36. 5th Grade: Super Solar System Project!

Hello everyone, my name is Brooke!

I am a freshman at ASU and I am currently majoring in psychology. After I graduate, I am hoping to become a pediatric occupational therapist! My goal is to create fun, educational activities that can be enjoyed by anyone! My hobbies include crafts, reading and playing with my cats. I truly believe that with the right approach, learning can be fun and engaging for everyone!

This activity will have students conduct a research project and create a fun visual on the solar system! Students will learn how to take detailed notes on sources about the solar system, and then they will draw out each planet and create a notecard of information on each planet! At the end, they will place all of the planets together to create a replica of the solar system. 

This will meet the Arizona Common Core standard (5.W.7), by teaching students to conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

What you will need:

● Provided template 

● Piece of cardboard 

● Clear tape 

● Glue 

● Scissors 

● String/yarn ● Pencil

• Construction Paper 
• Lined Paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Writing Utensil 
• Coloring Utensils
• Internet Access

Directions:

1. First, your student will begin by conducting research on the solar system! They will need lined paper and a writing utensil to take notes. 
2. Using the sources provided below, write down the key details from each article. Make sure you take note of what each planet looks like, how big it is, and where it is located!
   • Article 1: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/solar-system/ 
   • Article 2: https://www.theschoolrun.com/homework-help/solar-system 
   • Choose one planet of your choice to do additional research on!

3. Now that you’ve completed your initial research, it’s time to begin working on your visual! Start by taking 3 pieces of black construction paper and gluing them together. Take the top piece of one paper and glue it to the bottom piece of another paper. Do this with all of the pages!

4. Next, you will begin creating each planet out of construction paper. Use your notes to determine size, shape, and color of each planet! Here is the list of each of the planets in order below in case you need it. 

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

5. First, you will begin by using a yellow or an orange piece of paper to create the sun. Cut out a half circle and then glue it onto the leftmost side of the strip of black papers.

6. Next, you will be drawing out each planet. I will be starting with Mercury. Use the correct colors of construction paper and draw out the correct proportions of the planet. Cut it out when you are complete!

7. Repeat Step 6 for each planet!

8. When you get to the planet you took additional notes on, make a specific notecard with information on that planet! Here is my notecard on Saturn!

9. Now that you’ve finished each planet, it’s time to glue them onto the black paper in the correct order! Use your notes to determine the correct order of the planets. Glue the note card and your notes onto the back of the black paper!

10. To complete your project, use a white writing utensil to mark the curves of each planet and their name!

You have now completed your research project on the solar system! You’ve learned how to take detailed notes on the planets, and you were able to complete a fun visual while doing it! You now have a replica of the solar system that you can keep and use as decoration!

Thank you for visiting our blog! If you liked this activity and would like to see more, please visit our website and our Pinterest! See you next time!