The truth is that even most adults do not have a solid grasp on just how far the planets are from one another. It is difficult to grasp just how much space is in space because we do not have a way to understand the amount of distance. There is nothing on earth to compare it to. For instance, the radius of the earth is about 4,000 miles and the distance between Earth and Mars 234 million miles. Doing solar system projects to scale can help children know that space is larger than their minds can even imagine. 

Toilet Paper Roll

Since this solar system project requires quite a bit of space it is best done outside or in a long hallway. You will need one roll of toilet paper and a marker. Roll out the entire roll of toilet paper and each square will represent 10 million miles! That alone should be a testament to just how large the solar system is and the distance between the planets. 

For instance, most children will be surprised to learn that it would take about 2.5 rolls of toilet paper just to get from Earth to Mars! You can how this space company can help in educating on the vastness of space and the planets within it. These simplified approaches can help give children a better context and understanding of the universe they live in.

NASA Predictions

NASA has a great activity tool online where children can make their own predictions about where they think the planets are and how far apart they are. After they have made their guesses, the NASA site will help them label the planets in a more accurate way. They suggest using a roll of accounting paper if you happen to have one on hand, but if not this could also be paired with the above mentioned toilet paper roll.

Moon Website

The above mentioned project involves the NASA website and there are so many tools online now that everyone has access to. This website is so fun for adults and kids of all ages. All you have to do is scroll! This website is interactive and fun and is also very educational about the distance between stuff in space. You can visit that website here.

String Playground

If you are doing this as a school project, live near a park, or just want an excuse to get outside, this playground solar system project is the one for you! In a basketball court or similar area, you will start by drawing a sun with sidewalk chalk in a central area. Have your child or student stand in the sun to be a physical representation. Depending on how in-depth you want to get, you will need a lot of string for this one. The first piece of string should be 1.2 meters or 3 feet and 11 inches long. Tie a piece of chalk to the end of that string. The student who is the sun will hold one end of the string and you or another student will stretch the string to its full distance to draw a circle representing the orbit of Mercury. Depending on the amount of string you have you can continue doing this for other planets. 

If you try any of these solar system projects, we would love to hear about it in the comment section below. Science is such a fun topic to study regardless of age!