Design a Cool Planet
Design and build a model of a cool planet using clay, paper, and colors; choose climate, terrain, atmosphere, and possible alien life to explain.
About this activity
Design and build a model of a cool planet using clay, paper, and colors; choose climate, terrain, atmosphere, and possible alien life to explain.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Give your planet a fun name and draw a simple map and look of it on paper.
- 2
Step 2
Decide the planet's climate and write three main climate features on your sketch.
- 3
Step 3
Choose where the planet's terrain parts will go and mark locations for oceans mountains deserts and ice on your map.
- 4
Step 4
Pick the atmosphere color and one special atmosphere fact and write it beside the map.
- 5
Step 5
Roll clay into a smooth ball about the size of your palm to make the planet base.
- 6
Step 6
Shape small pieces of clay into mountains plateaus and landmasses and press them onto the clay sphere.
- 7
Step 7
Cut paper shapes for oceans ice caps or plains and glue them onto the sphere where your map shows them.
- 8
Step 8
Dip a fingertip in the small bowl of water and gently smooth any seams so pieces stick neatly.
- 9
Step 9
Use coloring materials to add surface colors clouds and an atmospheric glow on your planet.
- 10
Step 10
Sculpt two or three tiny alien lifeforms from clay or paper and give each a unique trait.
- 11
Step 11
Write short explanation tags describing the climate terrain atmosphere and each alien lifeform on small paper pieces.
- 12
Step 12
Attach each explanation tag next to the matching feature on your planet using toothpicks or glue.
- 13
Step 13
Share your finished Cool Planet creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I design and build a cool planet model?
Start by brainstorming climate, terrain, atmosphere, and any alien lifeâsketch ideas on paper. Make a base using a foam ball, cardboard disk, or molded clay. Build landforms with air-dry clay, attach paper or cardstock for ice caps, oceans, and cloud bands. Paint layers for color and atmosphere, add texture with sponges or salt. Sculpt or craft small alien figures from clay or wire, label features on a card, let dry, then display.
What materials do I need to design and build a cool planet model?
Youâll need air-dry or oven-bake clay, a base (styrofoam ball, cardboard or paper plate), cardstock or construction paper, scissors, glue, acrylic paints and brushes, markers, toothpicks or wire for details, sand/salt/foam for texture, aluminum foil for structure, sealant or varnish, protective covering for surfaces, and optional craft extras like googly eyes, glitter, or pipe cleaners. Have wet wipes and a drying area ready. Substitute safe household items if needed.
What ages is the cool planet activity suitable for?
This activity suits ages 4â12 with adjustments. Ages 4â6 enjoy simple shaping, painting, and gluing with adult help for cutting and small parts. Ages 7â9 can design climates, add textures and simple explanations. Ages 10â12 can research realistic or speculative atmospheres, build detailed terrains, and write descriptions of alien life. Always supervise younger children, avoid small parts with under-3s, and adapt complexity to skill and attention span.
What are the benefits of designing a cool planet?
Designing a cool planet builds creativity, planning, and scientific thinking. Children practice fine motor skills while sculpting and cutting, learn vocabulary about climate, terrain, and atmosphere, and develop storytelling by inventing alien life. It encourages problem-solving when choosing materials and features, fosters collaboration if done in groups, and boosts confidence when presenting their planet. Use follow-up questions to deepen learning, like how life adapts to extreme climates.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
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.