Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will have constructed a scale model of the solar system, gaining a deeper understanding of the relative sizes and distances between the planets.

Materials and Prep

• Large outdoor space or a long hallway
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Chalk or masking tape
• Information on the sizes and distances of the planets in our solar system

Activities

• Step 1: Planetary Distances
  Use the measuring tape or ruler to mark the distances of each planet from the Sun in your outdoor space or hallway using chalk or masking tape.
• Step 2: Planet Sizes
  Use the information on planet sizes to draw or place objects representing each planet at their respective distances from the Sun.
• Step 3: Scale Model
  Walk through your scale model, observing the relative sizes of the planets and the vast distances between them.

Talking Points

• Making it Real: "Imagine if the Sun was the size of a basketball, Earth would be the size of a peppercorn about 26 meters away."
• Relative Distances: "It's mind-boggling to think that in our scale model, Pluto would be over 200 meters away from the Sun!"
• Planet Sizes: "Jupiter is so massive that it would be represented by a large beach ball in our model, while Mercury would only be a tiny marble."
• Exploring the Model: "Walking through our scale model really puts into perspective the vastness of space and the unique characteristics of each planet."