Kids will be fascinated and engaged as they learn about the inner planets for kids! These inner planets activity ideas are a great way for students to explore the planets in our solar system for kids – Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Earth. The science unit covers Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars with lots of hands on science experiments and free worksheets for kids. We have not only activities, but solar system for kids printables for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th graders too. Simply print pdf file with inner planets worksheet pages, part of our solar system printable – now you are ready to play and learn!
Inner Planets for Kids
We are continuing on in our solar system unit. We’ve talked about the sun and now we are ready to start learning about the Solar System’s inner planets activity. We read books, did some hands-on inner planets activities, and of course added in some inner planets worksheets. : Mercury for kids, Venus for kids, Earth for kids, and Mars for kids. This is a really fun, hands on unit includes both solar system science experiments and solar system for kids printables to help kids learn while having fun.
Solar system printable
Start by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> _____ <<. The pdf file will open in a new window for you to save the freebie and print the template.
Mercury for Kids
Mercury is a small planet and the planet closest to the sun. Only one space craft (Mariner 10) has gotten close to Mercury. During the day it is more than 750 F, but at night it gets down to -300 F.
We made a model of mercury by mixing 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup salt, 1 teas oil, and 1/4 cup water. After we’d shaped it we hit the planet with rocks of different sizes to make the craters Mercury is known for.
Venus for Kids
Venus is the hottest planet in the whole solar system because of it’s location nearby the sun and dense atmosphere the traps in the sun’s heat. There are volcanoes that spew lava on its surface.
Igneous rocks for kids
To help the kids understand that Venus was so hot that rocks melted we set up this simple science experiment. We made a mound by overturning a custard dish and covering it and the surrounding area with flour. I showed them a 1/4 stick of butter was solid like rocks. I melted it in the microwave just like the heat melts rocks on Venus. Then we poured it over the center of the overturned custard dish so the kids would see it form streams. When it cooled down the butter turned back hard, just like the rocks on Venus.
Earth for Kids
We read several books on earth discussing how the earth is the perfect home, the layers of the earth, how the atmosphere protects us (keeping us warm and burning up meteors before they hit the earth), how our tilt gives us seasons, and more.
Earth Science Experiment
For hands on activities consider making a playdough earth (showing the layers) or make a compass (because of our powerful magnetic field a compass always points north)
Mars for Kids
We learned the reason this planet is called the red planet is because the red look comes from the iron in the dirt. We talked about how scientists are hoping to have a colony on Mars someday (you can read more about this 2025 Mars settlement here)
This terrestrial planet has mountains, valleys, and volcanoes including a volcano called Olympus Mons the largest volcano in our whole solar system.
Homemade Volcano
To make our Olympus Mons we put red construction paper on a baking sheet. We put an empty 2L bottle in the center.
We wadded up paper around the 2L bottle to make the volcano. Then we covered the entire surface with our favorite playdough recipe tinted brown. The volcano looked amazing!
Now for the eruption! We put 6 teas baking soda in the bottle. In a separate measuring cup put 2 cups vinegar, red food coloring, and a squirt of dish detergent. When you are ready for the eruption pour the vinegar mixture into the bottle and stand back – it is going to erupt!
Inner planets worksheet
Plus for every planet we studied the kids took notes on things they learned that were interesting using these free solar system worksheets for kids. (this set includes the workshet pictured above and many more!)
Solar System Activities for Kids
Looking for more fun, hands on science activities to teach kids about astronomy or to round out your solar system for kids unit. You will love these hands on solar system activities and lessons:
- The Sun Activities for Kindergarten – learn about the sun and how the planets orbit around it including a fun planets game for kids!
- Moon Activities for Kids & Astronauts Too – make oreo moon phases, DIY telescope, learn about the astronauts who landed on the moon, and more!
- Inner Planets for Kids (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) – Use our free planet worksheets and fun hands-on activities like Mercury craters, Venus’ melting rocks, layers of the earth, and Erupting Mars Volcano
- Outer Planets for Kids (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) – combination of hands-on solar system projects and solar system printables; gaseous Jupiter, Saturn Rocket, plus cloudy Uranus and Neptune.
- Pluto, Asteroid Belt, Comets, and Stars for Kids – make a FUN constellation projector, cold Pluto ice cream project, and grape constellation project
- Yarn Solar System Project – fun, unique, and easy solar system model that is cheap and so pretty!
