Teaching the solar system is one of my absolutely favorite science units to teach every school year. I love sharing my excitement about our solar system with my kids and have found it can be an out-of-this-world experience! With so many amazing facts to explore—from planets and moons to stars and beyond—the possibilities for engaging solar system activities with upper elementary kids are endless. Here are 8 fun solar system activities for upper elementary students that I have used throughout the years to bring the wonders of the solar system to life in my classroom.

1. Solar System Collaboration Posters

One of the best ways to get students working together is through collaborative posters. Divide the class into groups, and assign each group a different planet, moon, or celestial body to research. Students can color their object, write key facts, details, and what they have learned. Once all the posters are complete, display them around the room to create a giant solar system mural. This project encourages teamwork, creativity, and content knowledge all in one! It has always been a hit in my classroom.

2. Solar System Jeopardy Classroom Game Show

My kiddos LOVE competition! So, I always looked for ways to harness this competitive spirit in my classroom! What better way to review solar system facts (or any other learning) than with a competitive game of Jeopardy? Try using a projectable Jeopardy-style game using categories like “Planets,” “The Moon,” “The Sun,” and “True of False.” . Students can compete in teams, answering questions for points, while reinforcing everything they’ve learned in a fun, fast-paced environment. My kids are always giddy when we review using a classroom game show.

3. Interactive Solar System Notebooks

Interactive notebooks are a wonderful way to keep your students engaged throughout a solar system unit. In your kids’ science notebooks, use foldable flaps for each planet, the moon phases, or the sun. Under each flap, students can record key facts, sketches, and other things they have learned. I love that notebooks can be updated and personalized as the unit progresses! In my classroom, interactive notebooks have always been a great, go-to resource for studying and learning about the solar system!

4. Solar System Research Pennants

If you’re looking for a creative way to combine research and art, solar system research pennants are the perfect fit. Assign each student (or pair of students) a planet, star, or moon to research. Students can then record their learning on a pennant that includes things such as size, atmosphere, year discovered, distance from the sun, and unique features. In my classroom, after all my kids complete their pennants, I hang them around the classroom on on a bulletin board to showcase student work! I always get so many complements from other teachers and parents. Using research pennants is a stable in my classroom. If you’re interested in other reasons that research pennants are perfect for upper elementary kids, check out this post! Research Pennants for Upper Elementary: A Fun and Creative Tool for Student Reports

5. Edible Solar System Models

One idea you could try is to let your students get creative and hungry with edible solar system models! Provide materials such as different-sized fruits, candies, or cookies to represent the planets and sun. Then, have your kids arrange their edible models based on the correct order from the sun and relative size. This is especially fun because when the lesson is finished, students can enjoy a fun and tasty snack. I have found this outside-the-box activity to be a delicious way to help students visualize the scale and arrangement of the solar system! I highly recommend you give it a try.

6. Solar System Doodle Notes

If your students love to doodle as much as mine do, solar system doodle notes are a fantastic way to combine art with learning. Doodle note pages allow students to illustrate key facts, planets, and solar system concepts while they take notes. Encourage them to color, label diagrams, and draw fun images as they listen to lessons or complete readings. I love this this hands-on and colorful approach because it helps students remember facts more easily by connecting them with visual elements.

7. Planet Research Little Books

Your students will love creating their own “planet research little books.” Each student can pick a planet to research, and each page of their book can focus on different aspects of their planet—such as size, atmosphere, distance from the sun, and unique characteristics. These mini-books are a great way to blend research, writing, and creativity, and they serve as a personal study tool students can refer back to throughout the unit.

8. Create a Solar System Comic Strip

I have found that no matter what we are studying in class, my students love to showcase their learning in comic strips. If you want to bring creativity and storytelling into your solar system unit, try having you students create their own comic strips. One way to frame this is to ask them to imagine they are space explorers traveling through the solar system. Each panel of their comic strip can feature a different planet or celestial body, along with fun facts. This activity helps students blend creative writing with their growing knowledge of the solar system.

Teaching the solar system can be an exciting and engaging experience for both teachers and students! From collaborative posters to Jeopardy games and edible models, each of these activities have kept my students actively learning while having fun. I highly recommend incorporating some (or all) of these ideas into your next solar system unit! I know they will help your students’ enthusiasm for space exploration soar!

Save These Ideas For Later

Make sure to click on the Pinterest pin image below and save these fun solar system activities for upper elementary students to a favorite Pinterest board for teaching ideas. This will make them so easy to find when you get ready to launch into your next solar system unit with your kids! Wishing you the best year ever!