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Make your very own book about the planets!
Skill Level: 
Time Needed: 1 1/2 hours
Age(s): 8 to 12
Supplies Needed:
- Elmer's Washable School Glue™Stick
- Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens™
- Paint
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Clear Tape
- Internet (to find images of the planets)
Project Rating:
Instructions
- Search the Internet for images of the following planets and dwarf planet: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Print a black and white image of each planet.
- Paint the planet images using Elmer's Paintastics™ paint colors. Let the paint dry completely.
- Research and gather facts about each planet. Some good information to include is the planet's size, surface temperature, ordinal position from the Sun, and distance from the Earth. Write the information that you gather for each planet on a 3" by 5" note card.
- Gather six sheets of red construction paper, six sheets of green construction paper, and six sheets of blue construction paper. Fold each sheet of paper in half widthwise. Unfold the sheets of paper.
- Cover one half of a sheet of blue construction paper with glue. Place one half of a sheet of red construction paper over the glue. Cover the other half of the sheet of red construction paper with glue. Place one half of a sheet of green construction paper over the glue. Make sure to arrange the sheets of paper so that the folds are going the correct way. You want the pages of the book to fold back and forth like and accordian. (Students might recognize this style of folding as the "hamburger" style.)
- Continue gluing half sheets of paper together until you ahve used all 18 sheets. Let the glue dry completely.
- Illustrate the cover of your book. On the blue side of the cover page, draw a background of stars using Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens™. Attach an image of a planet with glue. Title the book "The Planets.".
- Illustrate each page of the book. Attach images of the planets and the 3" by 5" note cards with glue. Embellish the pages with Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens. Let the paint dry completely.
- Display your book for others to see! Lay it flat or fold it out to display all of the planets.
- Are students familiar with the term dwarf planet? If not, explain it to them. In August of 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) re-categorized Pluto as a dwarf planet. A dwarf planet is a celestial body that 1) orbits around the Sun 2) has a nearly round shape 3) has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit and 4) is not a satellite. There are currently four dwarf planets. Have students research and identify each one.
- Talk about how distances and measurements in space are gigantic. Compare the different diameters and masses of the planets. Discuss the planets' distances from the Sun. Use the large measurements as an opportunity to talk about exponents as a shortened way to show numbers.
- Encourage students to select their favorite planet. Ask students to write a brief report on the planet. Then, have students create a 3D model of the planet using paper mache or a Styrofoam™ ball. Display students' reports and models around the classroom.
