Welcome to Explore! Solar System
For a long time, people thought Earth was the center of the universe, with the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars circling Earth. Based on what people saw when they looked at the sky, this idea made sense. Today, we know that Earth is not the center of the universe. The universe is incredibly huge, with many more stars than we can see at night. Our Sun is just one of those stars, although it is the most important one for us. Through the activities Planet Sizes, Planet Distances, and Solar System on a Map, children make scale models of our Sun and its family of planets. Fruits and vegetables are used to represent the different planets, and, in order to get an accurate sense of the vast scale of our Solar System, children go outside to model their distances apart. Children plot the scaled locations of the planets relative to their homes using a map of their area. The activities are suitable for children ages 8-13 unless otherwise noted in the "activities" section. Discover links to additional games, activities, and information in the "further resources" section.
October 9, 2009
