How to Build a Solar System in Class
Building a solar system model is a fun way to get students of all ages interested in science, math and physics. Students enjoy building things and can use their artistic talents to learn about and explore other planets. You can either build a simple classroom model highlighting the planets in the solar system and their respective positioning or build a model to scale.
Instructions
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Build a "Living Model" Solar System
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Print images of the planets in the solar system and their order for students to use as a reference point (see Resources).
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Create cardboard cutouts for each planet, the sun, significant stars and moons in the solar system. There are enough objects in space that each student should be able to make something or divide the class in teams so each group covers one planet.
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3
Direct the students to color or paint their planets, moons, sun, and stars that will be included in the living solar system. Let the painted cutouts dry completely before handling.
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Have the students line up, holding their solar system cutouts in the correct order. The students holding planet signs can revolve around the student holding the sun sign. If the students have broken into teams, let each team illustrate their model's rotation, or have the teams compete to see who can get in rotation first.
Build a Hanging Model Solar System
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Purchase foam balls from a craft store to build a solar system model.
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Assign each student or team of students a different planet, sun, moon, or celestial body or object in space.
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Instruct the students to paint or decorate the foam balls using arts and crafts supplies.
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8
Hang small models from wire coat hangers bent into mobiles. Hang larger models from the ceiling using string and paperclips, if you have the tile ceilings, or string and screw hooks, if you have regular ceilings.
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Tips & Warnings
Building models of the planets or the solar system appeals to visual learners and kinesthetic learners and will greatly improve the retention of the subject matter for the students in your classroom.
Always use non-toxic arts and craft supplies with small children and supervise them the entire time.
References
Resources
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Comments
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nice intresring I like it.
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l know that this is ciara's picture so y dnt u put yr picture.
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hey caroline u are so beautiful girl l saw u at parktown girls.
