Any suggestions on building a planet?

[jgates]

DD has a school project to build a 'planet'. Anyone have any good thoughts on what to use to build it or any links for projects?

Suggestions we have to NOT use - Candy or marshmallows - evidently the library got kind of warm last year.......that planet self-destructed.....

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Don't use any Democrats.





Just kidding.

 

[Serena]

Depending on how old she is. Playdo is a good thing to make a planet with.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What planets can she use?

DD had made planets before with the styrofoam balls and then painted them.

 

[mom2boys]

DS had to create a planet & make a model of it (4th grade)

He covered a softball with masking tape & spray painted it.

This masking tape provided texture - a bit rougher (& much easier) than paper mache'

 

[tcfdick]

You could use a round balloon and then put paper mache on it, paint it, and add any details that are appropriate. There are sites that have recipes for paper mache paste and tell you how to do it.
Another option would be to use clay. You could paint it too.

 

[jgates]

OK, no democrats!!!

She is 11, so we should be capable of something worthwhile!

I had suggested paper mache' to her. That would be a little easier if my husband were still working out of town and not there to complain about the mess it will make.

Do you need a special type of paint on styrofoam? I thought DS & I tried this once and it 'melted' it.

Masking tape sounds pretty good. I don't know how big she wants it but even one of those cheap 1.49 playground balls might work there too. If she keeps it small scale, the play-dough will be good, but if it is larger, that could get heavy and expensive.

They had to compose a story about their own planet. Hers is Pele' which is a tropical planet with a lot of volcanoes, etc.

 

[tar heel]

My very creative middle child did a basketball planet from an old basketball and model paints.

 

[Feralpeg]

I feel your pain! DD just had to build a model castle. Needless to say, guess who got roped into helping. Big mess!

 

[Zurg]

Here I thought this was a question for the Evil Emperor.

Pape mache ove a baloon works.