Design Your Own Planet

What You Need:

• Internet access
• Craft materials around the house. Some ideas are:
  • Paper
  • Tape
  • Glue
  • Balloons
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Construction paper

What You Do:

1. Do a search online for pictures of Earth from outer space and show them to your child. Talk to your child about what Earth looks like, and discuss different environments, such as rainforest or deserts.
2. Now show them online photos of other planets and explain that there are other planets in our solar system. Ask your learner, “Can you design and make your own planet?”
3. Encourage your child to make a plan. Ask your learner, “What will your planet look like? What animals will live on the planet? What is the name of your planet? What materials do you need to make your vision come true?”
4. Give your child some craft materials and have them create their design. Allow them to work independently, but be available with ideas and suggestions if they ask for help. As your child creates their planet, ask them, “Is this what you imagined? What other materials do you need for your planet?”
5. Tell your little designer to play with their new planet. Have them imagine landing on their planet in a spaceship. What would they do? What would they see?
6. After imagining their journey through their planet, ask your child what ways they can adjust their design. For example, ask questions like, “What do you want to change about your planet? What do you wish your planet had?” 
7. Have your creator make any changes they find necessary.
8. Challenge designers to share their planet. They can record a video or draw their design on paper. They can mention what the planet looks like, what the temperature and environment is like, and what animals live on the planet.

Amplify this challenge! If your child enjoyed this challenge, take them one step further. Ask them one or more of these questions:

• Can you create different ecosystems or environments on your planet?
• Can you imagine other creatures living on the planet that do not exist on Earth? Do they breathe? What do they do?