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This activity may come in handy for a science project!

What You’ll Need

heavy-duty paper plate
green paper
scissors
cereal box
1-inch Styrofoam ball
aluminum foil
paints
paintbrushes
paper fastener
masking tape
glue
optional: wire

Instructions

1. Paint the face of the paper plate blue. Allow to dry completely.

2. Meanwhile, cut continent shapes from green paper. Alternatively, photocopy or scan and print an illustration of the continents from a book. Glue to the paper plate. Now the plate looks like planet Earth.

3. Cut the cereal box into a long rectangle shape, about 2 inches wide and at least 8 inches long. Fasten one end into the center of the paper plate using a paper fastener.

4. Make a moon by covering the Styrofoam ball with aluminum foil. Place strips of masking tape on one side of the ball. Apply glue to the masking tape then attach that side to the exposed end of the cereal cardboard. Let dry completely.

5. Now you have a model of planet Earth with a moon orbiting it!

You can also use a styrofoam ball to create Earth! Use a larger styrofoam ball and photocopy and print the illustration of the continents from a book. Cut the paper so it will wrap around the ball by cutting into the top and bottom edges of the paper. Attach with glue and instead of attaching the moon with a piece of cardboard, attach the Earth and moon to different sides of a wire. You can then show the moon circling the Earth as well as the Earth rotating!

Submitted by Leximom