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Day and Night! Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity

July 13, 2020 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Teach kids about the animals who are active during the day and those that come out at night with this fun nocturnal and diurnal animals sorting activity!
Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity - Look! We're Learning!
Use the print or digital version of this nocturnal and diurnal animals sorting activity to teach students about animal sleep habits!

Have you ever seen a possum in real life?

Growing up in the country, I knew that they existed. But it took several years before I actually saw one scurrying away in the early morning hours.

It was like catching sight of Bigfoot.

I knew that there were animals that were awake when I was asleep at night, but to actually see one was memorable.

If you’re teaching students about animal sleep habits, this printable and digital Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity can help!

Diurnal and Nocturnal Animals Sorting Activity for Early Grades

Most kids love to learn about animals and my students are no exception.

So when we were starting to learn about animal sleeping habits, I wanted to find a way to make a simple, hands-on activity they’d love to do.

Diurnal Animal Sorting Practice

Read on to see how to get your copy of this Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals activity – available as a print or digital resource!

Looking for more science resources for early grades? Take a look at our list of fun Weather STEM Experiments to try with students!

Teach early students how to recognize animals with different sleeping habits with this hands-on diurnal and nocturnal animals sorting activity!

Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity for Kids

I remember learning about nocturnal animals when I was a kid, but we didn’t talk much about diurnal animals (at least not using the term “diurnal”).

So in case this term is fairly new to you as an educator, “diurnal” simply means that they are active during the day like you and me!

Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals for Early Grades

The printable nocturnal animal sorting activity is super easy to use. You’ll only need the following supplies: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Scissors
  • Laminator (if you want to make a set that lasts)
  • Hook and loop adhesive coins (optional)
Nocturnal Animals Early Elementary Activity

This resource includes picture cards of 16 animals: eight are nocturnal and eight are diurnal – in both English and Spanish.

Some of the animals in the product include:

  • Hawk
  • Gorilla
  • Bee
  • Raccoon
  • Elephant
  • Possum
  • Butterfly
  • Dog
  • And 8 more!
Learning about Nocturnal Animals in Spanish

There are also sorting pages (in both English and Spanish) where students can classify animals according to whether they are diurnal or nocturnal.

The Spanish set includes a pronunciation guide.

How to Teach Early Grades about Nocturnal Animals

A set of unlabeled picture cards is also inside!

Diurnal and Nocturnal Animal Classification

Plus, there’s an answer key included, as well as a full set of instructions.

How to Use the Diurnal and Nocturnal Animals Sorting Activity with Students

When you’re ready to use this resource with your class, here are a few ways you can include it in your lesson plan.

(Look at the included teaching script if you need an idea of how to introduce this topic.)

Teaching Early Students about Nocturnal Animals

You can use this for a one-time learning Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting activity.

Just skip the laminating and have students cut and paste the animals in the correct column.

Sorting Diurnal and Nocturnal Animals in Spanish

If you have Spanish-speaking students, let them use the animal cards and the sorting sheet with Spanish terms.

This is also great for early Spanish immersion classes.

Classifying Animals by Sleeping Habits

If you have students who are practicing writing, use the unlabeled cards as a labeling activity!

Just laminate the cards and then allow students to write the animal names (in either language) with wet erase markers.

Or have the class help you label the cards by challenging them to spell each animal name out loud with you.

Diurnal and Nocturnal Animals for Early Grades

Use the unlabeled cards as a reference and let students name each animal on their own. They can then use the labeled cards for self-checking.

Diurnal Animals Early Science Center Activity

If you use it at science centers, add hook and loop coin stickers to the back of the cards. Cut each column apart and place them on rings.

Then add coin stickers onto the column squares so students can practice sorting the animals again and again.

Digital Nocturnal Animals Classifying Activity

Are you distance learning? Use the digital version along with Google Slides!

Get a look at this resource in action below!

Scroll down to get your copy of our print or digital Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sorting Activity!

