By Steph Radabaugh, updated August 30, 2022
Step into a typical elementary or high‑school science classroom and you’ll often see a model of the solar system. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or enthusiast, creating one with your children is a hands‑on way to spark curiosity about astronomy. With inexpensive supplies, you can assemble a visually accurate model in under an hour.
Arrange nine foam balls on a table to represent the sun plus the eight planets (add a tenth for Pluto if you wish). Choose sizes that reflect real proportions: imagine the Sun as a beach ball—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Pluto would then be pea‑sized; Jupiter would resemble a softball; Saturn a baseball; and Uranus and Neptune a golf ball. Paint each sphere, adding rings to Saturn. Allow the paint to dry before moving on.
Cut a 12‑inch circle from a sturdy cardboard box. Mark the center with a black dot, then use a compass to draw concentric orbit paths. Punch a hole at the center for the sun and one hole on each orbit line for the planets, spacing them to avoid crowding. The holes will later hold fishing line.
Punch a hole in the upper half of each foam ball. Cut 12‑ to 16‑inch lengths of clear fishing line. Thread a piece of line through a ball, knot it, and then feed the other end through the corresponding orbital hole, securing it to the cardboard with tape. Repeat for the sun and all planets.
Make four evenly spaced holes along the edge of the cardboard circle. Tie a 12‑inch segment of fishing line to each, then join the four ends together. Attach a fifth line to this bundle to create a mobile effect. Hang the entire assembly from the ceiling and watch the planets drift in their orbits.
Use yarn instead of fishing line for a lighter feel, and consider flat, colored construction‑paper planets to cut costs.
Adult supervision is recommended when drilling holes with a skewer. Never suspend the model directly above a light source.
