Are you debating which solar system project idea is best for you child’s science project. Here is not one, but three ideas! Make one of these three solar system project ideas using the methods listed below. This post includes affiliate links, which when purchased through, add no cost to the consumer but provide this site with a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Triplet boys means three of all the school projects…at once. Our most recent school project has been for science. The boys had to create a solar system. When possible, I like to have them each to do their project a different way so that they are not turning in three identical projects. We were able to do these solar systems with three different methods. If your child has a solar system project coming up, make one of these three DIY solar system project ideas! I’m listing my thoughts on each one below, including which one I liked the best and which one was the easiest.
Make One of These Three DIY Solar System Project Ideas
Which one works for your project?
Foam Board Solar System Project
This method uses planets that are cut in half to make them flat then glued to a foam board.
Supplies Needed:
- Foam Board
- Black Poster Board
- Glitter Paint
- Paintbrush
- Pencil
- Styrofoam balls
- Various paint colors
- Fuzzy sticks for the ring around Saturn
- Paper
- Pen
- Heavy-duty craft glue
- Item for adult use only:
- Something to cut the styrofoam
We began by gluing the black poster board over the foam board. My son painted the poster board with the glitter paint to make it look like thousands of stars. He then painted each planet the appropriate color. After they had dried thoroughly, I cut them in half. We used the pencil to draw the planets’ orbits. He glued them in order from the sun. Lastly, he attached a small label for each planet and the ring for Saturn.
Ease of Creating: Out of the three methods, I found this one the easiest for the child to create on their own. With the exception of cutting the planets in half, my son was able to do the rest of the project independently.
Solar System Diorama
This method uses plants that are hung from the top of a box with string.
Supplies Needed:
- Large box
- Black Paint
- White paint
- Paintbrush
- Styrofoam balls
- Various paint colors
- Fuzzy sticks for the ring around Saturn
- Paper
- Pen
- Yarn
- A few dowel rods
- Heavy-duty craft glue
For the diorama, we began by making the entire box black. After the black paint dried, my son used a small paintbrush to place white dots in the interior of the box to resemble stars. My son then painted each planet and applied the fuzzy stick for the ring around Saturn. Once everything dried, the next part was a little more complicated. We cut lengths of yarn from small to long, one for each planet. I helped my son glue the string to each planet (the first planet had the shortest yarn piece, etc.). We then tied the planets in order to a dowel rod. Using glue, we attached the sun in the corner. Then we glued the dowel rod across the top of the box from the sun. He placed labels on each planet at the end.
Disclosure: We had a bit of trouble getting the sun to stick securely in the corner. I was afraid that it would not make it on the trip to school! I had a random styrofoam connector in the craft cabinet that I used to help secure the sun to the cardboard. While not required, look into ordering one if you have issue with getting pieces to secure to the cardboard.
Ease of creating: Out of the the three methods, this one was the second easiest. However, it still required adult assistance for my son. However, an older elementary aged kid (such as fifth grade) may require minimal assistance. Getting the string attached to the planets and the sun attached to the cardboard were definitely the most difficult parts.
Solar System with Dowel Road
This method uses plants that are attached to dowel rods and suspended from the sun. We placed ours in a black box because one of the project requirements was to have a background that resembled outer space. However, you could also do this method without the box and use a firm foam board or larger styrofoam surface on the bottom.
Supplies Needed:
- Large box
- Black Paint
- White paint
- Paintbrush
- Styrofoam balls
- Various paint colors
- Fuzzy sticks for the ring around Saturn
- Paper
- Pen
- A dowel road for each planet
- Heavy-duty craft glue
For this method, we began by making the entire box black. After the black paint dried, my son used a small paintbrush to place white dots in the interior of the box to resemble stars. My son then painted each planet and applied the fuzzy stick for the ring around Saturn. Once everything dried, we inserted a dowel rod in each planet. I helped my son shorten the dowel rods so that each one was not the same length to demonstrate the planets’ distances from the sun. We secured the dowel rods in the planets with glue. Then we glued the other end of each dowel rod into the sun, making sure the planets were in order. Lastly, we glued the entire piece in the black box. He placed labels on each planet at the end.
Disclosure: We had a bit of trouble getting the sun to stick securely in the corner. I was afraid that it would not make it on the trip to school! I had a random styrofoam connector in the craft cabinet that I used to help secure the sun to the cardboard. While not required, look into ordering one if you have issue with getting pieces to secure to the cardboard.
Ease of creating: Out of the the three methods, this one was by far the most difficult. Shortening the dowel rods was hard for a younger elementary aged kid. When inserted into the sun, the longer dowel rods (especially those with heavier weighted planets) wanted to sag, and we had to reinforce them with lots of glue.
Which solar system is my favorite?
For ease of use, the foam board Solar System definitely wins. But for my favorite overall, the diorama with the hanging planets was my favorite.
Solar System Kits
Are you looking for a kit to purchase that your child can put together? Check out a few of these on Amazon!
