How can I make a 3-D solar system model without buying a kit?

Question

I have styrofoam balls and wire from a kit, but I lost the box which has all of the directions on how to put it together. I've searched the net but am more confused now! This is for a 5th grader.

Answer 1

Why don't you buy another kit so you can use the instructions, and then return it to the store when you are done ;)

Answer 2

First off; if this is a science project for your 5th grader, it is their project, why are you doing it? Let them make the project for their grade. (if not then never mind my rant about parents doing the STUDENT'S WORK)

Anyways what I would do is align the wires from shortest to longest. They probably all stick in the largest ball somehow (which is the sun) Then I would organize the rest of the balls according to the ir size. Like I said earlier, the largest ball is the sun. The other ones are the nine (or 8 depending on your view of pluto.) Then start matching them up with the respective wire. For example, jupiter is the largest planet. It is also the 5th planet from the sun. So take the largest planet that is not the sun, and put it on the wire that is the 5th from the sun. Saturn is the 2nd largest and 6th from the sun, so you would take the 2nd largest and put it on the wire that extends 6th from the sun.

Hope this helps. Good luck!!

Answer 3

Go to WalMart (or any other store where they sell craft items) and go into the section where they have the stuff for making flower arrangements. Look for styrofoam balls of different sizes and some paint. Also get a styrofoam base and some florist wire (wire coat hangers might work, too). You probably won't find all the sizes you need but it would be a good start. Try the toy section, too, for bouncing balls, etc. Then, (after you paint them to look like the planets) use the florist wire (or coat hangers, straightened out) to attach the planets to the base in the proper arrangement. Stick one end of one wire into the bottom of each ball and stick the other end into the base (this is where it might be difficult to use rubber bouncing balls because the florist wire might be too flimsy to support them). You get the idea.

Answer 4

Get a large cardboard box and cut out two of the side panels. Start by painting the balls. Glue the sun in the back corner of the box. Draw the outward circles and paste the balls in the right order. You could also use black construction paper to line the box and a silver gel pen to draw on stars.

Answer 5

www.homeschoolscience.com/
favorites/solar_system_model.html

www.kolias.com/education/
solarsystem.htm

results.about.com/
solar_system

lovetolearnplace.com/Links/
Science/index.html