Science·Space Exploration·procedural
Scale of the Solar System
Use scale models, diagrams, or calculations to represent the relative sizes and distances of objects in the solar system, understanding that the distances between planets are enormously larger than the planets themselves
Suggested ages 9–11
Learning journey
Your child is discovering the wonders of space — learning about stars, planets, and galaxies, understanding how our ideas about the solar system have changed over time, and exploring humanity's journey into space.
Evidence of understanding
- Explain that if the Sun were the size of a beach ball, Earth would be a pea about 26 metres away
- State that the distances between planets are much greater than the sizes of the planets themselves
- Create or interpret a scale model showing both relative sizes and distances
Assessment prompt
Has Scale of the Solar System ever built or looked at a scale model of the solar system? Can they explain why the planets would need to be spread across a whole playing field to be the right distance apart?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.