Learning Map
ScienceSpace Explorationusually ages 7–9

The Sun is a star

Know that the Sun is a star — the closest star to Earth — and that it is at the centre of our solar system, with all eight planets orbiting around it

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

Does your child know that the Sun is actually a star — just a very close one — and that the planets go around it?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Our Solar Systemages 5–7Must know about the solar system before learning the Sun is at its centre
Sun, Moon & Starsages 5–7Must know the Sun is a sky object before learning it is a star
The Sun is a starthis skill · ages 7–9
Unlocks
Earth's Spin & Orbitages 7–9Must know the Sun-centred system before understanding Earth's rotation and orbit within it
The Eight Planetsages 7–9Must know the Sun is the centre before naming planets in order from it
Life Cycle of Starsages 9–11Must know the Sun is a star before learning about star life cycles
The Vast Scale of Spaceages 9–11Must know the Sun is a star in our solar system before scaling up to galaxy and universe
Why the Sun Looks Brightestages 9–11Must know the Sun is a star before understanding why it appears brighter than other stars
How Telescopes Workages 7–9Understanding the Sun as a star motivates learning about telescopes for studying other stars

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 1 ACARA · 2 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9S2U01medium confidenceYear 2 · Science understanding

recognise Earth is a planet in the solar system and identify patterns in the changing position of the sun, moon, planets and stars in the sky

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2S2U08medium confidenceScience · Foundation to Level 2 · Science Understanding strand
VC2S6U07low confidenceScience · Levels 5 and 6 · Science Understanding strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Asteroids, Comets & Dwarf Planetsages 7–9 Earth's Spin & Orbitages 7–9 How Telescopes Workages 7–9 Planet Featuresages 7–9

All Space Exploration skills →