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Planet Walk

Activity

Mapping the Solar System

How big is the solar system? Use items from around campus to represent planets and walk the distances between our solar system’s planets using the distance conversion below! You can use a clicking trundle wheel to measure the distance between planets or the step guide on the next page.
artwork depicting the solar system planets and sun
artwork of a blue and white planet

Science Seed

The sun is the center of our solar system, with 8 planets orbiting around it at different distances away. It is challenging for the human brain to conceptualize the great distances of space. In this activity, you’ll walk a scaled-down model of the solar system. Every step you take will represent 3.6 million miles in space! You will need a large, open area like a park or playground for this activity.

Steps: Sun to Mercury: Start at the Sun. Take 10 steps, which represents 36 million miles to Mercury. Mercury to Venus: Now, take 9 more steps (total 19 steps). You have now traveled 67 million miles to Venus. Venus to Earth: Take 7 more steps (total 26 steps). You have now reached Earth, 93 million miles from the Sun. Earth to Mars: Take 14 more steps (total 40 steps). You are now 142 million miles from the Sun at Mars. Mars to Jupiter: Take a big leap and go 95 more steps (total 135 steps). You’ve now walked 484 million miles to Jupiter. Jupiter to Saturn: Take 112 more steps (total 247 steps). You’ve traveled 889 million miles to Saturn. Saturn to Uranus: Take 249 more steps (total 496 steps). Now you are 1.8 billion miles from the Sun, at Uranus. Uranus to Neptune: Finally, take 281 more steps (total 777 steps). you are now at Neptune, an incredible 2.8 billion miles away from the Sun! As you walk, think about how far apart the planets really are. This activity shows just how vast our solar system is, with huge distances between each planet, even when scaled down to steps!
botany jar illustration

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Ecologist School Pocket Guide: TSBVI edition is a collaboration between Families in Nature and the Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired as an effort to help our community learn more about the TSBVI campus, while getting outside into nature together! This booklet has 80 lessons across 16 different branches of science to help you play, learn, and volunteer on campus!

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.
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