Make your own pom-pom Solar System Diorama
This month my first grader received the science assignment of making a solar system diorama. Guess if he was excited!
How to make a pom-pom Solar System
For previous assignments we have used foam balls, but this time we were thinking of a different way of making the planets. Yarn has been my kids’ preferable medium lately, so we decided we would try to make pom-poms in different sizes and colors for the planets. Then came the challenge of hanging them. By using a relatively closed box, with a “roof”, so to speak, we were able to hang the planets. We added small lights to make it brighter and also to make it look like stars in the sky.
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Materials needed
- Big box , black/dark blue paint with paint brushes
- Pom pom makers (I bought one at Amazon)
- lots of yarn in various colors
- Scissors
- Small piece of felt to make Saturn rings
- Battery run small Christmas LED lights
- Black duck tape
- Puck light
- Glue gun
- Thin, black thread
- Label maker (optional)
Step-by-step, making the box
Painting
Choose a box and cut if needed. We used a box that was already open on one side and put it upside down.
Paint the box completely in black/dark blue
Stars
Punch small holes into the back and maybe to side and top as well. Make sure you make the holes the same distance as the lights are, so they can fit into the holes (We made some too far apart, so we had to cover the holes up and make a couple of new ones).
Secure the light switch of the Christmas LED lights on top of box using black tape. Then stick each light into one of the holes from the back and put a piece of black tape on top to cover up.
Let there be light
VOILA!!! Now there are stars in the sky!
Making the pom-pom planets
Making pom poms
Start by deciding sizes and colors of the various planets. The pom pom maker kit we got has 4 different sizes, but if you make a bigger one you can always trim it to a slightly smaller size. Look at pictures to decide appropriate yarn colors. Mix and match;)
Cut the pom pom
When you have wrapped the pom pom maker so it’s really full and thick with yarn; close it, cut open and tie a piece of yarn around as tightly as you can (an adult might have to help with this).
Saturn
The making of Saturn is always a bit of a challenge. This time we decided to use a piece of felt to cut in a circle and wrap around the pom pom.
Making the sun and attaching the planets in box
The Sun
We didn’t have a pom pom maker large enough for the Sun, so we had to make one. Rest assured -it’s fairly easy! Just trace a round object (like a bowl) on card board and cut out. Make a smaller circle in middle. By cutting a part of the circle away you make it easier to wrap the yarn. (See picture) Obviously you need two cardboard pieces. When done wrapping, carefully cut open the edges and tie yarn tightly to secure.
Attaching sun
Don’t make the pom pom too thick, as we’d like the puck light to shine through.
Glue the pom pom to the puck light in a way that you can still turn it on or off as needed.
Attaching planets
Glue the Sun (attached to puck light) where you want it inside the box.
Sew black threads to the pom poms (planets) and hang to inside top of box, using black tape. Make sure to put them in order;) and spread them out to be displayed nicely.
Labeling planets
The finishing touch would be to label the planets. We recently purchased a label maker -which we have frequently been using- but you can write the names by hand too of course. Attach the names to the hanging thread.
Finished project -Solar System Diorama
This has honestly been one of our favorite projects! As I’ve mentioned before, there is something magic and mystical about the Universe that intrigues children and awakens the curiosity from within to want to learn more. Have fun making this!
If you’d like to see another Solar System we made, our Hands-on Solar System Model, click HERE.
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