A simple, picture led tour of the Solar System for younger pupils. Each slide shows one body in turn, starting with the Milky Way and the Sun and then visiting each planet in order. Ideal as a visual introduction or for pupils to talk about what they see.
What this presentation covers
- The Milky Way
- the Sun
- each planet in order
Level: KS1 / KS2
Slides: 12
Format: PowerPoint (.ppt)
Teaching notes
How to use it. Made for KS1 and KS2, this works best as a talk and look lesson: pause on each picture and ask pupils what they notice about the colour, size and surface. It makes a good start to a class display or a planet fact file project, where each pupil or group researches one planet.
Key words
- Milky Way: the galaxy our Solar System is part of
- Star: a huge ball of hot gas that gives out its own light
- Planet: a large, round body that orbits a star
- Rocky planet: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, which have solid surfaces
- Gas giant: Jupiter and Saturn, huge planets made mostly of gas
Common misconception: “The Moon and planets give out their own light, like stars.” Only the Sun gives out its own light in our Solar System. We see the Moon and the planets because sunlight reflects off them.
Quick check questions
- What is the Sun?
- Which is the largest planet?
- Which planet do we live on, and what number is it from the Sun?
Show answers
- A star.
- Jupiter.
- Earth, the third planet from the Sun.
Related lessons: Planets and Orbits | The Sun and Solar System | Jupiter
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