Overview and Background

I have a physics teacher who constantly complains that kids don't come into school thinking in 3D. Most students look at models of the solar system and think the sun is far smaller than it is in reality, and the earth is a similar size to the moon. By having accurate, to-scale models in classrooms from a young age, students could learn an important skill: thinking to scale

Lesson Plan and Activity

During any lesson about the solar system, bring this model out. Mercury is almost impossible to find on it, as is mars. Students should appreciate how small earth really is.

If you have extra time, it could be fun to have students in table groups, each with their own model, estimating the relative size of the planets and sun.

Materials Needed

You only need one copy of this model, though it could be fun to have multiple models students in table groups each observing their own model.

Solar System, planet size to scale