Many children's books can be used in a unit on the solar system. The Magic School Bus series includes two books written about the planets and outer space. "Lost in the Solar System" and "Out of This World" are sure to engage second graders learning about space. "Postcards from Pluto" by Loreen Leedy and "Out in Space" by Tim Wood are other books that will supplement your curriculum.
Create an edible model of the solar system with paper plates, cake frosting and candy. Draw the planet's orbits onto paper plates. Have students use the frosting to glue candy, one piece per orbit, onto the plate. Vary the candy sizes and colors so that they are similar to the planets they represent. Children can also build a model of the solar system using different sized Styrofoam balls that are painted to represent the planets. Hang the balls with fishing line from a paint stick, available at your local hardware store. Make sure planets are placed in the correct order.
Divide students into eight groups and assign each group a planet. Tell them to pretend they are travel agents that specialize in their specific planet. Their job is to convince others to travel to that part of the solar system. Each group should present the information they have learned about that planet, whether from class discussion or from books that have been read, to the rest of the class. Students can also work together to create a mural of the solar system on the classroom wall.
Play Astronomy Jeopardy to review facts learned about the solar system. Divide students into two teams. Give each team a bell or buzzer. Read a fact about a planet. The first team that rings in may say the answer, but it must be in question form. For example, if the teacher reads "The largest planet in the solar system." the team must answer, "What is Jupiter?" Another review game is played much like the traditional memory matching game. Students must match the picture of the planet with the planet's name card.