Clay Solar System
Today we are making a model that is out of this world! Educational posters and models are a good way to keep learning materials around the house – especially in your child’s bedroom. This project is a perfect self-made, informative art piece for your kid’s wall.
Materials
Poster Board
Paint (All colors including black)
Glitter paint
Hot glue gun
The solar system is made of the sun and the planets. The sun is actually a big star. The planets in order from the sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Pluto is sometimes not classified as a planet, so you can opt out of including it if you want. Click on this link for more on each planet. A great way to remember the order of the planets is to learn this little saying: “My very educated mother just served us nine pizzas.”
Directions
Step 1: Paint the poster board black for the sky. Use the glitter paint to make it shiny and bold.
Step 2: Mold the planets and make sure you are sizing them correctly relative to one another.
A sample range when considering sizes for planets, from large to small, might measure:
Mercury (orange): 1 inch
Venus (yellow): 2 inches
Earth (blue): 2 inches
Mars (red): 1 and 1/2 inches
Jupiter (brownish with a red spot): 4-7 inches
Saturn (yellow with red ring): 3- 6 inches
Uranus (green): 4-5 inches
Neptune (blue): 3-4 inches
If you want to include Pluto (gray): ½ inch
Step 3: Paint the planets. Make sure to paint them in colors that are close to what they look like (ie: paint the Earth with blue and green)
Step 4: Let everything dry
Step 5: Glue the planets to the poster board in order of distance from the sun.
Example of finished products can be found here.
Tag @themodernteacher when you make your solar systems!
