Embedded Files
Mnemonic:
Mnemonic:
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Planets
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Planets
How many steps are there from the Sun to Neptune?
How many steps are there from the Sun to Neptune?
Lesson 1: Toilet Roll Solar System
Lesson 1: Toilet Roll Solar System
Skills: Compass use for large circles
You'll be able to read a complete set of instructions HERE.
Build your worlds
Build your worlds
This activity takes the 4.5 billion kilometres from the Sun to Neptune and squishes them onto a single loo roll. On this scale most of the planets are too small to see (and draw) – so we’ve cheated and made them 100 times larger than they should be.
a) Make your oversized Sun by sticking together six A4 sheets of paper to make a 60 cm square. Then draw a circle that’s 60 cm across.
b) Make your planets using the cut-offs using the guide below. Colour in and label each planet.
Documentation
Documentation
a) Your group must photograph and film your solar scale model.
b) Count your steps from the Sun to Neptune. How many steps did it take you to walk the whole distance?
Discussion questions
Discussion questions
1. What is the purpose of creating a scale model of the solar system?
2. How does the scale used in the model help to demonstrate the relative sizes and distances of the planets?
3. What are some challenges of creating a scale model of the solar system?
4. How does the model compare to authentic images and data of the solar system?
5. What other objects, such as asteroids or comets, could be included in a scale model of the solar system? Did you include dwarf planets?
6. How would the scale model differ if it included other star systems or galaxies?
7. How could you improve the accuracy or realism of the scale model?
planetscale.MOV
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