By Cara Murphy, Updated Mar 24, 2022
By fifth grade, students should be able to name the eight planets that orbit the Sun. A hands‑on solar system model helps them visualize each planet’s relative size and position, and can be a lively demonstration of orbital motion.
Select nine foam balls—one for the Sun and eight for the planets (add a ninth for Pluto if your curriculum still recognizes it). Because the scale is impossible to replicate with foam, use the largest ball you can find for the Sun. Arrange the planetary balls from largest to smallest: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars, and Mercury. If you include Pluto, place it at the end as the smallest orb.
Paint each ball to reflect the planet’s typical appearance: Sun – bright yellow; Mercury – dark yellow; Venus – mottled gray; Earth – swirling blue and white; Mars – muted red; Jupiter – orange‑tinted bands; Saturn – yellow with a subtle purple stripe; Uranus – pale blue; Neptune – deep blue; Pluto – gray. A quick color cue makes the model visually engaging.
Create Saturn’s rings by cutting a ring shape from poster board, painting it to match Saturn, and gluing it to the center of the Saturn ball.
Attach each ball to a chopstick that has been inserted into a 9‑by‑2‑foot foam board, spaced 1 foot apart. Place the Sun first, then follow the order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, (Pluto). The chopsticks serve as orbital paths.
Paint the foam board black and dust it with silver glitter to mimic distant stars.
Use 170 round beads to represent moons. Attach each bead to the foam board near its parent planet, or attach beads to the end of a pipe cleaner and insert the pipe cleaner into the planet to illustrate orbital motion. Planetary moon counts: Earth – 1, Mars – 2, Jupiter – 63, Saturn – 61, Uranus – 27, Neptune – 13, Pluto – 3. Note that new moons are discovered regularly.
Invite classmates to hold the planetary balls and demonstrate their orbits. Those with Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars move quickly close to the Sun; the student with Jupiter moves more slowly; Saturn’s motion is half the speed of Jupiter; Uranus and Neptune walk further out; Pluto moves very slowly along the outermost edge.
Create a model that shows proportionate size by cutting planets out of large pieces of art paper and posting them on hallway walls or drawing outlines of them on the floor with colored tape.