Kids’ Books about Nocturnal Animals: 

Read more about nocturnal animals with these books for kids!

1. Daylight Starlight Wildlife by Wendell Minor
2. Where are the Night Animals? by Mary Ann Fraser
3. Moonlight Animals by Elizabeth Golding
4. Night Animals by Gianna Marino

Resources about Nocturnal Animals:

Learn more about nocturnal animals with these other learning ideas for early grades!

Bat Science Experiments: Echolocation Activities

Creating Growing Patterns with Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal Animal Report: Hedgehogs

Bats in a Cave Sight Word Game

Nocturnal Animals Writing Tray and Word List

And don’t miss these other early science activities!

These Spanish Arctic Animal learning cards are perfect for early literacy and science centers and ELL students!
These fun weather STEM activities for kids are excellent for simple spring science experiments! Simple enough for home or the classroom!
This hands-on oak tree life cycle sequencing activity makes learning about fall plant science fun for early grades!
Digital Diurnal and Nocturnal Animals Sorting Activity

Pick up the digital version of this sorting activity in my Teachers Pay Teachers store! You can also get the print and digital versions together as a bundle!

>> Digital Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Classification Activity <<

Spanish Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting

To get your copy of the printed Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store or check it out below!

Filed Under: Homeschooling Printables, Science, Teaching Printables Tagged With: animal flashcards, animal printables, animal science, diurnal animals, homeschool printables, homeschool science, nocturnal and diurnal animals sorting activity, nocturnal animals, printable flashcards, printables, science, science printables, sorting, sorting activity

Simple Science Experiments: Floating Egg Experiment

March 18, 2020 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

It’s time for another one of our simple science experiments!

This time, we’re learning about salinity and floating with a simple floating egg experiment.

My boys are entering first and second grade, respectively.

These are excellent ages to introduce science experiments – especially ones that are low-prep, inexpensive, and simple to do, right?

Easy Floating Egg Science Experiment for Kids

Check out how we learned about salinity by making an egg float!

This would also be a great science lab for small groups or science centers.

If you enjoy this activity, don’t miss our colorful celery experiment or our superhero states of matter experiment!This easy Floating Egg Experiment is a neat way to teach kids about salinity and how it affects weight!

Simple Science Experiment: Floating Egg Experiment

Like all of our science experiments, this one is super easy and requires absolutely no scientific expertise.

To complete this easy science activity, you’ll need the following:

  • Clear glass
  • Egg
  • Salt
  • Spoon

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We started by cracking open the Usborne First Encyclopedia of Science. (This is an affiliate link.)

It’s an excellent, hands-on introduction to scientific concepts for kids in grades 1-4.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

The boys and I read the section about floating together.

We learned that there are places on Earth where water is so salty you can actually read a newspaper while you float along!

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

In the book, we read the instructions to learn how to recreate the same type of environment that allows human beings to float in salty water.

Then, we were off and running!

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We gathered the supplies and got to work.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We poured each glass half full of water.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

Then we added 10 teaspoons of salt to one of the glasses.

(Don’t put any salt in the other glass of water.)

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

Like so.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

When we placed an egg into the glass that didn’t have salt in it, the egg sank right to the bottom like normal.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

But when we added an egg to the glass filled with salty water, it floated right to the top.

The kids got a kick out of watching me push it down, only to see it pop right back up!

Easy Floating Egg Experiment - Look! We're Learning!

And that’s how salinity works! Salty water is denser (heavier) than plain water.

So heavy, in fact, that it can support the weight of heavier objects like an egg.

Neat!

This entire floating egg experiment took about 10 minutes from start to finish.

So if you’re looking for a super quick science experiment, this one’s perfect!

This easy floating egg science experiment is so fun for kids who are learning about salinity! Great for science at home too!

Stop by to see our other science learning ideas!

Study the properties of light with this simple light refraction experiment!

