Solar System Mobile
Ages 8-1445-60 minutesMedium Difficulty
About This Activity
Design and create a colorful hanging mobile of our solar system while learning about the planets, their relative sizes, and positions from the sun.
Materials Needed
- Cardboard or paper plates
- String or yarn
- Paints or markers
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Wooden dowel or hanger
- Reference pictures of planets (optional)
- Glitter or decorative materials (optional)
Safety Notes
- Adult supervision required when using scissors
- Protect work surfaces from paint
- Wash hands after handling craft materials
Instructions
- Cut out circles of different sizes from cardboard or paper plates to represent the sun and planets.
- Paint or color each planet with its characteristic features and colors. Reference pictures if needed.
- Once dry, punch a hole at the top of each planet.
- Cut strings of varying lengths - longer strings for outer planets, shorter for inner planets.
- Tie the strings through the holes in the planets.
- Attach the free ends of the strings to the wooden dowel or hanger, arranging planets in correct order from the sun.
- Hang your completed solar system mobile where it can rotate freely.
How It Works
This craft project helps visualize the order and relative sizes of planets in our solar system. The mobile format allows the planets to move independently, similar to how they orbit around the sun.
Tips for Success
- Make the sun larger than the planets to show proportional size
- Use different colored strings for each planet
- Add rings to Saturn using thin cardboard or paper
- Add small details like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter
- Balance the mobile by adjusting string lengths and planet positions