July 24, 2020 by Michelle Margaret Fajkus Homeschooling, Spanish for High School, Spanish for Kids, Spanish Resources 0 comments

Learn About the Solar System in Spanish: Activities, Games and More

The solar system is an amazing and complex network of planets, stars, moons, asteroids, and even mysterious black holes. For people of all ages, contemplating the stars and the possibilities of the universe fills the mind with wonder.

Space exploration is one of the best ways to inspire your kids’ or students’ curiosity in science. And you’re here because you want the best of both worlds—to learn about the solar system in Spanish!

Early elementary students typically learn the basic facts of the solar system. When they hear and read this content in Spanish, although they may not understand every word, they are better primed to absorb future vocabulary.

Children will naturally draw on information they already know to understand new Spanish vocabulary and structures. In this way, children learn the solar system in Spanish vocabulary in context. They learn more effectively because it’s applied to content, rather than a long list of random vocabulary words to memorize.

The solar system provides tons of learning opportunities in astronomy, physics, and biology. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to dive into hands-on learning activities and science experiments. Keep reading for super helpful free printable resources to use with your students or kids!

Solar System in Spanish: Vocabulary

Planetas – Los Planetas

Mercury – el Mercurio

Venus – el Venus

Earth – la Tierra

Mars – el Marte

Jupiter – el Júpiter

Saturn – el Saturno

Neptune – el Neptuno

Uranus – el Urano

Other Space-Related Vocabulary

Solar system – el sistema solar

Rings of Saturn – los anillos de Saturno

Moon – la luna

Sun – el sol

Asteroid belt – el cinturón de asteroides

Asteroids – los asteroides

Day – el día

Night – la noche

Illuminated, lit up – iluminada

Dark – oscuro

To spin – girar

A solar system is a group of astronomical objects that orbit around the sun.
El sistema solar es un grupo de objetos astronómicos que giran alrededor del sol.

PRO TIP! Note that although the words planeta and sistema end with the letter a, they are masculine words. Hence, we say el planeta and el sistema.

Solar System in Spanish: Talking About Planets

Until 2006, Pluto (Plutón) was considered a planet. Currently, eight planets make up our solar system. Use the questions and statements below to practice your Spanish pronunciation and conversation skills!

Which planet is closest to the sun?
¿Cuál planeta está más cerca del sol?

Which planet is farthest from the sun?
¿Cuál planeta está más lejos del sol?

Which planet do we live on?
¿En cuál planeta vivimos?

What is the fifth planet called?
¿Cómo se llama el quinto planeta?

Which planet is called “The Red Planet”?
¿A qué planeta le dicen “el planeta rojo”?

Which planet is the largest?
¿Cuál planeta es el más grande?

El Sol

The sun is the biggest element of our solar system.
El sol es el elemento más grande de nuestro sistema solar.

The sun is the star closest to Earth.
El sol es la estrella más cercana a la Tierra.

Earth and other bodies orbit around the sun.
La Tierra y otros cuerpos orbitan alrededor del sol.

The sun is the main source of energy on Earth.
El sol es la principal fuente de energía existente en la Tierra.

Mercurio

Mercury is the planet closest to the sun.
Mercurio es el primer planeta más cercano al sol.

It has a surface similar to the moon with craters.
Tiene una superficie similar a la luna con cráteres.

A year on Mercury lasts 88 days (on Earth).
Un año de Mercurio tarda 88 días (en la Tierra).

It’s the smallest planet.
Es el planeta más pequeño.

Venus

Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system even though Mercury is closer to the sun
Venus es el planeta que tiene la temperatura más alta, aunque Mercurio está más cerca al sol.

Its average temperature is approximately 462º C.
Su temperatura promedio es de 462º C.

A year on Venus lasts 224.7 days (on Earth).
Un año en Venus es igual a 224.7 días (en la Tierra).

Its size is a bit smaller than that of Earth.
Su tamaño es un poco más pequeño que el de la Tierra.

Tierra

Earth’s surface is rocky and primarily made up of water.
La Tierra tiene una superficie rocosa y principalmente compuesta por agua.

Its atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen.
Su atmósfera está compuesta por nitrógeno y oxígeno.

The average temperature of Earth is approximately 15º C.
La temperatura promedio de la Tierra es de 15º C.

The oxygen on our planet is indispensable for living beings.
El oxígeno que posee nuestro planeta es indispensable para los seres vivos.

*For an in-depth lesson about the four seasons on Earth, be sure to check out our blog post The 4 Seasons in Spanish: The Most Amazing Guide for Elementary Kids where we explore vocabulary, verbs, and activities about spring, summer, fall, and winter. Click to get free Spanish flashcards, stories and more!

Marte

The surface of Mars is similar to a desert with the ground covered in rocks.
Marte tiene una superficie similar a un desierto con un suelo cubierto de piedras.

Its atmosphere is composed of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Su atmósfera está compuesta por dióxido de carbono y nitrógeno.

The average temperature of Mars is approximately -46º C.
La temperatura promedio de Marte es de -46º C.

A year on Mars lasts 1.88 years (on Earth).
Un año en Marte es igual a 1.88 años (en la Tierra).

Júpiter

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun.
Júpiter es el quinto planeta más próximo al sol.