Simple Heat Conduction Experiment

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Learn about displacement and salinity with this super simple floating egg experiment! This easy science experiment is great for kids who are learning at home!

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Science Tagged With: easy experiments, easy science, easy science experiments, floating egg, floating egg experiment, homeschool science, homeschool science experiments, make an egg float, science, science experiments, simple science, simple science experiments

How to Plan a Science Summer with Your Kids

April 8, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Science is one of those homeschool subjects that I always end up putting off.

When I first started homeschooling, I would push it towards the end of the day when we’d finished all of our other subjects.

Science takes a while, because you have to gather up your supplies, set up any experiments, conduct them (which takes a considerable amount of time with kids), and then discuss what you learned.

After a few years, though, I really wised up and started saving science until after the homeschool year ended. So, instead of having school from August to May, we became year-round homeschoolers and planned a science summer with the kids. 

How to Plan a Science Summer With the Kids

I love saving science for summer, because I don’t have to worry about rushing through it after we’ve done our other subjects.

And what’s more, we have more time in the summer to explore the kids’ scientific interests with summer camps, field trips, and outdoor experiments.

Read on to see how you can plan a science summer with the kids this year!

Disclosure: I am a BookShark brand ambassador and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role.

Ready to tackle science with your kids? Here's how to plan a science summer full of learning and fun!

Images c/o: Wavebreakmedia & pressmaster / depositphotos

How to Plan a Science Summer

Choose simple science experiments to try.

Is anyone else out there a chronic overplanner? I am. I can spend countless hours trying to research experiments for the kids to try and then run out of steam right when it’s time to actually do them.

That’s why I love BookShark. All of the science experiments are already planned for you. And what’s even better is that the experiments are age-appropriate, so you won’t have to test it and see if it’s too advanced for your child. 

BookShark Science Experiments for Kids

Plus, the experiment instructions are on DVD and you can see the experiment performed, which will give you an idea of what to expect after it’s done. A great way to avoid unexpected messes!

Schedule your experiments by week or concept.

Once you’ve chosen your simple science experiments, it’s good to plan how many you want to do each week or how many you want to for each scientific concept.

BookShark Science Curriculum for Grade 1

The BookShark InquisiKids science curriculum (for Level 1) has 100 different science experiments for kids to try, which is a LOT. So we’ll be narrowing down our choices to about 25 or so. 

That way, we can conduct two science experiments per week of our science summer.

Do a science experiment supply check.

Now that you have all of your science experiments planned, you’ll need to do a quick supply check. It’s always better to have your supplies set aside now than try to do it right before you conduct an experiment.

Trust me on this. I’ve had to shelve several science activities over the years because I *thought* I had something that turned out to be missing.

Setting Up a Science Summer with BookShark

With BookShark, you receive the needed supplies for your experiments along with your science curriculum, which is super handy.

But if you’re using a different program or your own experiment ideas, make a quick list of your needed supplies and head to the store before you get started. You’ll thank yourself later.

Ready to tackle a science summer with your kids? Take a look at BookShark’s complete curriculum options, including science, to make summer science planning a snap!

Don’t miss these other science learning ideas for the kids!

These spring science ideas are wonderful for teaching science to the kids this year!

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Is choosing a secular science curriculum for your homeschool a challenge? Try these pointers to find the program that will work for your family!

And see even more ways to make science fun on my It’s Science Pinterest board!

Filed Under: Homeschool Curriculum, Science Tagged With: bookshark, homeschool science, science

Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson

December 20, 2018 by Selena Robinson 7 Comments

Superhero States of Matter Printable Pack

It’s time for another of our second-grade activities this week and today is all about states of matter for second graders.

Superheroes are all the rage right now and Pooh is a huge fan of them as well. So, when it was time to talk about states of matter in science, I thought I’d add a little “superpower” to our lesson. And I’m sharing it with all of you today!

Superhero States of Matter Printable Science Lesson for Kids

Read on to see how we learned about states of matter with our Superhero States of Matter Printable Pack! By the way, be sure to grab our free Superhero Student Planner Pages as well!

