Solar System Art Projects for Toddlers

The solar system is made up of the sun, planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids, according to Calvin J. Hamilton who created the Solar Views website. Toddlers can create art projects using paint, sponges, glue, glitter, paper, and more, focusing on these objects found in the solar system. Toddler teachers and parents can use these projects to create models in their homes and classrooms and to peak toddlers' interest in space.

  1. The Sun

    • Make the sun sparkle with glitter.

      Toddlers can create a sparkling sun for their solar system model with a little preparation and help from parents or preschool teachers. First, adults cut out a yellow or orange circle, with at least a 6-inch diameter, from construction paper. Adults also pour glue onto a paper plate or a piece of paper for toddlers. The children should dip their fingers in the glue and spread it over their suns. Together, adults and children shake gold glitter onto the sun to make it sparkle. In the classroom, teachers can set up a glitter station; and while one or two teachers work with students to put glitter on their suns, another teacher can read a story or sing songs.

    The Planets

    • Use sponge paint to create Earth with toddlers.

      Have each toddler in the class create a planet; or teachers can divide students into groups and have each group create a planet. Make planets that have multiple surface colors, like Earth and Venus, using sponge painting to create these surfaces. For example, an adult cuts out a blue circle from construction paper for Earth. A toddler uses a piece of a sponge dipped in blue, green and white paint to paint splotches of color on Earth. For Jupiter, with its giant red spot, an adult cuts a circle out of beige paper, some strips out of tan and white paper, and a red circle. Children spread glue on the Jupiter circle, and then glue the strips and red circle on the paper the best they can. Provide a white circle of construction paper and give students red paint and allow them to finger paint "Mars" red. Old adult t-shirts can be used for paint shirts to protect toddler clothes.

    Asteroids

    • Create asteroids with texture.

      Another part of the solar system that toddlers can create with art projects are asteroids. Since asteroids are rocky and metallic objects, give toddlers a piece of brown packing paper, about 20 inches long and 10 inches wide, and a piece of aluminum foil that is about half that size. Students can use brown, silver, and black markers to decorate the piece of brown packing paper. Encourage them to make circles like craters or slash marks for rough rock edges. When they are finished making rock marks, toddlers should turn their paper so the marks are facing down and then put the foil on top of the brown piece of packing paper. Next, children crumple up the foil and paper together into a ball (adults may need to demonstrate; older toddlers can work together if able). This is their asteroid. Teachers can hang these from the ceiling with a string in front of any planet display to show the asteroids traveling through space.

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