Building a LEGO solar system is a powerful way to combine science, creativity, and hands-on learning. Also, look at my page From Simple to Spectacular: Easy LEGO Ideas for Everyone.
And look at my post Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for more ideas.
When students first plan their design on graph paper and then recreate it using LEGO bricks, they practice math, engineering, and astronomy simultaneously. Even kids who do not usually find science intriguing can’t help but enjoy it when paired with LEGO.
This LEGO solar system activity is great for upper elementary through high school students, and it is particularly helpful for visual and hands-on learners. By the end of the lesson, students don’t just memorize planet facts—they understand how the solar system fits together and can explain it confidently.
In this project, students will design a scale model of the solar system, learn key facts about each planet, and understand how the planets relate to one another in space.
What I like about it is that for homeschool families, this project is flexible, reusable, and adaptable for different ages and learning styles.
MORE EASY LEGO IDEAS
- How To Use LEGO Maths to Teach Essential Foundational Skills
- Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream – Easy LEGO Art Tutorial
- 5 Exciting LEGO Science Activities for Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning
- Craft Lego Mythology Sets – How To Craft The Powerful Titan Atlas
- How to Make a LEGO Solar System That Educates & Entertains
- How to Create a LEGO Duck Pond: Step-by-Step Guide
- How To Make A DIY LEGO Turkish Design Craft
- Easy and Creative LEGO Eye Anatomy Activity for Curious Kids
- A Splash Of Fun: The Ultimate LEGO Minecraft Coral Reef
- Crust to Core: How to Build LEGO Earth Layers
- Unleashing Creativity: An Easy Guide to a LEGO Stonehenge Model
- Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree
- Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat
BOOKS ABOUT ASTRONOMY FOR KIDS
Next, books are always my favorite place to start when putting together must have resources for a unit study.
Use one or two for your resources.
11 Astronomy Resources & Books
Add one or two books to your unit study or use one as a spine for studying about space.
From the burning surface of Venus to the freezing darkness of Neptune, Gail Gibbons takes children on a tour of our planetary neighbors—which are very different from each other in size, shape, orbit, and even weather.
With her bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Dava Sobel introduced readers to her rare gift for weaving complex scientific concepts into a compelling narrative. Now Sobel brings her full talents to bear on what is perhaps her most ambitious topic to date-the planets of our solar system. Sobel explores the origins and oddities of the planets through the lens of popular culture, from astrology, mythology, and science fiction to art, music, poetry, biography, and history. Written in her characteristically graceful prose, The Planets is a stunningly original celebration of our solar system and offers a distinctive view of our place in the universe.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and, to an audience of over 450 million people, proclaimed his step a "giant leap for mankind."
Containing star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky, this classic book makes H. A. Rey’s passion for astronomy evident on every page.
New updates concentrate on the planetary and solar system information in the latter part of the book. Facts and figures for each planet have been revised, and new scientific information has been added, such as Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet.
Our solar system consists of eight planets, as well as numerous moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. For thousands of years, humans believed that Earth was at the center of the Universe, but all of that changed in the 17th century. Astronomers like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton proposed the unthinkable theory that Earth and the other planets actually revolved around the Sun.
Gorgeous. Worth every penny! Signs & Seasons is an introduction to “Classical Astronomy,” the traditional, historical approach to the sky, as had been practiced from ancient times. The biblical basis for astronomy
Space is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. The Mysteries of the Universe is a stunning space encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they journey through the vastness of the Universe.
Like a Facebook for the universe, Astronomy gives every important celestial body and concept its own page, where readers can learn its behaviors, likes, and dislikes up close and personal. From the flashy stars to the shadowy and strange objects that hang out like loners at the edges of the universe, no player goes unnoticed.
The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky offers everything you need to explore the remarkable beauty of the stars, moon, and planets. Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and Ph.D. in astrophysics provides a very thorough, practical and easy to read resource to fuel the curiosity of amateur astronomers ages 10 to 100.
【Planet Toys for Kids】Our wooden solar system puzzle is the PERFECT CHOICE for you and your kids as it is made from natural wood, vivid planet patten with well designed. This preschool learning activities is suitable for 3+ years kids and represents the perfect activity to learn through play!