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson

To use this superhero states of matter for second graders activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Pencils

Superhero States of Matter for Second Grade

This printable second grade science lesson includes everything you need to demonstrate the three states of matter with a simple experiment.

Printable States of Matter for Second Grade Lesson

The supply list tells you what you’ll need and the instructions, which are written to students, explain how to perform each step.

Superhero States of Matter Science Lesson

Printable observation sheets allow students to analyze the experiment’s results.

Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Lesson

How to Use the Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson

In the second grade, one of the science objectives to cover involves discussing the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

To help Pooh see how matter can change state and to help him grasp the concept, we did a simple science experiment with water.

States of Matter for Second Graders

The prodcut explains exactly how to do the experiment – step by step. It’s written in a way that second-graders should be able to understand the directions on their own.

But a couple of the steps require adult supervision, so this activity should not be done independently.

States of Matter for Second Graders

We started by observing how water changes from a liquid to a solid after freezing.

States of Matter for Second Graders

Then Pooh wrote down his observations.

States of Matter for Second Graders

After the ice melted, we observed how the water had changed (once again) into a liquid.

States of Matter for Second Graders

Then it was time to learn about the third state of matter: gas! (This is where kids need adult supervision.)

States of Matter for Second Graders

As the water slowly boiled away, Pooh was excited to learn that it was evaporating – converting itself to steam (a gas). He wrote down his final observations and reviewed the experiment’s results.

States of Matter for Second Graders

Look! An actual gap-toothed smile!

Pooh had a blast with this and it was a “super” way to learn about the three states of matter in an hands-on manner.

Printable States of Matter for Second Grade Science Experiment

 

Scroll down to get your copy of our Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson!

 

Like this post? Stop by and see these other science experiments you can try!

Study the properties of light with this simple light refraction experiment!

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float

Simple Heat Conduction Experiment

 

 

 

Don’t forget to visit this week’s posts by the rest of the 2nd Grade Blogging Team!

Super Math Skip Counting from Sugar Aunts

Free Math Printable for Inequalities with Addition from Life Over C’s

Superhero Pattern Stones from Rainy Day Mum

Super Hero Reading Logs from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

I am a Super Hero! Writing Prompt from Creative Family Fun

Superhero Contractions Memory Game from School Time Snippets

Superhero Cityscape Art Project with Van Gogh from Preschool Powol Packets

Create your own Superhero Comic-Photo-Strip from Crafty Kids at Home

Super Hero Self Portrait from Still Playing School

Superhero States of Matter Lesson

To get your copy of Superhero States of Matter, check out the details below!

Filed Under: Homeschooling Printables, Science Tagged With: homeschool printables, homeschool science, printables, science, second grade, states of matter, superhero states of matter, superheroes

Simple Science Experiments: Simple Light Refraction Experiment

December 28, 2017 by Selena Robinson 9 Comments

This simple light refraction experiment for kids is an awesome way to learn about the properties of light!
Simple Light Refraction Experiment - Look! We're Learning!

We’re continuing with our simple science experiments this week by taking a look at light refraction. I found a great light refraction experiment video on YouTube and decided to try it with Tigger.

Full disclosure: I didn’t know that refraction was what this experiment demonstrated. I actually had to look it up first. But the experiment is super easy and quick, so that’s a big plus!

Simple Refraction of Light Experiment

Check out this easy way to teach kids about light with this simple light refraction experiment!

And, if you like this one, try some of our other science activities, including how to make an egg float and our easy heat conduction experiment!

Study the properties of light with this simple light refraction experiment!

Simple Light Refraction Experiment

Watching the original light refraction experiment on YouTube will give you a great look at what’s involved in this activity. But you really only need four things:

  • A sticky note (I used a Post-It)
  • A marker
  • An empty transparent bottle
  • Water

Experiment on Refraction of Light

Draw two arrows on a sticky note. Make sure that each arrow points in a different direction. Stick the note to a blank wall.

