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Description

A fun, active introduction to the Solar System where Beavers become planets orbiting the Sun, learn about orbits and the order of planets, and complete a simple craft showing the alignment of the planets. The session includes observing the night sky through binoculars or a telescope and using a star-map app to identify stars, planets, and comets.

Resources

For the Orbit Game:
• Open indoor or outdoor space
• Cones or floor markers (optional)

For the Solar System Craft:
• Pre-printed planet templates or circles to colour
• Crayons, pencils, or felt tips; Scissors
• Glue sticks
• A3 or A4 sheet with the Sun on the left (for sticking planets in order)

For Star-Viewing:
• Binoculars
• Telescope (if available)
• Phone or tablet with a sky-map app (e.g., Star Walk, Sky Map, Night Sky)

Instructions

1. Introduction (5 minutes)
• Briefly explain that the Sun is a star.
• Discuss what “orbit” means and why planets move at different speeds. Name the planets, how far apart are from the Sun

2. Orbiting Planets Game (10 minutes)
1. Choose one Beaver to be the Sun in the centre.
2. Assign other Beavers as planets. If you have many Beavers, some can be moons orbiting planets.
3. Explain:
• Inner planets move faster (smaller, quicker circles).
• Outer planets move slower (larger, slower circles).
4. Call out commands:
• “Freeze!” – everyone stops.
• “Meteor Shower!” – duck or lie flat.
• “Solar Flare!” – planets move faster.
• “Reverse Orbit!” – change direction.
• “Black Hole!” – slowly move inward.
• “Asteroid Incoming!” – change orbit path.

Fun, high-energy learning with clear science links.


3. Solar system craft: Make your own model (15- 20 minutes)
1. Give each Beaver their planets templates.
2. Explain which are rocky planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) and which are gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).
3. Colour Earth in blue & green, Mars in red, and others in appropriate colours.
4. Cut and glue the planets in order from the Sun onto the sheet.


4. Real star and planet observation (10–15 minutes)

(Adapt to available daylight; can be done at the end of the session)
1. Show the Beavers how to safely look through binoculars or a telescope.
2. Use a sky-map app to locate:
• Stars
• Visible planets (Jupiter, Saturn, etc.)
• Constellations
• Maybe even comets if visible
3. Let the Beavers take turns identifying objects using the app.

6. Closing Circle (5 minutes)
• Recap:
• Sun = star
• Planets orbit the Sun
• Inner planets move faster
• Which planet is the hottest, which is the coldest
• Praise their teamwork as Space Explorers.

Tags

• Planets
• Space Activity Badge
• space badge
• Space explorer
• star gazing
• stars
• STEM

Badge Links

• Space - Constellation
• Space - Identify
• Space - Planets
• Space - Planets