The Solar System Planetarium set teaches children about the wonders of the solar system. Just assemble, paint and learn.
This set includes planets, stencils, squeeze glow paint pen, rods, string, a fact filled wall chart and 10 sets of Kidz Quiz questions.
Next, look at some facts about our solar system.
FACTS ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM
The Sun is a massive ball of hot gas . It composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. It holds 99.8% of the mass in the entire solar system. Without the Sun’s gravity and energy, life on Earth would not be possible. In your LEGO model, the Sun should be the largest object and placed at the center.
Mercury is the smallest planet and the closest to the Sun. It has extreme temperatures, ranging from very hot during the day to freezing cold at night. A year on Mercury is only 88 Earth days long. Use a small gray LEGO build to represent its rocky surface.
Venus is similar in size to Earth but has a thick atmosphere that traps heat, making it the hottest planet in the solar system. Its clouds are made of sulfuric acid, and it rotates very slowly. Venus can be shown with yellow or tan LEGO bricks.
Earth is the only known planet that supports life. About 71% of its surface is covered with water, and it has a protective atmosphere. Earth’s tilt gives us seasons. Blue and green LEGO bricks work well to show oceans and land.
SOLAR SYSTEM FACTS
Mars is known as the Red Planet because of iron-rich dust on its surface. Scientists believe Mars once had liquid water and may have supported life in the past. Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons. Red or orange LEGO bricks are ideal for this planet.
Jupiter is the largest planet and a gas giant made mostly of hydrogen and helium. It has a massive storm called the Great Red Spot that has been raging for hundreds of years. Jupiter also has dozens of moons, including Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system.
Saturn is famous for its rings. They are made of ice and rock. It is less dense than water and has strong winds. Saturn’s rings can be represented using a single row. It can stick out further than yellow or tan bricks, making up the planet itself.
Uranus is an ice giant and rotates on its side, making it unique among the planets. It has a blue-green color due to methane in its atmosphere. Use light blue or teal LEGO bricks to represent Uranus.
Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun and has the strongest winds in the solar system. It is deep blue in color and extremely cold. A small dark blue LEGO build works well for Neptune.
And look at a few more ideas to add to your day.
LEGO SOLAR SYSTEM EXTENSION IDEAS
- Math- Have students calculate scale distances or compare planet diameters.
- Engineering-Rebuild the model using even fewer LEGO pieces.
- Research- Assign each planet as a mini research project.
- Writing- Have students write a travel brochure for one planet.
- Discussion- Talk about why Pluto is no longer classified as a planet and where dwarf planets fit.
Finally, look at how to make a LEGO solar system.
HOW TO MAKE A LEGO SOLAR SYSTEM
This activity blends science, art, and critical thinking in a way that textbooks alone cannot. Planning on graph paper encourages thoughtful design, while building with LEGO bricks makes abstract concepts concrete.
You will need:
Before touching the LEGO bricks, start with graph paper. This step is essential and turns the activity into a true STEM lesson.
Have students draw the Sun at the center of the page and then plan the placement of each planet moving outward.
You can decide together whether each square represents a certain number of millions of miles or simply use relative spacing to show which planets are closer together and which are farther apart.
Use the same colors to fill in the squares representing each planet as you will use in your LEGO model.
Encourage your child to…
- Label each planet
- Choose colors that represent real planetary features
- Estimate size differences (gas giants larger, rocky planets smaller)
- Think about how many LEGO pieces they will need
This planning stage builds skills in spatial reasoning, proportional thinking, and scientific observation. Each space on our grid represented a 4×4 brick. And if need to be centered overlapped half of each side.
We used several sheets of graph paper to depict the entire solar system.
Once the design is complete, recreate the drawing using LEGO bricks. Limiting pieces encourages problem-solving and creativity, but if you have enough LEGO, you can certainly build a huge solar system model.
As students build, discuss why some planets need more pieces than others and how color choices help represent real features.
Try to give your planets a rounded shape by stepping bricks down in size; ours ended up with kind of an egg shape.
Put your sun at the center of a LEGO baseplate
Set each planet into place around the sun, varying the distance appropriately.
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