Next, fill up the water bottle. Oh – put the lid on before you do this too! You don’t want water spilling out when you move the bottle around…lol.

Simple Refraction Experiment

The alternating arrows on the note point to the left and the right. Let the kids gradually move the water-filled bottle in front of the sticky note. As the bottle moves in front of the sticky note, something amazing happens.

Investigating Light Refraction

The arrows appear to change direction! The top arrow, which points to the left, appears to point to the right. And the bottom arrow, which points to the right, appears to point to the left!

Simple Light Experiment

Move the bottle back to see the arrows return to their original directions.

So what exactly is going on? We learned that refraction occurs because light bends when it passes through substances, such as water and plastic.

As the light travels through a substance, it becomes concentrated into a focal point, usually near the center. After light passes through the focal point, the rays cross over each other and cause images to appear reversed.

Turns out you can’t believe your eyes after all! 🙂

Books with Simple Science Experiments:

If you liked this simple science experiment, take a look at these books with even more easy activities! (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  1. Science is Simple: Over 250 Activities for Preschoolers
  2. 365 Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials
  3. The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book
  4. Safe and Simple Electrical Experiments

Don’t miss the rest of our Simple Science Experiments!

Simple Science Experiments - Colorful Celery

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float

Simple Heat Conduction Experiment

For more science homeschooling ideas, follow my It’s Science board on Pinterest!

P.S. Get more fun learning ideas in our email newsletter!

Filed Under: Science Tagged With: homeschool science, homeschool science experiments, light experiment, light refraction, light refraction experiments, refraction, refraction experiment, science, science experiments, science experiments for kids, science for kids, simple light refraction experiment, simple science experiments

Learning How to Use a Microscope in Middle School with Real Science-4-Kids

August 30, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

My new middle schooler has always been interested in science. She loves examining nature and conducting basic experiments. One thing we had yet to introduce her to, though, was the microscope.

When I took college biology last year, I had my very first experience with a light microscope and it was awesome. So I was excited to show her how to use it as well.

But I wasn’t quite sure how to teach her microscope basics. After all, my college textbook was a little too advanced. I still wanted her to have a chance to learn it without me hovering somewhere nearby.

Enter Real Science-4-Kids! This homeschool science program for grade 6 offers plenty of hands-on biology lessons and experiments!

Read on to see how we used Real Science-4-Kids to teach our child how to use a microscope in middle school!

Disclosure: I received this product in exchange for this post and I was compensated for my time. All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

Learning to Use a Microscope with Real Science-4-Kids

What’s Included in the Real Science-4-Kids Grade 6 Curriculum?

Real Science-4-Kids offers its science program, Exploring the Building Blocks of Science, in several grades, including grade 6.

The Grade 6 program includes the following materials:

  • Exploring the Building Blocks of Science: Book 6 Teacher’s Manual
  • Exploring the Building Blocks of Science: Book 6 Student Textbook
  • Exploring the Building Blocks of Science: Book 6 Laboratory Notebook

Need a higher grade level? Exploring the Building Blocks of Science Book 7 will be released just in time for the new school year!

Exploring the Building Blocks of Science Grade 6 Curriculum

Initially, I didn’t think that I would need all three books. But as I examined them, I was extremely impressed at how clearly everything is written and how thorough (but not overwhelming) the program is.

The teacher’s manual is a sort of guideline for which lessons and resources to use and when. The student textbook is written directly to the student, so I was able to give the book to my daughter and let her read the lessons, define the terms, and follow the instructions herself. It’s a really great way to reinforce independent learning at this level.

The laboratory notebook is for students to write down and draw their observations as they conduct the experiments in the book. After all, the goal here is to raise scientists. 🙂

Want to learn more about Real Science-4-Kids? Listen to the program author, Dr. Keller, explain more about how the program works!

Learning How to Use a Light Microscope

Okay. Microscope time!

