Last summer while learning about the Earth, Moon, and Sun during homeschool preschool, my daughter and I made a simple but effective model that illustrates that the Earth revolves around the Sun and the Moon revolves around the Earth.
Materials
- Paper plate
- Thick white paper
- Yellow, blue, green, and gray crayons or markers
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Brass fasteners
Directions
- Cut a medium circle, a small circle, and two long strips from the thick white paper.
- Color the paper plate yellow.
- Color the medium circle green and blue.
- Color the small circle gray.
- Punch holes in the centers of each circle and on the ends of each long strip.
- Connect the paper plate to the medium circle and the medium circle to the small circle.
- Explain that the Earth (medium circle) revolves around the Sun (paper plate) and the Moon (small circle) revolves around the Earth.
For another fun space craft, try my S Is for Sun Handprint Craft.
Image Credits
Sun-Earth-Moon Model Craft © 2015 Heather Johnson
Sun-Earth-Moon Model © 2015 Heather Johnson
Great craft. Now I have a new idea for my student’s future project.
Love the idea… My son love sticking, painting, cutting and all sorts of crafting so I might offer him to do something like this. Thanks for sharing! x
Really cool idea! I’ve never done something like this, but it looks super neat.
This craft is adorable. it’s great that it encourages learning something about the solar system too.
Cute craft- My 4 year old would love this.
Can’t wait to try with my toddler!
I have a book about a monster from another planet and I’ve been trying to figure out how to explain the planets and solar system in a basic level for a 4yo. This seems perfect. I was wondering if I even should attempt to explain it!! But YES, of course! Thanks.
This is a great preschool educational craft! We love this at home. I have a 3 year old son, he’s in preschool in our small town. Thanks for this idea!
This is extremely clever.