Solar System Model Project
Over the next period of work, we are going to be learning about the different Celestial Objects
found in our Solar system. In order to show what you have learned, I would like for you to create
your own solar system model to display in the classroom. Please be as creative as possible with a
focus on providing information in a professional manner.
We will follow a schedule of graded checkpoints over the next few weeks to ensure that everyone is
completing the work. Parents will be receiving a note during the March 10th and March 17th weeks to
sign and verify that each student is not waiting until the last minute to complete this project.

Feb 16th:
Students research the various parts of the solar system mentioned in this
brief.
Students begin mentally planning their designs and listing materials. (The internet can be
used for ideas of designs and materials.
Students will draw designs & create a final material list

Feb 16th – Feb 28th (Mid-term) Students will build their solar system. (Have Fun!!!!!) Don’t
forget to use the success criteria below to keep you on track and make sure you are
meeting expectations

Feb 28 – 29th : Students begin presenting/displaying models.
 This project must be on Feb 28th to receive full credit. 10% will be deducted
for each day late.
 Have fun with this project! Be creative!
Model Requirements:

Students must include all 9 planets. (Pluto for old-school astronomers.)

Students must put all objects in the correct order.

Students must correctly represent each planet (rings, color, etc.)

Students must pay attention to proportion. (In other words, Earth should not be larger
than Jupiter.) Hint – We can’t make the planets their real size as this is a model, but we can
choose a size for one planet, earth for example, and work out how much bigger or smaller
the others should be compared to this.

Students must create neat and easy to read labels with the following facts included:

Name of the planet

distance from the sun

diameter of the planet

period of revolution around sun and rotation

high and low temperatures

terrestrial or gaseous planet

one other interesting fact
Extras:

Students may include “Extra Objects” in our Solar System including any of the following:

the sun

Space

moons

dwarf planets

asteroid belts

comets & meteors
Some Useful websites
Kidsastronomy.com
http://interactivesites.weebly.com/earth-moon-and-sun.html
Solar System Project Rubric
Exceptional
(20 points)
Creativity
(20 points)
Planets
(20 points)
Planets are in
the correct
order
Student showed
large amounts of
creativity. All
planets are the
correct color
and imagination
has been used
when designing
the model. The
model is 3D.
9 planets
All the planets
were in the
correct order
Above
Expectations
(17 points)
Thought has
been put into
the project. The
planets are close
to the correct
color and there
is evidence of
student effort.
The model is 3D.
Some thought
has been put
into the project.
There is some
color and a few
planets are
colored
incorrectly. The
model is 2D.
8 planets
7 planets
--
Achieved
(14 points)
--
Partially
Achieved
(12 points)
Very little or no
creativity. No
color is used or
the planets are
all colored
incorrectly.
6 or less planets
Planets are not
in the correct
order.
(20 points)
Extra Objects
(20 points)
Proportion/Scale
(20 points)
Labels
5 or more are
included
4 are included
3 are included
2 or less are
included
All of the
planets are
roughly
proportional to
each other.
All planets are
correctly and
clearly labeled.
Most of the
planets are
proportional to
each other.
There a couple
of mistakes with
the proportions
of the planets.
Planets are not
correctly
proportioned.
All planets are
correctly
labeled, but are
difficult to read
or find.
Planets are not
labeled or the
labels are
impossible to
read.
Information
includes
complete facts
and is typed.
Information
includes
complete facts
and is handwritten.
Planets are
incorrectly
labeled or the
labels are almost
impossible to
read.
Information is
incomplete for 4
or less planets.
(20 points)
Label
Information
(20 points)
Information is
incomplete for 5
or more planets.
Total points earned = ______ / 140
Points
Earned