The Sun is at the centre of our Solar System. This incredible star is massive, incredibly hot and gives off the light and heat that makes life on Earth possible.
Our Earth is one of four rocky planets that are the closest to the Sun. The others are Mercury, Venus and Mars.
Teach your children other fascinating facts about space using our handy topic guide!
Teaching Ideas
- Use our Neil Armstrong fact cards to research the life of the first man on the moon. Challenge your children to add additional facts to the blank cards.
- Try our teaching ideas for the short film Tom, about an astronaut about to return to Earth.
- In this challenging NRICH activity, children work outside make their own scale model of the solar system.
- These lesson plans from BBC Stargazing Live cover ideas for looking at the solar system, phases of the moon, seasons, rockets and telescopes.
- Create a timeline of space firsts using this interesting information.
- Build your own moon habitat for astronauts to live in.
- Design and build your own spaceship.
Resources
- Our space themed multiplication charts will look great on a maths display.
- Our space theme page has lots of ideas and videos you can use for this topic.
- This useful map shows which parts of the world are in daylight, and which are in night, as well as the current position of the sun and moon.
Space Knowledge Organiser
Members of Teaching Packs can download a comprehensive knowledge organiser to accompany this topic. It includes key information that your children can use for reference and research, along with a glossary and facts about the planets, the moon and more.
Not a member yet? Join us today!
Space Facts
- The Solar System was formed about 4.6 billion years ago.
- The Russian satellite Sputnik was the very first man made object to be spent into space when it was launched into orbit in 1957.
- Venus spins in the opposite direction to all of the other planets in our Solar System.
- Because there is no wind on the moon, the footprints of the Apollo astronauts will be there for millions of years.
- Olympus Mons, a volcano on Mars, is three times taller than Mount Everest.
Videos
Space Rocks
Find out about the different kinds of space rock in this short video from the Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Running time: 2:20
Solar System 101
How man planets are in the solar system? Find out with this video from National Geographic.
Running time: 4:10
Planets Song
Learn the names and order of the planets with this catchy song.
Running time: 3:48
Cosmic Classroom
Watch Tim Peake’s Cosmic Classroom lesson from the International Space Station.
Running time: 20:11
Books
George's Secret Key to the Universe
A roller coaster adventure through the mysteries of the universe.
I Love You, Michael Collins
In this funny book, Mamie writes to the Apollo 11 astronaut, Michael Collins, who stayed in space and did not walk on the moon.
You Choose in Space
An amazing space adventure where you get to choose what happens next.
On the Moon
A beautiful picture book about the moon landings for younger children.
Man on the Moon: a day in the life of Bob
Follow the daily adventures of Bob, everyone’s favourite man on the moon.
The Skies Above My Eyes
Discover the amazing worlds above us.
Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover
The incredible story of the exploration of the red planet.
Knowledge Encyclopedia Space!
This space encyclopedia explores the universe in amazing detail.
Links
- NASA Kid’s Club is full of information, games and resources for children to use (Flash is required for some the games).
- Explore the solar system with this amazing site from NASA.
- The European Space Agency website is packed with information, news and things to do.
- BBC Bitesize Earth and space topics include presentations and quizzes.
- Find out when the International Space Station will be visible from your location with this amazing map!
- Starchild is an amazing site for young astronomers.
- This online card trading game has a wealth of information about objects in the solar system.
Are you teaching your children about other topics? Explore our full collection of guides!
