Learn all about our amazing star with this Parts of the Sun Printable Pack! Kids can label, match, and explore the Sun’s layers while discovering how it powers our solar system. Perfect for classroom, homeschool, or STEM lessons, this free pack makes astronomy hands-on and fun.
Parts of the Sun for Kids
The Sun’s energy drives Earth’s weather patterns, ocean currents, and the water cycle, while also enabling photosynthesis in plants. Without the Sun, life on Earth wouldn’t exist!
- Field of Science: Astronomy, Earth & Space Science
- Grade Level: Grades 2 – 5
Concepts Explored:
- Layers and structure of the Sun
- The Sun’s role in the solar system
- Solar energy and heat transfer
- Sun safety and real-world connections
Supplies Needed
- Free Parts of the Sun Printable Pack (download below)
- Scissors
- Glue stick or tape
- Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
How to Use the Sun Printable Pack
1. Anatomy of the Sun Labeling Activity:
Students label each part of the Sun and learn its function.
2. Parts of the Sun Matching Activity:
Match each description to the correct layer.
3. The Sun’s Role in the Solar System:
Use the cause-and-effect chart to see how the Sun affects gravity, light, heat, and the water cycle.
4. Sun Facts Page:
Read and discuss fun science facts about our nearest star.
5. Sun Safety Matching:
Match sun-safe objects to their descriptions (hat, sunscreen, water, sunglasses).
6. Creative Writing Prompt:
Describe what life on Earth would be like without the Sun!
Parts of the Sun Information
The Sun is a medium-sized star made mostly of hydrogen and helium gases. Deep inside the core, hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium through nuclear fusion. This reaction releases tremendous amounts of energy as heat and light.
Energy travels outward through the radiative zone and the convection zone before reaching the photosphere, the visible surface we see from Earth. Above that are the chromosphere and corona—the Sun’s outer layers that can be seen during a solar eclipse (free printable).
Layers of the Sun:
- Core: The hottest central region where nuclear fusion happens.
- Radiative Zone: Energy moves outward as electromagnetic radiation.
- Convection Zone: Hot gases rise and cool gases sink, creating convection currents.
- Photosphere: The Sun’s visible surface; where sunlight escapes into space.
- Chromosphere: A thin red layer seen during solar eclipses.
- Corona: The Sun’s outer atmosphere, visible as a bright halo during an eclipse.
☀️ Fun Fact: Even though the Sun is 93 million miles away, its light reaches Earth in just about eight minutes!
NGSS Guiding Questions
| NGSS Question | Concept Focus |
|---|---|
| What is the Sun and why is it important to Earth? | The Sun is a star that provides energy, light, and heat necessary for life on Earth. |
| What are the main parts of the Sun? | Students identify and label the layers such as the core, radiative zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. |
| How does the Sun affect our planet? | Students identify and label the layers, such as the core, radiative zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. |
Make It an Earth Science Project
Turn the printable pack into a science project by asking:
- How does the Sun’s energy reach Earth?
- What would happen if one layer of the Sun stopped working properly?
- Can we model how energy moves from the core to the surface?
☀️ Encourage students to create a 3D model of the Sun using colored clay or construction paper layers. Check out our Playdough Earth Layer Model as a sample.
Free Parts of the Sun Worksheets
Get started today with these free parts of the sun worksheets here.
More Sun Science Facts for Kids
- The Sun is about 4.6 billion years old.
- It makes up 99.8% of the total mass of our solar system.
- The Sun has no solid surface and no moons.
- Its gravity keeps all the planets orbiting in place.
More Sun Activities for Kids
🔎 Check out our complete Astronomy for Kids collection here.
- Solar Oven Experiment: Use sunlight to melt marshmallows or chocolate and explore solar energy.
- Solar System Model: Add the Sun to your planet model for a full system view.
- Energy Experiment: Explore how sunlight warms different surfaces.
- Photosynthesis Activity: Connect how sunlight helps plants make food.
Printable Science Packs for Kids
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