Let’s Make a Sun-Earth-Moon Model
Astronomy is the study of stars, planets, moons, and other celestial bodies in the universe. The vast size and distance between celestial bodies is not easy to understand especially if kids have not mastered basic distance measurements. Many kids understand distance in terms of how long it takes to get to the store or other places they frequently travel to. Thus, I am providing ideas for a Sun-Earth-Moon model that represents only the relative position of these celestial models. But, it is important for children to know that the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun are just the right size and just distance from each other to provide the perfect environment for people, animals, and plants to live on Earth.
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 refers to the small circles as A and B.
Note: The Moon Model illustrations refers 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
Earth Facts: Oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface. The earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases necessary for life on Earth. This gaseous covering extends from the Earth’s surface out into space for thousands of miles. The further the atmosphere is from Earth’s surface the less dense (thinner) are the gases. This atmosphere is held in place by Earth’s gravitational pull, which pulls all things toward the center of the earth.
The earth’s atmosphere is necessary for the earth’s water cycle, which includes the evaporation and condensation of water, thus producing precipitation, including rain, slow and sleet.
Earth’s atmosphere also helps protects the earth’s surface from harmful solar radiation and meteors, and provides light and warmth.
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.
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.
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.
5. Add stick-on stars to the hanger.
6. Hang your heavenly model in your room to remind you of how God put Earth in just the right place in the heavens.
You might attach this Bible verse on the model:
“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.” Psalms 103:25 KJV
Remember: From your location on Earth, you have a front row seat to observe the apparent nightly celestial race across the sky. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you see the Sun, Moon, stars and planets move across the southern sky from east to west. For those of you living in the Southern Hemisphere, this nightly moment of the celestial bodies appears in the northern sky.
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