How to Make a Solar System Mobile

A mobile is a kind of delicate decorative structure that moves in the air. It is a great home décor item and is constructed out of a variety of materials. You must have seen colorful and ornate mobiles hanging down in fine dining restaurants, suspended from the ceiling. They are also seen in baby's room suspended over the crib to entertain the baby. Although there are many designs and shapes of mobiles available in the market, from large-scale chandelier-sized ones to small delicate ones, you can construct one of your own. If you are thinking of making a mobile for your kids' room, then you can combine science with aesthetics by making a solar system mobile. It is one of the best solar system projects to make. It is surprisingly easy to make and by taking a small trip to your local arts and crafts store, you can get all the necessary supplies.

Making a Solar System Mobile for Kids

Things required

• Card stock (in different colors)
• Large circle cutter
• Bone folder
• Small circle cutter
• Thread
• Pair of scissors
• Flexible wire
• Sewing machine
• Binder clips
• Fabric glue
• Leather needle
• Seam binding

Procedure

Step 1: The first thing you need to do to make a solar system mobile is to cut out circles from card stock to represent the 9 planets of the solar system. Since you need the planets to be in proportion to each other, the diameter of the planets should be different. Since Jupiter is the largest planet, the diameter of the circles for Jupiter should be the greatest. Once you have calculated what diameter you want the planets to be, cut out 12 circles from the card stock for each planet.

Step 2: To make the solar system mobile more realistic, use different colors of card stock to make each planet. Once you have cut out all the circles to represent the planets of the solar system, you should have a stack of 12 circles for each planet.

Step 3: Divide each stack of 12 circles into two equal parts. Next fold each stack of six circles into two equal parts along the diameter and secure the stacks together with small binder clips. Using the binder clips is not necessary, but it will help you in the next step when you sew the circles together.

Step 4: Attach a leather needle to the sewing machine and carefully sew through the center of each stack of circles. Make sure that you sew in a straight line as possible. Use the crease running along the center of the circles as a guideline.

Step 5: Attach the two stacks of circles together by using glue. Make sure that you wipe off excess glue from the paper. Next trim off the threads from the top and bottom portion of the circles. Your planet is ready. Make the other 8 planets in a similar way. To make a ring around Saturn, cut a two concentric rings from the card stock and glue it along over Saturn planet.

Step 6: Once all your planets of the solar system are ready, attach 24 inch long seam bindings to the top portion of each planet with the help of fabric glue. Allow the glue to dry completely before you assemble the planets into the mobile hanger.

Step 7: Construct a mobile hanger by twisting a length of flexible wire into a round shape. Attach the ends of each seam binding to the mobile hanger at different heights by tying them in knots. Your solar system mobile is ready.

As you can see making a simple solar system mobile is an easy project which you can make within a few hours. Hang the mobile in your kid's room and get ready to answer their questions about the solar system.