Sun Catcher Planets

This week we enjoyed reading Going Around the Sun:  Some Planetary Fun by Marianne Berkes.

The rhyming text follows the model of "Over in the Meadow" and is written as a dialogue between Mother Sun and her planets.  Each page offers interesting facts about the planets as they appear in the book; there is also a section at the end with more solar system facts.

C noticed the page of "Tips from the Illustrator" at the end of the book and just had to make the suggested wax paper sun catcher planets.

He began by peeling and sharpening crayons in the colors he would need.

He then placed the crayon shavings between two pieces of wax paper.  I put an old towel over the wax paper and pressed a warm iron on top to melt the crayon between the pieces of wax paper.

Then I cut out planet shapes from the wax paper melted crayon "sandwiches" - I guess I forgot to take a picture of this step.

After using a window crayon to draw the sun on our sliding glass door, C taped the planets on the door in order.

We did include Pluto; C remembered that Pluto doesn't stay in line, so he taped the dwarf planet further up on the door.

He loved this activity, and it was a great review of the solar system.  (R was playing with the neighbors when C did this - I'm hoping to do a fall sun catcher craft with her soon using this same method.)

Click here to purchase  Going Around the Sun:  Some Planetary Fun by Marianne Berkes.