How to Make a Solar System Model for Science Class

Making a solar system for a 3rd or 4th grade school project can be fun and educational!

Things You'll Need

• Wooden planks (1" wide)
• Styrofoam balls
• Acrylic paint
• 1 3/8" Wood dowel
• Small nails
• 3/8" washers
• 3/8" drill bit

Instructions

1. 

   Paint your styrofoam balls in accordance with the planet size and color. Also take this time to build the base of your model. You should cut two one-inch planks and glue them at a 90 degree and drill a 3/8" hole at the intersection to insert the wood dowel. Once the dowel is inserted, take a piece of scrap and use it as a bottom stopper for the planets by drilling a 3/8" hole in it and gluing it 6" above your base. Ensure the dowel extends at least 18 inches from the bottom of the base.

2. 

   Once your planets are dry, cut a three inch plank from your one-inch wide board. Drill a hole one-half inch from the edge and nail a small nail one-half inch from the other end and insert Mercury into the nail. Place a wood plank under this plank and estimate the length you will need for Venus to not touch Mercury and cut the plank giving adequate room for the hole and the nail. Repeat this process for each planet. If you are using the same size balls for each planet this will be easy, if they vary to be more accurate you must be careful to give adequate room for the larger planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus) and do not forget to consider the rings of Saturn.

3. 

   Remove the planets from the planks and paint the base and planks black. Drill a hole in the bottom of the sun.

4. 

   Once everything is dry, insert a washer at the stopper and slide the longest plank on the dowel. Insert the planet (Pluto) on the nail. Place a washer on top of the plank and repeat this process inserting the longest plank to the shortest with a washer in between each.

5. 

   Slide the Sun on the top of the dowel and you have a fully operational independent planet rotating solar system perfect for a grade school science project.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan ahead of time for supplies and painting.

• Let your child paint and assemble the finished product.

• vary this design to meet your preferences.

• Unlike its metal predecessor, you can not place all the planet on one side as a 3/8" wood dowel will lean.