Page 1 of this 3rd grade solar system sheet shows the Sun and the eight planets in a row, with the asteroid belt as a band of dots between Mars and Jupiter. Students use a nine-word bank to label nine numbered pointer lines. Page 2 asks them to write the planets in order from the Sun, then match each word of My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles to its planet. Page 3 is the answer key.
“Name the Sun and the eight planets.”
Page 1 asks for nine labels from a word bank.
“Put the eight planets in order from the Sun.”
Page 2 gives eight numbered lines, and the memory table checks the same order.
“Use size and rings as clues to identify planets on a diagram.”
Jupiter is drawn largest and Saturn has rings, so students can find them before they fill in the rest.
A word bank with Sun and the eight planet names, a diagram with Jupiter the largest and Saturn drawn with its rings, and nine numbered lines to fill in.
Eight lines to write the planets from closest to farthest. Below them, a table of the eight memory words, from My to Noodles, with a space for the planet each one stands for.
The nine labels, the planets in order from Mercury to Neptune, and the memory table filled in.
Say the sentence first
Chant the memory sentence together and tap out the eight words before anyone picks up a pencil. Most students have the order by the third go.
Warn about scale
Tell students the sizes are roughly right but the gaps between planets are not to scale. Otherwise some will think Earth and Mars sit close to Jupiter.
Invent a new sentence
Once page 2 is done, ask pairs to write their own sentence with the same eight starting letters. The silly ones tend to stick.
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