Print this template for a simple hands-on lesson about how earth’s axis and rotation around the sun causes seasons.

1. Color the sun and earths.
2. Glue toothpicks along the lines to show the axis.
3. Glue yarn along the path of earth’s ellipse.
4. Discuss which part of the earth is getting the most sun during each season.

Use this template to review the phases of the moon, as viewed from earth.

Have students use a pencil to shade in the part of the moon that is not visible in each phase.

Color a paper plate with yellow and orange.

Print the template onto cardstock.

Color and cut out.

Attach both strips to the earth with one brad fastener.

Attach the moon to the other end of the short strip with a brad fastener.

Attach the sun to the other end of the long strip with a brad fastener.

Use this template to assign students a small research project about different stars. Accompany it with a 3-D model or a painted paper plate to represent their star.

Print these pages and cut out the circles. They can either have drawings of the solar system bodies on the back, or can be folded in half and glued back-to-back to create a 3-D globe project.