World Space Week / Toilet Roll Solar System Walk
Toilet Roll Solar System Walk
Children unroll a toilet roll to make a scale model of distances between the planets, discovering just how much empty space there is in our solar system.
How to run it
- Prepare planet labels and a scale chart where one toilet paper square equals a set distance (about 1, 2, 2.5, 4, 13, 24, 49 and 76 squares from the Sun for the eight planets).
- Place a 'Sun' marker at one end of a long corridor or path outdoors.
- Have children count squares as they unroll the paper, placing each planet label at the right spot.
- Walk the whole model together and discuss which planets are close and which are very far apart.
You will need
- 2 toilet rolls
- planet label cards
- tape or pebbles to hold paper
- scale chart
Make it easier or harderYounger children can count squares and place labels; older children can calculate the distances themselves from a real scale chart.
SafetyChoose a still day or weigh the paper down so it doesn't blow away, and pick up all paper afterwards.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 4Children investigate scale and measurement, using counting and observation to understand the size of the solar system.
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