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Paper Planets

Created: 2025-01-13

Author(s):
Livia Giacomini (INAF), Francesco Aloisi (Speak Science), Federica Duras (INAF)

Ever dreamed of bringing the planets to life? In this fun and interactive activity, students will color and craft their own versions of the Solar System. They'll start by exploring fascinating facts about each planet, using vibrant images for inspiration. Then, with a little creativity and some basic materials, they'll color, cut out and assemble a carousel featuring the Sun and all the planets in order. An hands-on project that not only sparks imagination but also deepens our understanding of our celestial neighborhood to increase our love for science and teamwork!

Materials

Paper planets to be colored both in A3 or A4 format. You can print them on heavy paper or on normal paper and then glue them on heavy paper (see attachments PaperPlanets-A4-ToBeColored.pdf and PaperPlanets-A3-ToBeColored.pdf)
Paper planets: a pdf file with the Sun, the planets and other celestial objects represented in true colors (PaperPlanets-A4-TrueImages.pdf.
A ppt presentation to introduce the Solar System -optional (see attachment PaperPlanets-presentation.ppt )
Heavy paper and glue (optional)
Scissors
Colors
A pin or a nail
A string to attach all the planets.

Image: the sheet of Paper Planets to be colored

OPTIONAL: An online free tool can also be used to give an introduction to the planets and the Solar System (see additional information)

Goals

Have fun getting acquainted with the Sun and planets
Become curious about the sky and nature around us

Learning Objectives

the difference between stars and planets and what is our Solar System
the names and the main characteristics of the planets, being able to recognise them
the right order of the planets in the Solar System

Background

Our solar system is a vast and fascinating part of the universe which includes the Sun and eight unique planets.

Our star, the Sun, contains almost the entire mass of the solar system and everything that orbits around it.

Each planet has its own characteristics and features.

The first four planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are known as terrestrial planets because they have solid surfaces.
Mercury: The closest planet to the Sun, Mercury, is also the smallest one. It is rocky and characterised by extreme temperatures, due to the fact that its atmosphere is very thin and cannot retain the Sun's heat. For this reason the areas exposed to the Sun are very hot, those in the shade very cold.
Venus: Contrary to Mercury, Venus is known for its thick, toxic atmosphere and scorching heat which makes it the hottest and most luminous planet in the solar system. Venus is similar in size to Earth but very different in other ways.
Earth: Our home planet, Earth, is the only place known to harbour life. It has water, diverse landscapes and a supportive atmosphere.
Mars: The red planet, Mars, is famous for its red colour caused by iron oxide (or rust) on its surface. It has the largest volcano and canyon in the solar system and is a target for many space exploration missions.

Beyond Mars lies the asteroid belt, with rocky celestial objects of different sizes and shapes.

The outermost planets are much larger than the inner ones. They are cold, gaseous (Jupiter and Saturn) and icy (Uranus and Neptune).
Jupiter: The largest planet, Jupiter is a gas giant with a powerful magnetic field and more than one hundred moons. Its immense size (you could fill about 1400 Earths inside Jupiter) and gravity attract many objects, such as asteroids and comets, protecting the inner planets from potential impacts.
Saturn: Famous for its stunning rings made of pieces of ice, dust and rocks, Saturn is another gas giant with a complex system of moons.
Uranus: An ice giant, Uranus has a unique blue-green color due to methane in its atmosphere. It orbits the Sun in a strange way, almost lying on its side, which makes it look like it is tumbling through space.
Neptune: The farthest planet from the Sun, Neptune is known for its deep blue color and the strongest winds in the solar system.

By understanding our Solar System, we gain a better appreciation of the wonders of space and the place of our own planet within it.

If you want to know more:

https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System

Full Description

Before the activity

print Paper Planets to be colored (A4 or A3) on heavy paper, 1 set for each student. You can also print them on normal paper and then glue the printed pages on heavy paper.
OPTIONAL: you can also print the Paper Planets in true colors as a template or to use it to build a Solar System with true astronomical images.

Image: the sheet of Paper Planets with true images

Introduction to the planets and the Solar System

Introduce the planets and the Solar System: you can use the provided presentation with true images. You can also use other books, images or websites to introduce in your classroom the planets. You can also organize an interactive lesson using a sofware to navigate the Solar System (see additional information).

Coloring your Solar System

Give one set of printed planets to each student, inviting them to observe the printed true images of the Sun, the planets and the asteroids and then color them.
You can invite them to get inspiration from the true images and make a portrait of the celestial bodies OR to make their own private version of them, changing colors.

Image: a very personal version of the Solar System

Building your Solar System carousel

Once they have printed the bodies of the Solar System, ask the students to cut them with the scissors.
Make a small hole with the pin in the black spot of the cut out planets (you might want to do this yourself).
Ask the children to build the carousel putting the Sun and the planets on the string in the right order.

OPTIONAL: Solar System carousel with astronomical images

You can also print the Paper Planets in the true colored images version (see attachements) and cut it to build an alternative carousel with true astronomical colors.

Image: the carousel built with true astronomical images

Evaluation

To evaluate the understanding of the scientific content, you can ask questions or make direct observations to evaluate the following topics:

Can students name the planets and their order from the Sun?
Do they demonstrate an understanding of key characteristics of each planet?
Are the color choices imaginative and inspired by the true images?
Is the carousel assembled correctly, demonstrating attention to detail?

After the activity you can also conduct a short group discussion to gather feedback on what they enjoyed and learned. This can help reinforce concepts and allow for reflection on the creative process.

Curriculum

This activity can be related to:

Science Exploration: Introduces basic astronomy concepts, helping understand the Solar System, the characteristics of planets, and their relationships.
Creative Arts: Encourages artistic expression through coloring and crafting, supporting fine motor skills and creativity.
Mathematics: Offers opportunities for understanding concepts like size, order, and distance through hands-on activities.
Social Skills: Promotes teamwork and collaboration if done in groups, enhancing social interaction and communication skills.
Critical Thinking: Encourages observational skills and decision-making as children choose colors and design their planets.

Additional Information

In this activity you can also organize an interactive visit to the planets of the Solar System using a sofwtare to navigate the Solar System.

We propose:

https://www.solarsystemscope.com/ a free online tool very easy to use and that doesn't need to be downladed
https://celestiaproject.space a very complete software (also with spacecrafts and other information) that you will need to download.

Image: the SolarSystemScope webpage

Educational Activity

Originally developed in

Italy

Keywords

planets sun solar system