DIY Marbled Planets
Is your child interested in outer space? Are you looking for an afternoon art project for science enrichment? If so, marbled planets are a wonderful DIY project for science enrichment to inspire creativity and help kids learn about planets and the solar system.
Marbled planets can be created in a realistic way, by studying the colors of each major planet with your child. Or you can buy an assortment of Model Magic colors and use them to create the planet colors from pure imagination.
After creating these small sculptures, you can display them on a shelf and use them for future learning and discussion. For example, if you decide to make the major planets in our solar system by size, these may be placed in correct order on a large piece of black paper starting nearest the sun and working outward.
There are so many ways you can use these sculptures to inspire discussions about outer space!
Materials:
Model Magic (in assorted colors)
Styrofoam balls in different sizes
An old CD (if you want to create Saturn)
A rolling pin
Strong glue such as Gorilla glue
Marbling Technique:
Marbling can be done in many ways. Here’s one way that’s fun and produces great results!
Step 1: Roll several colors into coils on a flat surface, using the palm of your hands.
Step 2: Twist the colors together to create a large coil.
Step 3: Roll out the Model Magic coil with a rolling pin.
Step 4: Roll this large piece into a tube and cut it into sections with a small cutting tool/knife.
Step 5: Stick the sections together side by side and roll out with the rolling pin once more to create a beautiful marbled piece.
Creating the Planets:
At this point, you can wrap a Styrofoam ball to create a planet of your choice, or you can create a Saturn by cutting a small Styrofoam ball in half.
To create Saturn, gently wrap each half of the small Styrofoam ball with the marbled Model Magic and trim the edge. Use glue to attach the piece to either side of an old CD to create Saturn’s rings.
Create an assortment of planets and let them dry/harden for one day. Now you have a beautiful, handmade learning tool that is sure to inspire young learners!
About Erica and Eliza:
Erica Faulkner and Eliza Hearn have been art educators in Wake County Public Schools for the past 12 years. When not teaching, they both enjoy sharing visual art and creativity with the greater community by teaching private art camps, classes, and painting parties together. In 2019 they launched their Sparkle and Paint parties for children, adults, and seniors. Parties include all art painting materials brought to your home or event space, as well as optional “fairy hair” strands in the hair offered for each participant. An assortment of seasonal canvas themes are available. For more information about Sparkle and Paint parties, please contact Erica at ekendrick314@gmail.com.