*Now that you have gathered all you information, you need to combine your information from the two websites.
*You will be making a three by five note card for each planet. The things I expect to see on each note card are:
1. Name of planet
2. The planets placement among other planets in relevance to the sun (Ex. fourth planet from the sun).
3. You should have the size of the planet and may want to include something about the time it takes for the planet to make a full orbit around the sun, or the time it takes to make a full rotation.
4. At least two characteristics of the planet which may include something about the physical appearance of the planet, does it have mountain, does it have rings.
5. Feel free to include any facts about the planets that you found interesting and that you think may be interesting to others.
The second part of the project will be constructing your very own SOLAR SYSTEM!!
* You will be given ten different sized styrofoam balls, nine different length rods, one metal hook, a piece of string, several pipe cleaners and paint.
1. Based on your information you gathered, you need to first determine which ball is meant to represent which planet. (Hint: knowing the planets size will help determine what ball you will need to use. Smallest ball smallest planet.)
2.After you have determined the planet each ball will represent, you should be sure to label them so you don't get them mixed up.
3. Once you have done steps one and two you will begin painting your planets. They should be painted with similar colors to the planet it is suppose to represent. You will need to look back on the notes you took when observing the pictures to decide how each planet should be painted. and what are the physical characteristics of it. The pipe cleaners can be used for the rings on any planets you observe that have them.
4. After you have completed the painting of your planets you will now construct what is called a mobile, a way to display your solar system. You will use the metal rods of different links you have been given to connect the planets to the sun. You will need to match the different length rods to the planets based on there distance from the sun (the closest planet to the sun needs to have the shortest rod and so on).
5. Then you will need to gently (gently or you may break one of your planets) push one end if the rod into the planet until it is hooked on it and then connect the other end of the rod to the sun which should be your center. Do this with all your planets. Be sure to place the planets in different locations around the outside of the sun.
6.When all planets are connected to the sun you will then take your metal hook provided and push it into the top of the sun. Take your string and tie it around the hook so your mobile can be hung.
7. The last step is to pin the note cards you created, based on your information, to the planets.
*Know hang you project and be proud that you created your own version of the solar system, that you now have a better understanding of.
