• May include: A digital educational resource titled Solar System Scale Model Distance from the Sun Lab SC.8.E.5.7. The graphic features a yellow sun, orbiting planets, and text labels including Low Prep Lab, Answer Keys, and Easy Print.
  • May include: A black and white educational document titled Florida Science Standards Practice Solar System Scale Model Lab. It includes a table of contents, instructions for two lab versions, print settings, and a note about the OpenDyslexic font.
  • May include: A black and white educational worksheet titled Florida Science Standards Practice Version A: Paper Model Page 1. It includes a goal, materials list, and five numbered directions for drawing a solar system to scale on paper.
  • May include: A white educational worksheet titled Florida Science Standards Practice Version B: Hallway Model Page 1. It includes instructions for creating a solar system model, listing materials, goals, and a data table for student use.
  • May include: A black and white educational worksheet titled Florida Science Standards Practice Version B: Hallway Model Page 2. It includes fields for name, date, period, and analysis questions regarding the scale of the Sun and planets.
  • May include: A digital educational resource titled Solar System Scale Model Distance from the Sun Lab SC.8.E.5.7. The graphic features a yellow sun, orbiting planets, and text labels including Low Prep Lab, Answer Keys, and Easy Print.
  • May include: A black and white educational document titled Florida Science Standards Practice Solar System Scale Model Lab. It includes a table of contents, instructions for two lab versions, print settings, and a note about the OpenDyslexic font.
  • May include: A black and white educational worksheet titled Florida Science Standards Practice Version A: Paper Model Page 1. It includes a goal, materials list, and five numbered directions for drawing a solar system to scale on paper.
  • May include: A white educational worksheet titled Florida Science Standards Practice Version B: Hallway Model Page 1. It includes instructions for creating a solar system model, listing materials, goals, and a data table for student use.
  • May include: A black and white educational worksheet titled Florida Science Standards Practice Version B: Hallway Model Page 2. It includes fields for name, date, period, and analysis questions regarding the scale of the Sun and planets.
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Solar System Scale Model Lab, Distance from the Sun, Paper or Hallway, Low Prep Lab, Florida 8th Grade Science, Middle School Printable

Item highlights

  • Digital download
  • Digital file type(s): 1 PDF

Seller's description

How far apart are the planets, really? In this low prep lab, students build a scale model of the solar system and see for themselves that the inner planets sit close to the Sun while the outer planets are spread across huge, mostly empty distances. Takes 1 class period.

Two versions, pick the one that fits your room:
- Version A, Paper Model (1 AU = 1 cm): each student draws the solar system on one sheet of copy paper (or two sheets taped together). One straight line, one ruler pass, Sun to Neptune at 30 cm.
- Version B, Hallway Model (1 AU = 1 ft): groups measure out the solar system along a wall or hallway, with Sun to Neptune at 30 ft (about 9.1 m). The table gives feet and inches or meters, so use a tape measure or a meter stick.

Easy numbers: distances are rounded to tenths of an AU so the AU, cm, mm, feet, and meter columns all match. A note on each student table tells students these are rounded numbers for the model, not exact scale.

Students practice:
- Using a scale and converting units
- Comparing each planet's distance from the Sun to Earth's
- Reading and filling in a data table
- Thinking about why size and distance can't share one scale on a poster
- Huge distances in space, including light travel time and the nearest star

What's inside (8 pages):
- Table of contents with print settings
- Teacher page: Florida benchmarks, materials, setup, and timing
- Version A student pages (2 pages): directions, data table, analysis questions, exit question
- Version B student pages (2 pages): directions, distance table, analysis questions, exit question
- Answer key for each version, with model answers for both exit questions

Exit questions check understanding at the end of class:
- Version A: How does the spacing between planets change as you move farther from the Sun?
- Version B: How many times farther from the Sun is Neptune than Earth, and how does that affect its sunlight and warmth?

Why teachers like it:
- Low prep: paper, a ruler, or a tape measure
- Two versions in one product: desk work or a hallway activity
- Dyslexia-friendly OpenDyslexic font on student pages
- Black-and-white friendly, easy print at 100% scale

Florida benchmarks (NGSSS): SC.8.E.5.7 (compare properties of solar system objects to Earth, including distance from the Sun). Also fits SC.8.E.5.3 (distance and size in the solar system) and SC.8.E.5.1 (enormous distances in space).

All text and graphics are original. Font: OpenDyslexic (SIL Open Font License). For single-classroom use; please buy an additional license for each colleague. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Florida Department of Education.

This is a digital download. No physical item will be shipped. Open the PDF and print on US Letter paper.

Content written and checked by a Florida science teacher. AI tools assisted with formatting and layout.

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Specifications

May include: A digital educational resource titled Solar System Scale Model Distance from the Sun Lab SC.8.E.5.7. The graphic features a yellow sun, orbiting planets, and text labels including Low Prep Lab, Answer Keys, and Easy Print.

How far apart are the planets, really? In this low prep lab, students build a scale model of the solar system and see for themselves that the inner planets sit close to the Sun while the outer planets are spread across huge, mostly empty distances. Takes 1 class period.

Two versions, pick the one that fits your room:
- Version A, Paper Model (1 AU = 1 cm): each student draws the solar system on one sheet of copy paper (or two sheets taped together). One straight line, one ruler pass, Sun to Neptune at 30 cm.
- Version B, Hallway Model (1 AU = 1 ft): groups measure out the solar system along a wall or hallway, with Sun to Neptune at 30 ft (about 9.1 m). The table gives feet and inches or meters, so use a tape measure or a meter stick.

Easy numbers: distances are rounded to tenths of an AU so the AU, cm, mm, feet, and meter columns all match. A note on each student table tells students these are rounded numbers for the model, not exact scale.

Students practice:
- Using a scale and converting units
- Comparing each planet's distance from the Sun to Earth's
- Reading and filling in a data table
- Thinking about why size and distance can't share one scale on a poster
- Huge distances in space, including light travel time and the nearest star

What's inside (8 pages):
- Table of contents with print settings
- Teacher page: Florida benchmarks, materials, setup, and timing
- Version A student pages (2 pages): directions, data table, analysis questions, exit question
- Version B student pages (2 pages): directions, distance table, analysis questions, exit question
- Answer key for each version, with model answers for both exit questions

Exit questions check understanding at the end of class:
- Version A: How does the spacing between planets change as you move farther from the Sun?
- Version B: How many times farther from the Sun is Neptune than Earth, and how does that affect its sunlight and warmth?

Why teachers like it:
- Low prep: paper, a ruler, or a tape measure
- Two versions in one product: desk work or a hallway activity
- Dyslexia-friendly OpenDyslexic font on student pages
- Black-and-white friendly, easy print at 100% scale

Florida benchmarks (NGSSS): SC.8.E.5.7 (compare properties of solar system objects to Earth, including distance from the Sun). Also fits SC.8.E.5.3 (distance and size in the solar system) and SC.8.E.5.1 (enormous distances in space).

All text and graphics are original. Font: OpenDyslexic (SIL Open Font License). For single-classroom use; please buy an additional license for each colleague. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Florida Department of Education.

This is a digital download. No physical item will be shipped. Open the PDF and print on US Letter paper.

Content written and checked by a Florida science teacher. AI tools assisted with formatting and layout.

  • Item type
    Digital download
  • Digital file type(s)
    1 PDF
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If something goes wrong with an order, we've got your back on all eligible purchases. View program terms

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