Activity:
Make a Galaxy Mobile
This is a perfect follow up project for a visit to the planetarium or studying outer space. Make a stellar galaxy mobile using cardboard, black construction paper, paint and glitter. Have your kid hang his finished mobile in his room for a dazzling show of outer space!
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What You Need:
- Cardboard, 1 sheet 11” x 17”
- Black construction paper
- Tempera paint
- Paintbrushes
- Glitter
- Paper tape
- Glue stick
- String
- Pencil
- Scissors
What You Do:
- Instruct your child to cut a circle disc from the cardboard that all of the galaxies will hang from. Then help him puncture three small holes in the shape of a triangle on the edges of the disc. Set it aside.
- Have your kid draw images of galaxies onto the black construction paper. They should be at least the size of the palm of your hand. Cut them out with scissors.
- Tape a piece of string on to the back of the galaxies. The strings can all be different lengths.
- Paint all of the galaxy shapes with different colors of tempera paint on both sides and allow them to dry. Make sure to paint over the tape.
- Encourage your kid to rub glue onto the painted galaxies with a glue stick, then sprinkle glitter on top of the paint. Let dry.
- Have him attach each string to the top of the disc using tape. Make sure each string is a different length and they are evenly spaced apart from one another.
- Encourage your kid to paint black over the tape and on both sides of the disc. Allow to dry.
- Cut three 10-inch long pieces of string. Have your child tie a knot on one side of each string, and then thread each string through the holes in the disc. Tie them together in a knot at the length you want to hang your galaxy mobile.
Helpful Tip:
You can find images of galaxies on Wikipedia at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hubble_sequence_photo.png
