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Design an Entirely New Planet

Design an Entirely New Planet
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Design and build a model or detailed drawing of a brand new planet, choosing climate, surface features, atmosphere, orbit, and possible life forms.

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Step-by-step guide to Design an Entirely New Planet

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My 3D Solar System Model || Solar System Project for Kids || School Science Project

What you need
Adult supervision required, cardboard or clay, coloring materials (crayons markers or paints), eraser, glue or tape, paper, pencil, ruler, scissors

Step 1

Pick a fun planet name and decide that it will be called this from now on.

Step 2

Decide whether your planet is mostly rocky or mostly gaseous.

Step 3

Decide how big your planet is compared to Earth (smaller same size or larger).

Step 4

Decide how close your planet orbits its star (very close medium or far).

Step 5

Decide what its atmosphere is made of and what color the sky will look like.

Step 6

Decide the major climate zones your planet will have (for example hot deserts icy poles or floating seas).

Step 7

Draw a large circle on paper to be your planet’s map.

Step 8

Divide the circle into the climate zones you decided and draw the borders.

Step 9

Add surface features in each zone like mountains oceans volcanoes or ice fields.

Step 10

Invent two kinds of plants or animals that could survive there and sketch each one.

Step 11

Build a simple 3D model or add texture to your drawing using cardboard or clay.

Step 12

Color and decorate your model or drawing so it matches your atmosphere and life forms.

Step 13

Make a one page fact sheet that lists your planet’s name size orbit atmosphere climates and examples of life.

Step 14

Share your finished creation on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use instead of cardboard or clay if those materials are hard to find?

If you don't have cardboard or clay for the step 'Build a simple 3D model or add texture to your drawing', use aluminum foil, crumpled recycled paper, playdough, or glued fabric/sand on the paper to create raised terrain.

My 3D model keeps collapsing or the borders on my map look messy—how do we fix that?

To stop a model collapsing and make climate borders neater, reinforce cardboard with tape or toothpicks, let air-dry clay build up in thin layers, and sketch zone lines lightly in pencil before darkening and coloring.

How can we change the activity for different ages or skill levels?

For preschoolers use pre-cut circles, stickers and playdough to create big zones and skip the fact sheet; for elementary kids follow all drawing and model steps; and for older kids add size/orbit measurements and a detailed one-page fact sheet with ecosystem notes.

How can we make the planet project more creative or more impressive for sharing on DIY.org?

Enhance your project by adding textures like sand or cotton for deserts and ice, install a small LED to simulate day/night inside your cardboard model, write a short 'day in the life' paragraph for each invented creature on the fact sheet, and record a photo/video to upload to DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to Design an Entirely New Planet

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Solar System Planets From BIGGEST To SMALLEST! | Planet Sizes For Kids | KLT

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Facts about astronomy and planetary science for kids

⏱️ Some exoplanets orbit so fast that their 'year' is less than a single Earth day.

🌕 A large moon can stabilize a planet's tilt, helping keep seasons steady like Earth's Moon does.

🌡️ A thick atmosphere can trap heat: Venus is hotter than Mercury because of a runaway greenhouse effect.

🌌 Astronomers have discovered over 5,000 exoplanets—plenty of inspiration for new worlds!

🧬 Life on Earth is carbon- and water-based, but imaginative alien life could use very different chemistry.

How do you design and build an entirely new planet with a child?

To design and build a new planet with a child, start by brainstorming climate, surface features, atmosphere, orbit, and possible life. Guide them to sketch ideas, pick a scale and color palette, then choose a building method (drawing, papier-mâché, foam ball model). Build in stages: base shape, add landforms and textures, paint details, label key features, and create a short planet profile describing temperature, day length, and inhabitants. Finish with a presentation or story to spark imaginati

What materials do I need to design a new planet model or drawing?

You'll need basic craft supplies: paper, pencils, erasers, colored pencils or markers, paints, glue, scissors, cardboard, clay or foam balls for 3D planets, papier-mâché materials, tape, and brushes. Optional extras: modeling wire, LED tea lights for glowing atmospheres, stickers, recycled containers, reference books, and a ruler or compass for orbits. Assemble safe, age-appropriate tools and supervise scissors, hot glue, or small parts for younger children.

What ages is the "Design a New Planet" activity suitable for?

This activity works for many ages. Ages 5–7 enjoy simple drawings, stickers, and squishy clay models with adult help. Ages 8–11 can plan climates, draw maps, and build papier-mâché or foam models while learning basic science. Ages 12+ can research planetary science, design detailed systems, and create mixed-media or digital models. Adjust complexity, materials, and supervision to match attention span and fine-motor skills.

What are the benefits of designing a new planet?

Designing a new planet builds creativity, scientific thinking, and storytelling. Children practice systems thinking by linking atmosphere, climate, and orbit to surface conditions and life. It strengthens research skills, vocabulary, fine motor control, and collaboration when done with peers or family. Teachers and parents can tie the project to lessons about gravity, ecosystems, and habitability to deepen learning while keeping play and imagination central.
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Design an Entirely New Planet. Activities for Kids.