充氣式太陽系

My third graders were completely engaged when we hung these planets from the ceiling to demonstrate orbit paths, and I love that the set includes Pluto too for discussing dwarf planets.

My third graders were completely captivated when I inflated the whole set for our space unit; seeing the planets right there in the classroom finally made rotation and orbit click for them. The different sizes really help them grasp the distance relationships we've been reading about.

The sun is about 10 inches across, which makes it easy to show how tiny Earth really is in comparison. I wish the set came with a guide for more structured activities, but my kids still had fun racing to see who could put the planets in order first.