Solar system

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Archive : 2005 : April : 18

Solar system
By Mary

My class makes small models of the solar system using free paint sticks fromn the hardware store as a base.
1. Have students paint the stick with black tempra paint on the top and all sides. Write their name on the
bottom.
2. After school, I spatter paint the sticks with white tempra paint, using an old stiff toothbrush to make tiny white flecks on top of the black, representing the stars in the sky.
3. Students paint 1 1/2 inch styrofoam balls with yellow tempra paint for the sun. Push a toothpick into each ball as a handle while the students are painting to avoid messy hands. I also attach

a small sticky note to each toothpick while they are drying so each person gets his/her own sun back. When dry, remove the toothpick!
4. The planets are made from fimo clay in various colors to represent each planet. Green and blue mixed together for Earth, yellow for jupiter, add a red dot to the side for the big red spot, saturn is red, cur it in half, add a circle of tagboard for the ring and glue it back togetherto create a ball again, use your imagination for the other planet colors.
4. Glue all of the planets and the sun onto the paintstick. Hot glue works well for this.
5. On your computer, write the names of the planets in very small font to add to the very front edge of the paintstick. Cool! These are great for display at Open House!