Choosing a Microscope for Middle Schoolers

Ours is the My First Lab Ultimate Digital Microscope, which is monocular. But if you’d like a binocular model, the OMAX Binocular Compound Microscope looks pretty good as well. The student textbook contains a nice summary of the features to look for when choosing a good light microscope.

Parts of the Light Microscope

Unit 7 in the program deals with microscope basics. I assigned section 7.1 through 7.3 as reading. Then we started working with our microscope.

Introducing Middle Schoolers to the Light Microscope

As you can see, my child was basically waiting for me to shut up so she could get her hands on the microscope.

Labeling Parts of a Light Microscope

To help her identify the parts of the device, we grabbed a few Post-Its and wrote the name of each part (corresponding to the diagram in the textbook) and then labeled them.

Learning the Parts of a Microscope

After that, it was easy peasy to fill in the diagram in the textbook!

Testing Out a Microscope in Middle School

As part of the science lesson, we looked at various biological samples under the microscope, including pencil markings and blood. Since we already had prepared microscope slides with a sample of frog blood, we didn’t have to prepare them, which saved time. But if you want to make your own slides, you’ll need to pick up some blank slides to get started.

Making Observations from Microscope Experiments

First, we wrote down letters in pencil and examined them at 4x magnification and 10x magnification. Tigger wrote down her observations afterward and surprised to see how different the markings appeared at a higher magnification.

Drawing Observations in a Science Notebook

Next, it was time to examine a drop of blood under the microscope. This was really, really neat. At 4x magnification, we could see a pink mass with circles inside (the individual blood cells).

Exploring Magnification with a Microscope

As we increased the magnification to 100x, though, we could see even more detail, including colors inside the individual blood cells. Following the experiment instructions, Tigger drew pictures of how the sample changed as the magnification increased.

Teaching Middle Schoolers to Use a Microscope

I basically had to tear her away from the microscope afterward.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive (and affordable) grade 6 science curriculum, stop by and visit Real Science-4-Kids to pick up the Grade 6 Science bundle today! And science isn’t the only subject offered by Gravitas Publications! Visit the homepage to browse all of the company’s homeschooling helps!

Teaching Middle Schoolers to Use a Light Microscope

Want to score this program for 30 percent off? Click the image below to get a discount on your science purchase through September 30! Or visit my referral link to get your savings! (Once you buy, you can also sign up to get your own referral link and get rewarded when your friends buy the program!)

RS4K-30percent-off

Learn more about Real Science-4-Kids and Gravitas Publications by following the company on social media!

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Get more ideas for teaching homeschool science from my It’s Science board on Pinterest!


Filed Under: Curriculum Reviews, Middle School, Science Tagged With: grade 6 science, grade 6 science curriculum, homeschool science, middle school, middle school science, middle school science curriculum, real science 4 kids, real science 4 kids curriculum, science

Simple Early Solar System Unit for Kids

July 8, 2016 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

Learning about the Solar System for Kids
Free Printable Flashcards: Solar System - Look! We're Learning!

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. Like pretty much every kid in the 80s.

We’re from Florida originally and I really, really, really wanted to go to space camp.

But, alas, it never happened. I did ride one of those anti-gravity swings at Church Street Station in Orlando, though. Not quite the same somehow.

Outer space is still a fun early learning theme for kids, so I thought I’d put together a few resources for learning the solar system.

There are videos, books, and activities below that make learning about the solar system even more fun!

Simple Solar System Craft for Kids

You can use some or all of these solar system unit resources to introduce your students to our neighbor planets.

If you like this unit, take a look at our Spanish and English Solar System Learning Cards too!

Learn about outer space with this fun solar system unit for early grades!

Learning the Solar System for Kids

Watch the following YouTube video and discuss the following questions with your class:

(Note: The last two minutes of this video includes a hypothesis that states the solar system will cease to exist in 500 million years, which might frighten some students. Giving you a heads-up in case you want to skip it. None of the questions below are about that part of the video.)

