Teacher Information

Solar Systems

Curriculum links Year 5
ACS Substrand: Earth and Space Sciences
Content Description: The Earth is part of a system of planets orbiting around a star (the sun)
(ACSSU078)

Declarative Knowledge:
The learner will know and understand:
-That earth is part of a system of planets, which we call our Solar System
-The relative size of and distance each planet is away from Earth and the sun
-The role the sun plays in our solar system

Procedural Knowledge:
The learner will be able to:
-Identify the planets of the solar system, in order
-Make comparisons relating to the length of orbit and distance from the sun

Examples of use
Students could be assigned a planet to investigate in groups of 2 or 3. Using the website resource each
group could research their planet then design a short informative presentation for the class.

All information could be compiled to design and construct a scale model of the solar system. This model
could be as simple as different sized foam balls (decorated by students) suspended from the ceiling in
order from the Sun. Moons could be smaller balls attached with a pin to their planet. Fact sheets could
be attached for easy reference e.g. duration of orbit, duration of one rotation, weather.

Weather, atmosphere, planet surface could be discussion points around the needs of living things.
Students could invent aliens with adaptations to survive on each planet (ACSSU043).