Model Making

 

Let’s Make a Sun-Earth-Moon Model

Purpose  To prepare a Sun-Earth-Moon model.

Materials

1 sheet of white cardstock paper

drawing compass

scissors

crayons and/or markers

transparent tape

ruler

string

clothes hanger

stick-on stars

 

Getting Started

1. Fold the sheet of cardstock in half by placing the short sides together.

2. Using the compass, on the folded paper, draw three circles with these diameters: 5 inches (12.5 cm); 3 inches (7.5 cm); and 1 1/2 inches (3.75 cm).

3. Using the scissors, cut out the three circles, cutting through both layers of paper. You will have six total paper circles.

 4. Cut along a straight line from the edge to the center of each of the six circles as shown in the diagram.

 

Use the following instructions to form 3-D models of the Sun, Earth and Moon.

 

Prepare a Moon Model

1. Use the black crayon to color the two small circles on the front and back as shown in the Moon Model diagram.
Note: The Moon Model illustrations refer to the small circles as A and B. 

 2. Fit the two small white and black circles together to form a 3-D Moon model.

 

 3. Tape the center edge of the overlapping circles on the front and back. On one side, raise one flap and tape along the center edge as shown. Repeat on the back side.

 

4. Tape the end of a 12-inch (30 cm) string to the circle. Raise the flaps on the circles so that they are at a 900 angle to each other as shown.

5. Set the Moon Model to the side while using the following directions to prepare an Earth and a Sun model.

Prepare a 3-D Earth Model

 

Getting Started on the Earth Model

 1. Color one side of one of the medium size circles to represent the ocean and sky (the lower layer of the atmosphere next to Earth’s surface). Add sail boats, clouds and birds.

2. On the back side, color the left half of the circle to represent the ocean and right side to represent the land. Add living organisms, such as trees and flowers to the land and a boat on the ocean side.

3. Color the front and back of the second medium size circle as shown, with an ocean on the front and land and ocean on the back

4. Repeat Moon Model steps 2 through 5 to assemble the three-dimensional Earth Model.

 

Prepare a 3-D Sun Model

1. Color the remaining two large circles yellow.

2. Repeat Moon Model steps 2 through 5 to assemble the three-dimensional Sun Model.

 

Let’s Assemble the Sun-Earth-Moon Model
Note that neither the size of the Sun, Earth, and Moon models nor their distance from each other is to scale. Instead, the model only represents the position of the celestial bodies in relation to each other at one moment in time. I say this to remind you that the Moon is always rotating about its axis as it orbits the Earth. Like the Moon, Earth rotates about its axis and with its Moon, together, they orbits the Sun.

 

Let’s Get Started on the Sun-Earth-Moon Model

1. Lay the clothes hanger on a table.
2. Tape the free ends of each of the three models to the clothes hanger as shown.
3. Adjust the length of the strings so that the Earth is in line with the Sun and the Moon is slightly higher than the Earth.

4. Adjust the position of the models on the hanger so that the hanger balances when held by the hook.
5. Add stick-on stars to the hanger.

Note: If you wish you could go to the website to follow the instructions to make the model: https://scienceprojectideasforkids.com/sun-earth-moon-model/