might also want to use the blank planet cards. My kids always like doing a bit of research on the internet and writing up what they learned.  I included those as well.

FREE Planets of the Solar System Packet: Now, what you’ve been waiting for!! The link to this free packet! Enjoy! ~Liesl

FREE Planets of the Solar-System Worksheets

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Be sure to check out our Earth Science BUNDLE!

These packets can be purchased together or separately: Earth Science Packet (150+ pages), Layers of the Atmosphere Packet (50+ pages), Where I Live Activities: My galaxy, solar system, planet, continent, country, state, town and home!

You might also be interested in this Where I Live Activity Packet

Astronomy Worksheets for Middle School: I also made some astronomy materials I for my older two.  We talked about topics such as the layers of the Sun, the Sun’s atmosphere, solar flares and sun spots. Plus, we talked about the planetary orbits (and going into quite some detail about ellipses and Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion. And, we talked about asteroids, comets and a few other things. You’ll find those free resources at the link below.  🙂 ~Liesl

Website Resources: If you are looking for some websites for kids to learn about the planets of the solar system, you might want to check out these:

• Of course, NASA’s page on the planet of the solar system should be your first stop. 🙂 There’s lot to explore there!
• We used this website for talking about inner vs. outer planets. The chart was really handy.
• PlanetFacts.org has information about each of the planets

Hands-On Activities for younger kids, you might want to check out these posts (these take you WAY back in time here at the Homeschool Den!), but your kids might enjoy some of these hands-on activities:

• Earth Science Unit — Gravity
• Earth Science — Gravity: the planets, moon and space
• Astronomy Unit: Refraction, Vacuum, Saturn’s Rings
• Astronomy Unit: Inner and Outer Planets, The Asteroid Belt
• Astronomy Unit: The Moon (Day 1)
• Astronomy Unit: The Moon (Day 2)
• Phases of the Moon Activity: Homemade Oreo Cookie Recipe (Yum!!)

You might also want to check out this unit:

Earth Science Packet: Layers of the Earth, Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, 4 Types of Mountains and More! (This packet has been updated recently and is now  over 150 pages!)

In our Earth Science Unit where we talked about

• Earth’s and the Solar System
• the layers of the Earth
• Geography Terms: Earth’s Axis and the Seasons; Latitude Longitude
• Plate Movement Worksheets, Types of Plate Boundaries
• the 3 types of faults
• Earthquakes (we made our own earthquake shake table!)
• 4 Types of Mountains Worksheets, 4 types of Volcanoes Worksheets, Parts of a Volcano Worksheet
• plus we did over a dozen hands-on activities (and instructions are included)

Atmosphere: We also spent quite a bit of time studying Earth’s atmosphere when we did our weather unit a couple of years ago. We reviewed the layers of the atmosphere as well.

Click here to see the newly updated Layers of the Atmosphere Packet:

Recently, we  spent time learning about Earth’s Magnetosphere. We spent time learning about magnets and magnetic spheres, talked about Earth’s magnetosphere and then spent time learning how animals navigate by sensing Earth’s magnetic fields.  (That portion was really neat because many of the latest discoveries have come in the past five years!) You can find out more at this post:  Magnetism Unit on Magnetic Fields, the Magnetosphere, and Animal Migration

Rocks and Minerals Unit

In our Rocks & Minerals Unit, we went into a lot of detail about the types of minerals, identifying minerals – crystalline structures, the characteristics of minerals (color, streak, luster, hardness), the Mohs Hardness Scale,  how rocks are formed, weathering, erosion, the lithification process, different types of igneous, sedimentary & metamorphic rocks and more. Learn terms like weathering, erosion, compacting, cementing, luster, vitreous, clast and more!

You might also want to check out some of our other packets including

The Big Animal BUNDLE includes 8 packets.   1) Animal Unit, 2) World Animals Packet, 3) Rainforest Packet, 4) Life Cycles Packet, 5) Winter Packet – plus several mini units 6) the Cicadas Packet and 7) the Chameleon Packet. 8) the Wolves Mini-Unit.

These Animal Units can each be purchased individually as well.

• World Animal Unit (60+ Pages)
• Animal Unit – Animal Characteristics, Animal Classification, Vertebrates-Invertebrates and more!
• Rainforest Packet
• Earth Science Unit
• States of Matter Unit
• Simple Machines Unit
• and much more!

See Our Store for more details:

You might also be interested in these helpful (free) resources:

Creating a Homeschool Curriculum: Kindergarten – Grade 1

 

Creating Your Homeschool Curriculum: Grades 2-3, Resource Guide

Creating Your Homeschool Curriculum Grade 4-5 — Free Resource Guide

Homeschool Science Unit Checklist for Elementary and Middle School

These are the science units/topics I hope to cover from K-Grade 8.

See you again soon here or over at our Homeschool Den Facebook Page! Don’t forget to Subscribe to our Homeschool Den Newsletter. You might also want to check out some of our resources pages above (such as our Science, Language Arts, or History Units Resource Pages) which have links to dozens of posts.  Don’t forget to check out Our Store as well. ~Liesl

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. If you do make a purchase, thank you so much for supporting the Homeschool Den! 🙂