At the center of our solar system is the Sun. It’s like a vast, warm lightbulb that gives us light and warmth. Without the Sun, we couldn’t live on Earth! It’s the biggest thing in the solar system, and all the planets dance around it.
You can download all the activities on this page in a single PDF file here.
Our Planet Family!
Mercury
The littlest brother is Mercury. It’s very close to the Sun and is a bit shy, so it hides during the day. Unfortunately, it’s so hot there even ice cream would melt in seconds!
Venus
Our sister Venus is a beautiful planet. She shines bright in the sky and has thick clouds, but be careful! It’s boiling and rainy there, but the rain is unlike on Earth – it’s made of acid!
Earth
That’s where we live! Earth is an extraordinary place. It’s the only planet in the solar system with water and lots of life, like animals, plants, and people like you and me!
Mars
Mars is our red neighbor. It’s called the Red Planet because it’s covered in red dirt. People want to visit Mars someday, and maybe we’ll find tiny life there!
Jupiter
Meet the biggest brother, Jupiter! It’s a giant ball of gas that’s much bigger than Earth. It has a massive storm called the Great Red Spot, and it’s been going on for hundreds of years!
Saturn
Saturn is a beautiful planet with big rings around it. The rings look like hula hoops made of ice and rocks! Wouldn’t it be fun to hula hoop with Saturn?
Uranus
Uranus is a funny name, right? It’s a giant, blue-green planet that spins on its side! It’s freezing there, so remember your warmest coat!
Neptune
The last planet in our family is Neptune. It’s another blue planet, but it’s much farther away. It’s so cold and windy there that even a kite couldn’t fly!