Its atmosphere is composed of hydrogen and helium.
Su atmósfera está compuesta por hidrógeno y helio.

The average temperature is approximately -148º C. So cold!
Su temperatura promedio es de -148º C. ¡Qué frío!

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system.
Júpiter es el planeta más grande del sistema solar.

Saturno

Due to being a gaseous planet, Saturn does not have a solid surface.
Debido a que es un planeta gaseoso, Saturno no tiene una superficie definida.

It’s surrounded by a system of rings.
Está rodeado por un sistema de anillos.

Its atmosphere is composed of hydrogen.
Su atmósfera está compuesta por hidrógeno.

A year on Saturn lasts 29.45 years (on Earth).
Un año en Saturno es igual a 29.45 años (en la Tierra).

Urano

Due to its fluid internal structure, Uranus does not have a solid surface.
Debido a que su estructura interior es fluida, Urano no tiene superficie sólida.

A year on Uranus lasts 84 years (on Earth).
Un año en Urano es igual a 84 años (en la Tierra).

It has 27 satellites discovered to date.
Tiene 27 satélites descubiertos a la fecha.

The distance to the sun is double that of Saturn.
La distancia al sol es el doble de la de Saturno.

Neptuno

Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun.
Neptuno es el octavo planeta más próximo al sol.

Its atmosphere is composed of methane.
Su atmósfera está compuesta por metano.

It is the fourth biggest planet in the solar system.
Es el cuarto planeta más grande del sistema solar.

Neptune is the planet furthest from the sun.
Neptuno es el planeta que está más lejos del sol.

Solar System in Spanish: Learning Activities and Games

Now it’s time to have some fun. Try out these learning activities, games, and arts-and-crafts projects related to the solar system in Spanish with your class or kids.

Offline Activities

1. Concentration Game

Create memory cards by folding two sheets of paper into eight boxes each. Draw a picture of each planet and write the Spanish word underneath each. The backside of the cards should be left blank. Cut out the cards and place them face down on a flat surface. Take turns finding the matches.

2. Create a Móvil (Mobile) of the Solar System

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) was a Polish astronomer who developed the Copernican system, a model of the solar system in which all the planets orbit the Sun.

Supplies needed:

A circular piece of cardboard about 1 ft across
Lots of colors of construction paper
Scissors
Tape
String
Pencil, crayons, or markers
A compass (for making circles)

Instructions:

Find the center of the large cardboard circle by drawing a line from top to bottom and a line from right to left. Where these two lines meet is the center of the circle. This is the position of the sun.
Using a compass, draw the orbits of the 8 planets by drawing circles around the sun.
The first 4 planets orbit relatively close to the Sun, then there is a gap (this is where the asteroids orbit). Then the last 5 planets orbit very far from the Sun.
Using a large nail, punch a hole in the center (this is where the Sun will hang). Then punch one hole somewhere on each circle (orbit); a planet will hang from each hole.
Cut circles from construction paper to represent the Sun and each of the planets. Make the Sun the biggest. Make Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune a bit smaller than the Sun. Make the remainder of the planets much smaller.
Write the name of each planet in Spanish on its back.
Tape a length of string to each planet (and el sol).
Lace the other end of each string through the correct hole in the large cardboard circle
You now have a model of our solar system.

3. Outer Space Arts and Crafts

Use black construction paper and star stickers to create your own constelación (constellation)
Make a cohete espacial (spaceship) using construction paper and a cardboard paper towel or toilet paper tube.
Make a telescopio (telescope) using a paper towel tube, construction paper, and stickers.

4. Moon Rock Game

Ball up tin foil to create una roca lunar (a moon rock). Toss the moon rock around in a circle and ask/answer questions about the solar system in Spanish.

Online Resources

Pregúntale a un astrónomo (Ask an Astronomer) is a website with a series of questions. Designed to raise kids’ curiosity and encourage them to think about the solar system in Spanish.
Te astronomía provides an array of online games about the planets in Spanish.
In this game, you can read basic information in Spanish about each planet.
Doki descubre los planetas (Doki discovers the planets) is a video that talks about the eight planets and their distinctive features.

Solar System in Spanish: Educational Books

El sistema solar is a nonfiction picture book in Spanish introduces children to the solar system.

De vuelta a casa is the story of a little boy and a martian that he meets on the moon.

Cómo atrapar una estrella is a cute book about how to catch a star.

El Universo (Mi Pequeño Enciclopedia) offers basic information about the universe.

Llevé a la Luna A Pasear is a fun story about taking the moon for a walk.

¿Cual es tu Planeta Favorito?

What’s your favorite planet (besides Earth), and why? What other methods have you used to teach kids about the solar system in Spanish? Leave a comment and let me know!

Want more amazing (and free) Spanish resources? Check these out!

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Michelle Margaret Fajkus

Editor & Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

Michelle Margaret Fajkus is a bilingual writer and longtime yoga teacher. A former advertising copywriter turned bilingual elementary school teacher, she is now a freelance writer, editor and translator. A native Texan, Michelle has Mexican roots and learned Spanish in middle and high school. She has become more fluent thanks to living as an expat in Guatemala. She lives with her family on beautiful Lake Atitlan. Learn more about Michelle and her work at yogafreedom.org.