Students begin by learning the order of the planets. They create a scale model of the solar system, using a measuring tape to plot and mark distances to planet orbits. As homework, students locate planets, then compare their locations two to three months later.

Student Resources

• 6.1 Vocabulary
• 6.2 Make a Model Solar System
• 6.3 Our Solar System
• 6.4 Finding Planets in the Night Sky
• 6.5 Section 6 Assessment

Learn by Reading

For additional content-area reading, check out the Houghton Mifflin Science eBook: Grade 3, Unit D, pages 44–48 and 54–58.