Making a model of the solar system is a project that nearly every child must complete at least once in her life. The wire hanger solar system mobile is a tried and true method of making a mock solar system. Use foam balls of varying shapes to achieve the size scale necessary to create the solar system. Try to add as much realism to the planets as possible for the best results. Cover the hanger in tiny stars cut from card stock to give the mobile a more finished appearance.
- Foam balls of various sizes
- Spray paint
- Card stock paper
- Scissors
- Wire hanger
- Fishing line
- Bamboo skewer
- 1/2-inch flat washers
- Wire hanger
- Craft glue
Spray paint each foam ball in the appropriate colors and patterns. Use yellow for the sun, gray for Mercury, blue and green for the Earth, red for Mars, orange and white for Jupiter, yellow for Saturn, light blue for Uranus and dark blue for Neptune. You can also include the dwarf planet Pluto, which used to be considered one of the main planets in the solar system, but now is a controversial planet. If you use Pluto, spray paint it gray.
Cut out a circle of paper to fit over Saturn and glue the rings around the planet.
Poke a hole through the center of each planet with a bamboo skewer.
Tie a length of fishing line to eight different washers. Thread the end of each fishing line through the hole in the center of each planet. Tie the other end of the fishing line to a wire hanger. Arrange the planets in the correct order.
Adjust the lengths of the strings so that the planets don't hit each other.
Cut out paper stars from card stock paper. Glue the stars onto the hanger with craft glue.
Things You'll Need
About the Author
Brenda Priddy has more than 10 years of crafting and design experience, as well as more than six years of professional writing experience. Her work appears in online publications such as Donna Rae at Home, Five Minutes for Going Green and Daily Mayo. Priddy also writes for Archstone Business Solutions and holds an Associate of Arts in English from McLennan Community College.
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