  1. How old do scientists think the solar system is? Answer: 4.5 billion years old
  2. How often does the solar system circle the galactic center? Answer: Once every 250 million years
  3. Name the four terrestrial planets in our solar system: Answer: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
  4. Name the four gas giants in our solar system: Answer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
  5. Why does Mercury experience large temperature fluctuations? Answer: Because a Mercury year is shorter than a Mercury day.
  6. How hot does temperature get on Venus? Answer: Up to 497 degrees Celsius
  7. Why is Earth able to sustain life? Answer: Because temperatures are moderate enough to retain a water supply.
  8. Name the largest mountain on Mars: Answer: Olympus Mons (It’s also the largest mountain on any planet in the solar system.)
  9. What two gases comprise most of Jupiter? Answer: Hydrogen and Helium
  10. How many moons does Saturn have? Answer: 62
  11. What makes Uranus unique? Answer: Its axis of rotation is tilted sideways.
  12. How long is a Neptune year? Answer: 164 Earth years
  13. How much of the solar system’s mass is made up by the sun? Answer: 99.86%
  14. Where is Pluto located? Answer: In the Kuiper Belt at the edge of the solar system

Solar System Outer Space Binoculars Craft

Make a simple solar system craft with this outer space binoculars activity!

Little learners can use them to “stargaze” on their own!

Supplies: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Two empty toilet paper rolls
  • Colored tissue paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Elastic cord
  • Stretch rubber necklaces
  • Outer space-themed stickers
  • Glue circles
Making a Solar System Binoculars Craft

Wrap the tissue paper around each toilet paper roll. Use scissors to cut off the excess.

Paper Binoculars Solar System Craft

Stick glue circles onto the side of one of the toilet rolls. Press the other roll onto it to stick them together.

Let students decorate the tubes with the outer space stickers.

Easy Solar System Binoculars Craft

Cut the elastic cord and thread it inside both of the paper rolls.

Tie the ends of the cord around the rubber necklace to make a lanyard.

All done!

Solar System Flashcards for Kids

Teach your students about each member of the solar system, including the sun, moon, and stars, with these printable solar system flashcards!

Solar System Flashcards for Early Learners

These cards feature colorful illustrations and vocabulary words for early learners to memorize the planets in our solar system.

A full blackline version is included too.

How to Use Solar System Flashcards with Kids

Best of all – you can get these solar system printables for free!

Click the image or the link below to have these solar system flashcards sent directly to your inbox! You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming this Sunday!

Click here to get your printable resource

>>> Solar System Flashcards <<<

25 Books about the Solar System:

There are so many great picture books about the solar system for kids to read. Many of them have beautiful illustrations and, sometimes, even pictures from space.

Solar System Books for Kids to Read

I’ve put together a list of 25 selections that are excellent for early grades.

Take a look at the collection below!

25 Awesome Books about the Solar System

Solar System Crafts and Activities for Kids:

Try some of these hands-on ways to learn about the solar system for kids!

  • Solar System Edible Playdough – Look! We’re Learning!
  • 10 Fun Children’s Books about Space – Crafty Mama in ME
  • Children’s Astronaut Books – The Jenny Evolution
  • Solar System Coloring Pages – Look! We’re Learning!
  • Melted Bead Planet Mobile – Schooling a Monkey
  • Stargazing Apps for Kids – iGameMom
  • Coffee Filter Solar Eclipse Craft – Look! We’re Learning!
  • Space sensory salt tray activities – The Usual Mayhem
  • How to Spot Meteors When Camping – FrogMom

I hope you love using this simple solar system unit with your students! If you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know in the comments!

Filed Under: Science, Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschool science, homeschool unit studies, science, solar system, solar system for kids, solar system unit study, unit studies, unit study

Hi! I'm Selena, a teacher and a veteran homeschool mom to four. I'm so glad you're here!
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