Materials:
- Solar System Puzzle Patterns*
- Cellophane Tape
- Colored marker pens or pencils
- Scissors
- Razor blade craft knife
- Butter knife
- Cutting surface
- Metal edge ruler
- White glue (optional)
* if possible, copies of the puzzle patterns should be
printed on 60-100 pound weight white paper or could be glued on poster
board. Otherwise, have the patterns duplicated at a commercial copier
business on heavy paper stock.
Instructions:
- Carefully cut out each cube pattern.
- Using the razor blade knife and a cutting surface beneath, cut the
center of the small slots on each pattern. Matching tabs will be
inserted into these slots.
- With the metal edge ruler for a guide, use the butter knife to score
the white dashed lines on each pattern. Be sure not to press down so
hard that the paper is cut. The score lines will make it easy to fold
the patterns precisely. Also score the tabs and flaps.
- Pre-fold each pattern on the score lines to make sure the folds are
square.
- Each pattern page forms a single cube. Join
the corresponding tabs and slots (A to A, B to
B, etc.) of the puzzle pieces to begin forming
cubes. Use tape on the inside of the cube joint
to hold these pieces together firmly.
- Join the edges of the cubes together by
inserting tabs into the corresponding slots cut
into the flaps. Work your way around the cube
until all sides are joined. You may wish to use
the point of the razor blade knife to assist you
in getting the last tabs in place. (Assembly
gets easier with practice!) After assembling
each cube, you can make them stronger by
pulling the tabs slightly from their slots and
placing a small drop of glue on the tabs. Push
the tabs back in and set the cube aside to dry.
- When all cubes are assembled, put the puzzle
together. Starting with one side of the puzzle
at a time, begin coloring the images of the
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objects pictured. Use the coloring instructions
as a guide or have students find images of the
planets and Sun in astronomy books and try to
match the colors in the puzzle. You can also
color the captions.
Alternate Construction Techniques:
A more rugged puzzle can be constructed by
gluing the squares to blocks of wood or other
materials. Reduce or expand the patterns on a
copy machine to fit the blocks. Be sure to place
the squares in the proper positions so that properly
oriented puzzle faces will be created.
Activities and Questions:
- Assemble the puzzle cubes so that all sides
match. The exterior faces of the puzzle
picture the Sun and five planets. The other
objects are visible when the inside faces are
opened.
- Based on the information contained in the
chart on page 8, discuss the different sizes
of the objects pictured in the puzzle. Because
of vast differences in between the Sun and
the planets, no consistent scale has been
used for the images. Have students draw a
circle on the chalkboard one meter in
diameter. Then have the students draw
other circles to represent the planets to
scale. Use the chart on page 8.
- Discuss the distances between the planets.
Make a scale model of the distances of the
planets using the distance between Earth
and the Sun as a reference. Let that distance
equal one meter.
- Why is it difficult to create a scale model of
the solar system with both distance and
diameters to the same scale?
- Why are only the rings of Saturn shown on
the puzzle and not the rings of Jupiter,
Uranus, and Neptune?
- Why is only half of Mercury pictured?
- Have other nations sent spacecraft to study
the planets? Which ones?
- What spacecraft made the picture of Pluto?
- Why is Pluto shown with its single moon
Charon?
- If you were the first explorer to travel to the
other planets, what would you want to learn
about them?
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