Painted Solar System Mobile

You will need

• Wire coat hangerOne; bend into a wider horizontal oval before starting

  Bend the hanger ends with pliers or tape sharp tips before giving it to the child — wire tips can scratch.

• NewspaperEight full sheets for crumpling into planet balls
• Masking tapeTo wrap each ball and help it hold a round shape
• Washable tempera paintAs many colors as possible: blue, red, orange, tan, white, brown, gray
• PaintbrushesA fine brush for Jupiter's bands and Saturn's rings, a broader one for solid planets
• String or thick threadAbout 3 feet (90 cm) total; cut into eight pieces of varying lengths
• ScissorsFor cutting string
• A cup of water and scrap paperFor rinsing brushes between colors; scrap paper for test strokes
• Small paper stripoptionalOptional; cut into a ring shape to glue or tape around Saturn
• Permanent markeroptionalAdult use only; to label each planet's name on the string if desired

  Use only for labeling and only as the adult — keep the cap on when not in use and store away from the child.

Steps

1. 1

   Shape and tape the planet balls

   Crumple each newspaper sheet into a tight ball. Vary the sizes — Jupiter should be noticeably the biggest, Mercury the smallest. Wrap each ball in masking tape until it feels firm and roughly round. Lay them out in size order.

   Tip: Eight balls is a lot; do this step while talking about planet facts together to keep it interesting.

2. 2

   Paint the inner planets

   Set out the four smallest balls — Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. Mercury is gray, Venus is pale yellowish tan, Earth is blue with white swirls and a brown or green patch, Mars is rusty red-orange. Let each ball dry before the child handles it again.

   Tip: A second coat of paint after 10 minutes dries quickly with tempera and covers the newsprint fully.

3. 3

   Paint the outer planets

   Jupiter is the largest: tan and orange with thin horizontal brown stripes painted with a fine brush, and a red oval dot for the Great Red Spot. Saturn is pale yellow. Uranus is pale blue-green. Neptune is a deeper blue. Encourage the child to look at a book or ask you questions about what they are painting.

   Tip: Jupiter's bands do not have to be perfect — four or five horizontal brown stripes on tan is convincing.

4. 4

   Add Saturn's rings

   Cut a strip of scrap paper or card stock into a wide oval ring. Paint it tan or pale gold, let it dry, then cut a small slit in it so it can slip over the Saturn ball and sit at a slight angle, like the real rings. Tape it in place. This one detail makes the mobile unmistakably recognizable.

   Tip: If the ring is floppy, layer two paper strips glued together before cutting the oval.

5. 5

   Tie string to each planet

   Cut eight pieces of string, from about 4 inches up to 10 inches, varying the lengths so planets hang at different heights. Wrap a piece around each ball twice and tie a firm double knot. Leave a loop at the other end for hanging. The knot will grip the masking tape well.

   Tip: Stay alongside for this step — double knots around a round ball are genuinely tricky for most children.

6. 6

   Hang planets in solar system order

   Tie each planet to the hanger wire in order outward from the hook end: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, then a gap, then Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Space them roughly evenly. Hold the hanger up and let the child adjust string lengths until the mobile hangs roughly level.

   Tip: Heavier outer planet balls will pull the hanger; slide them toward the center slightly to help balance.

7. 7

   Hang and label

   Hang the finished mobile from a curtain rod, ceiling hook, or door frame. If the child wants labels, you (the adult) can write each planet name in permanent marker on a small piece of masking tape and stick it to the string above the planet. Step back and let the child count them in order.

   Tip: A door frame with no door works well — tie string to both sides and drape the hanger between them.

Take it to the table

Materials checklist, the steps and the variations on one Letter page.