Our Solar System
Explore the eight planets that orbit our Sun, each with unique characteristics and fascinating features!
🪐 Click to explore the planets!
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Mercury
Closest to the Sun
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Uranus
Tilted on its side
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Neptune
Windiest planet
Amazing Fact: Jupiter is so big that all the other planets could fit inside it!
Build a Solar System Model
Create your own solar system to understand planet sizes and distances!
- Gather different sized balls (ping pong, tennis, basketball)
- Paint them to represent each planet
- Arrange them in order from the Sun
- Measure the relative distances
- Display your solar system model!
Stars & Galaxies
Discover the brilliant stars that light up our night sky and the incredible galaxies that contain billions of them!
⭐ Click to learn about stars!
Did you know? Our Sun is actually a star! It's a medium-sized yellow star that's about 4.6 billion years old. The light from the Sun takes 8 minutes to reach Earth!
Create a Constellation Viewer
Make your own stargazing tool to find constellations!
- Get a cardboard tube (toilet paper roll)
- Cover one end with black paper
- Poke holes to match constellation patterns
- Shine a flashlight through the tube
- Project constellations on the wall!
Galaxy Facts: Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains over 100 billion stars! The nearest galaxy to us is Andromeda, which is 2.5 million light-years away.
Space Exploration
Learn about rockets, astronauts, and the incredible missions that have taken humans to space and beyond!
🚀 Click to learn about rockets!
Rocket Science: Rockets work by Newton's Third Law - for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. Hot gases shoot out the bottom, pushing the rocket up!
Build a Balloon Rocket
Create your own rocket using simple materials!
- Tie a string across a room
- Tape a straw to a balloon
- Thread the string through the straw
- Blow up the balloon and hold the end
- Let go and watch your rocket fly!
Space Milestones: Humans first walked on the Moon in 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission. Neil Armstrong was the first person to step on the lunar surface!
Amazing Space Phenomena
Explore the incredible events and phenomena that occur in space - from meteor showers to black holes!
🌠 Click to discover space phenomena!
Meteor Showers: When Earth passes through debris left by comets, we see "shooting stars"! These aren't actually stars, but tiny pieces of rock burning up in our atmosphere.
Moon Phase Calendar
Track the changing phases of the Moon!
- Create a calendar for one month
- Observe the Moon each night
- Draw the Moon's shape you see
- Label each phase (new, crescent, full, etc.)
- Predict next month's phases!
Black Holes: Black holes are regions in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape! The closest black hole to Earth is about 1,000 light-years away.
Life as an Astronaut
Discover what it's like to live and work in space! Learn about the challenges and amazing experiences of astronauts.
👨🚀 Click to learn about astronaut life!
Zero Gravity: In space, astronauts float because they're in constant free fall! They must sleep in sleeping bags attached to walls and drink through straws to prevent liquids from floating away.
Space Food Challenge
Try eating like an astronaut!
- Choose foods that won't make crumbs
- Try eating with straws and squeeze bottles
- Eat while moving around (safely!)
- Create your space menu for a week
- Think about nutrition in space!
Space Station: The International Space Station travels at 17,500 mph and orbits Earth every 90 minutes! Astronauts see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.
Space Technology
Explore the amazing technology that makes space exploration possible, from satellites to rovers!
🛰️ Click to learn about space tech!
Satellites: There are over 8,000 satellites orbiting Earth! They help with GPS, weather forecasting, internet, and TV broadcasts.
Design a Mars Rover
Create your own planetary exploration vehicle!
- Draw your rover design
- List what tools it needs
- Build a model with cardboard/LEGO
- Test it on different surfaces
- Plan a Mars mission!
Mars Rovers: NASA's rovers have wheels with special treads and can travel about 660 feet (200 meters) per day on Mars. They're powered by solar panels or nuclear batteries!