Has anyone built a 3-D model of our solar system?

Question

My daughter is entered in her school science fair. She is in 1st grade and has decided to build a model of the solar system. We have looked up facts about the planets already. I was wondering what would be the easiest way to make a solar system model with a 6 year old? I have a couple of ideas but Id like some more. Do you have instructions that are easy to follow and ideas that arent really expensive? Thank you

Answer 1

I remember this project....2nd grade.....yikes!

I think we used different sized styrofoam balls and wire...painted the planets the appropriate colors....the sun was in the middle....It's a vague memory, but really cool!!!

Answer 2

basketballs, paper mached, then painted resting on a circular metal frame. Marbles, fruit for a smaller model, anything really, but the more creative and specific you get the better it will look. They have holographs models, but are really expensive. Maybe circular balloons, filled up to desired size, painted, and hung from, the ceiling in desired areas. That would probably be the cheapest, use fishing string or something really thin would be the best, try to go for the invisible aspect. Walmart sells fishing line. The less poundace capacity for the fishing line is the best. Thin 1 pound fishing line is somewhat invisible.

Answer 3

Actually yes, I think that if I am thinking correctly, Sir Issac Newton had built a Three Dimentional model of the solar system to prove a point of gravity.

Answer 4

I did something similar with my daughter a year or so ago.
I tried to show the vastness of space, and had styrafoam balls on a fish line. The first 3 balls were close to the sun, but then the distances became so vast that Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus were the other side if the room.

Answer 5

ooooohhhh!!!!!!ME!!!ME!!! in second grade we did that....I forgot what we used