Planet Cards
Published on: June 17, 2013
Planet Cards: The 8 Major Planets of Our Solar System
One of the most beautiful aspects of Montessori education is the way it invites children to explore the universe with wonder and reverence. These planet cards are designed to help your child explore, classify, and fall in love with the eight major planets that orbit our Sun.
In the Montessori classroom, we often present astronomy as part of the Great Lessons. Planet cards serve as a hands-on material that children can touch, sort, match, and study independently.
Free Printout: Major Planet Cards
Print them on cardstock, laminate for durability, and they'll become a treasured part of your Montessori shelf.
Download Major Planet Cards (PDF)
A Journey Through the Eight Planets
Mercury — The Swift Messenger
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the Sun. A year on Mercury lasts just 88 Earth days.
Venus — Earth's Fiery Twin
Venus has a thick, toxic atmosphere creating a runaway greenhouse effect, making it the hottest planet in our solar system.
Earth — Our Home
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet to support life. To learn more, visit our Earth Science lesson.
Mars — The Red Planet
Mars gets its reddish color from iron oxide on its surface. It is home to Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system. Mars is the outermost of the inner planets.
Jupiter — The Giant King
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, famous for its Great Red Spot. Jupiter is the first of the outer planets.
Saturn — The Ringed Wonder
Saturn is famous for its spectacular ring system made of billions of particles of ice and rock.
Uranus — The Tilted Planet
Uranus is an ice giant that rotates on its side, nearly perpendicular to its orbit.
Neptune — The Windy Blue World
Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun with the strongest winds of any planet.
How to Use Planet Cards
- Three-Part Cards: Print two sets for matching activities.
- Ordering by Distance: Arrange cards from closest to farthest from the Sun.
- Sorting by Type: Classify as terrestrial or gas/ice giants — connects to our Inner and Outer Planets lesson.
- Solar System Layout: Combine with our Sun card and dwarf planet cards for a complete display.
Recommended Materials
- Safari Ltd Solar System Figurine Set — Beautifully detailed planet models.
- National Geographic Kids First Big Book of Space