Design a Cool Planet

If I don't have modeling clay, toothpicks, or a small bowl of water, what can I substitute?

For the 'roll clay into a smooth ball about the size of your palm' step you can use tightly crumpled aluminum foil wrapped in masking tape or air-dry/playdough, swap toothpicks for short wooden skewers or rolled paper strips to attach explanation tags, and use a damp sponge or cloth instead of a small bowl of water to gently smooth seams.

What should I do if the paper oceans or clay mountains won't stick or the seams stay lumpy?

If paper shapes peel or seams are lumpy, press the clay pieces firmly as you 'press them onto the clay sphere', lightly score or roughen both surfaces with a toothpick, add a little glue under paper pieces, then use the 'dip a fingertip in the small bowl of water and gently smooth any seams' step and allow the model to dry undisturbed.

How can I change the project to suit younger or older kids?

For younger children simplify by having them draw a bigger map and use stickers or pre-cut paper shapes and playdough for the 'shape small pieces of clay' step, while older kids can research and write detailed 'three main climate features', sculpt intricate alien lifeforms, or add a rotating axis for more complexity.

How can we make the Cool Planet more creative or longer-lasting?

Enhance your planet by using glow-in-the-dark paint or varnish over the 'surface colors', embedding a small LED beneath a removable 'atmosphere' layer to simulate glow, creating laminated explanation tags for durability, and mounting the palm-sized sphere on a painted stand before sharing on DIY.org.