Building scale models of the solar system is a challenge because of the vast distances and huge size differences involved. This is a simple little model to give …

Building scale models of the solar system is a challenge because of the vast distances and huge size differences involved. This is a simple little model to give you an overview of the distances between the orbits of the planets and other objects in our solar system. (It is also a good tool for reviewing fractions.)

Materials needed:
At least 1 meter of paper tape per person, such as adding machine paper
Pen or pencil each

Making Your Pocket Solar System

Make sure everyone has a strip of register tape at least a meter long and at most, the length of the person’s body. Cut or fold over the ends so they are straight. Label one end “Sun“ and the other end “Pluto/Kuiper Belt”.

Next, fold the tape in half, crease it, open it up again and place a mark at the half-way point. Many will be surprised that this is Uranus.

Now fold the tape back in half, then in half again. Unfold and lay it flat. Now you have the tape divided into quarters with the Sun at one end, Pluto on the other nd Uranus in the middle. Place a mark at the quarter mark and 3/4 mark and label as Saturn (closer to the Sun) and Neptune (closer to Pluto), respectively.

Stop and admire your work. Which part of the solar system has filled 3/4 of your tape? That’s right, you’ve only been mapping out the places for the 3 most distant planets and Pluto. That means that you’ve still got 5 plus the asteroid belt to fit into the quarter between the Sun and Saturn! Let’s keep going to see how this will work.

Download Pocket Solar System.pdf