Clay Planets

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Are you teaching your kids about the solar system? Check out these clay planets: a fun craft to help your kids learn astronomy in a hands-on way!

In this post, we will walk through the step-by-step process of creating a set of clay planets, with photos included. So, clear a space for crafting, gather your homeschool class and supplies, and let’s get started!

Magic Clay – Air Dry Clay 24 Colors, Modeling Clay for Kids with Tools, Soft & Ultra Light, Toys Gifts for Age 3 4 5 6 7 8+ Years Old Boys Girls Kids

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BOHS 12-Colors Foam Modeling Clay – Squishy, Air Dry, Soft – for Cosplay,School Projects,Baby Hand Print,Slime – Gifts for Adult and Kids – 12 pcs,2.65 lbs,Ages 3 & Up

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Clay Tools Kit, 25 PCS Polymer Clay Tools, Ceramics Clay Sculpting Tools Kits, Air Dry Clay Tool Set for Adults, Kids, Pottery Craft, Baking, Carving, Drawing, Dotting, Molding, Modeling, Shaping

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Instructions for Clay Planets

Step 1

Select clay for the planets and the sun. Let’s start with the clay sun. You’ll want orange clay and double the amount of yellow clay. Knead and then form smooth ball shapes separately.

Step 2

Flatten the yellow clay ball into a 0.5-cm thick disc shape and form a 1-cm thick rope shape with the orange clay ball. The orange rope should be long enough to cover the yellow clay disc’s circumference.

Step 3

Use a cutting knife to cut the clay rope into 10-12 even, small pieces.

Step 4

Form triangle shapes with the 10-12 clay pieces.

Step 5

Join all the clay triangle pieces together, side by side, in a row.

Step 6

Attach the clay triangle row around the yellow clay disc to complete the clay sun shape.

Step 7

Let’s make the clay earth now. Select blue clay and half its amount of green clay. Form smooth ball shapes with them, individually.

Step 8

Flatten the blue clay ball into a 0.5 cm thick disc shape.

Step 9

Flatten the green clay ball into a thin piece.

Step 10

Cut out 3 random shapes from the green clay piece for the green parts of the earth pattern.

Step 11

Attach the green clay parts to the blue base to complete the Earth.

Step 12

To make Mars, take red clay and half its amount of orange clay. Knead the clay and form ball shapes.

Step 13

Roll the clay parts into rope shapes.

Step 14

Twist the ropes with each other.

Step 15

Now knead it to form a sphere and flatten it into a 0.5 cm thick disc. And you’re done making the clay Mars.

Step 16

For Saturn, pick beige, sand, and gray-colored clays by a random amount and form rope shapes.

Step 17

Mix them partially and then form a ball shape and flatten it into a 0.5 cm thick disc.

Step 18

Use beige-colored clay to make a rope long enough to cover the disc we had previously made.

Step 19

Wrap the clay rope around the disc shape to make the ring of Saturn.

To make the other clay planets and complete your clay solar system, pick out any colors of clay you like and follow the instructions for the previous planets to make several more.

More Clay Crafts

Here are other fun crafts with clay you might want to try with your homeschool class, as well as some space-themed activities and crafts to round out lessons on astronomy.

• Clay Frog Craft
• Clay Ladybug Tic Tac Toe
• Make a Cell Model with Clay
• Solar System Writing and Research Activities
• Cute Planet Bookmarks
• Solar System Craft and Cards

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