- Paint Stick Solar System Project – easy-to-make solar system model for kids that doubles as an activity for learning the names and order of the planets
- Pipe Cleaner Constellations – fun hands on pipe cleaner constellations activity for kids
- Simple Galaxy Science Experiments
- Looking for more fun, engaging, creative, and memorable moon projects for kids? You will love this 50 Moon Activities for Kids & Crafts collection with the best ideas from the whole internet!
- TONS of really cool Solar System Project Ideas for kids of all ages
Free Solar System Printables
Plus, don’t forget to add these free solar system worksheets and printables to your lesson plan:
- HUGE pack of FREE Solar System Worksheets for elementary age kids
- Planet worksheets for kindergarten with solar system themed math and literacy activities for preschoolers, kindergartners, and grade 1 students
- Simple Astronaut Coloring Pages
- Space Worksheets Preschool
- Free Constellation Activity Sheets
- Solar System Coloring Pages to read, learn, and color the solar system
- Printable Free Constellations Printable pdf for children to learn about stars and the patterns they make in the night sky
- Cootie Catcher Constellation Activities for Kids
- Free Constellation Cards
- Moon Phases Kindergarten Worksheets – HUGE pack!
- Planets Solar System for Kids pdf Book for students to learn about all the planets in our solar system
- Moon Phases Printable Mini Book for kids to learn about the phases of the moon
Science for Kids
Looking for lots more fun, science experiments for kids? You’ve GOT to try some of these outrageously fun science experiments for kids! We have so many fun, creative and easy science experiments for elementary age children:
- 100 Amazing Food science experiments for kids – arranged by type of science
- Colorful Capillary action science experiment (also known as walking water)
- Amaze kids with these 12 Hands on Science experiments with batteries
- 24 Epic Solar system science projects to try this week
- Fun Water balloon science experiment that explores density
- Water Displacement Candy Science Experiment
- 50 Fun Preschool science experiments the whole family will want to try
- Easy Rubber Band Powered Car
- Paint Stick Solar System Project for Kids
- Easy Ping Pong Ball Bernoulli’s experiment
- Fun-to-Make Lego Balloon Car Project
- Candy Corn Catapults STEM Project for Kids
- EPIC Exploding Snowman Science Experiment for Winter
- EASY, Vibrant Sidewalk Chalk Paint for Kids
- Melting Christmas Science Experiments
- Simple Galaxy science project
- Easy and Fun Dancing Raisins Experiment
- Learn about weather as you find how to make a weather vane
- Eye opening Eye science experiments
- Easy-to- make Air pressure science project
- Amazing POP rocks science experiment is one of our all-time favorite science experiments we like to do during the summer are
- Stunning Chromatography Flowers are so pretty you’ll forget it was as science project!
- How to Make a Lava Lamp – super easy and SO cool!
- 30 Simple machines science projects kids will want to try
- Easy, fascinating, and colorful project answering Why do Leaves Change Color Experiment
- Free Printable Animal Classifications for Kids Cootie Catchers
- 19 Edible science experiments – which delicious project will you try first?
- HUGE Free Solar System Unit (coloring pages, hands on science projects, worksheets, and more!)
- Pipe Cleaner Constellation Activity (As seen on Good Housekeeping!)
- Teach kids about conductivity with this fun squishy circuits projects
- Amazing, Heat Sensitive, Color Changing Slime
- Life Cycles for Kids (from penguin to sunflower and spider to turkey we have LOTS of life cycles to explore and learn about)
- EASY, Colorful Oil and Water Science Experiment
- 4 Fun Skeletal System Project Ideas
- Kids will be amazed as you change colors of white flowers with this Dying Flowers Science Experiment
- This super cool Lego Zipline is fun and simple to make
- Human Body Project
- Check out this super cool look INSIDE a Volcano Project
- Exploding Watermelon – science experiment that explores potential and kinetic energy with a big WOW moment!
- Memorable Life Size Skeletal system science project – includes free printable template
- Lego Electricity Science Experiments
- Marshmallow Shooters STEM Activity
- Find LOTS more Easy Science Experiments for kids of all ages!
Loved the activities/experiments we just completed for the inner planets with our 2nd grader and pre-schooler!
Are the inner planets worksheets no longer available?
You can find them in the set for the whole unit here – https://www.123homeschool4me.com/solar-system-worksheets_83/