Have you ever stared at the night sky and felt tiny compared to the universe? Children often look up at the stars with pure wonder, trying to understand what lies beyond Earth. Our solar system, with its glowing sun, swirling planets, and mysterious moons, is the perfect starting point to nurture this curiosity.
National Space Day is the ideal excuse to dive into galaxies, planets, and stardust — but instead of only reading books or watching videos, why not bring space right to your craft table?
These solar system crafts for kids help children learn through creativity, sensory play, and hands-on exploration. We’ll make planets, suns, rockets, orbit mobiles, and even space snacks! Most require simple materials like paper, glue, markers, and cardboard — perfect for classrooms, homeschoolers, and curious young explorers.
By the end, kids won’t just remember the planets — they’ll feel like mini astronomers who have touched the solar system with their own hands.
✅ Why Solar System Crafts Matter
Craft-based learning supports:
✨ Memory retention
🧠 Creative thinking and curiosity
🚀 Hands-on STEM exploration
🎨 Fine-motor development
📚 Better understanding of science topics
Plus, space crafts encourage children to ask big questions like:
- Why do planets orbit the sun?
- How big is Jupiter compared to Earth?
- Could there be life somewhere else?
And those questions are where real learning begins.
✅ 15 Solar System Crafts for Kids
Perfect for preschoolers, primary students, and even early middle-school learners.
1. Solar System Coloring Sheet
Start simple. Give kids a printable solar system page to color.
Teach them planet names, sizes, and order from the sun.
💡 Teaching Tip:
Repeat the order aloud — Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
2. Solar System Bingo Game
Turn learning into play with a bingo activity featuring planets, stars, rockets, and moons.
As each card is called, discuss facts like planet temperatures or number of moons.
3. Watercolor Galaxy Painting
Use watercolors or food-color-diluted paint to create dreamy night skies.
Add salt to wet paint to mimic real star clusters — kids LOVE this trick.
🧪 Learning Moment:
Discuss how stars are giant burning balls of gas just like the Sun.
4. Paper Plate Planet Craft
Paint or color paper plates as individual planets.
Stack them on a wall in orbit order to create a giant space mural.
5. Sponge-Print Planets
Cut sponges into circles, dip into paint, and print planets.
This creates a realistic, crater-like texture — perfect for Mercury or the Moon.
6. Cardboard Telescope Craft
Use a cardboard tube to make a pretend telescope.
Let kids look through it and imagine exploring the sky.
🪐 Extend the Lesson:
Talk about real telescopes like Hubble and the James Webb Telescope.
7. Balloon Solar System
Blow up different-sized balloons to represent planets.
Hang from the ceiling with yarn.
Great for classroom decoration!
8. Orbit Mobile Craft
Cut planets from colored paper, attach string, and hang them from a hoop or hanger to show orbits.
🎯 Concept Reinforced:
Planets don’t float randomly — they follow paths around the Sun.
9. Marshmallow & Toothpick Constellations
Recreate simple constellations using marshmallows and toothpicks.
📖 Story Time Idea:
Share myths or stories about constellations, like Orion or Ursa Major.
10. Cup & Yarn Solar System Hat
Make a wearable hat featuring planets orbiting your head.
Kids LOVE wearing this during space-themed events.
11. Cotton-Ball Milky Way Craft
Glue cotton balls onto black paper to create a hazy, star-filled galaxy strip.
12. Edible Solar System Snack Tray
Arrange fruits or crackers in planet order.
Example:
- Blueberry = Earth
- Cherry tomato = Mars
- Orange slice = Jupiter
🍎 Teaches:
Healthy eating + space science = win-win
Fill jars with glow paint dots or glow-stars to create “galaxy jars.”
✨ Night Light Idea:
Kids can keep it beside their bed as a mini universe jar.
14. Rocket Craft with Paper Roll
Use a cardboard tube, craft paper, and foil to build a rocket.
Add “fire” strips using tissue paper.
🧠 STEM Question:
What do rockets need to escape Earth’s gravity?
15. Planet Play-Dough Set
Make play-dough planets in different colors.
Let kids shape, flatten, stack, and explore sizes.
📏 Concept:
Jupiter should be largest. Mercury smallest. Saturn round with a ring.
✅ Bonus Learning Ideas
To deepen the experience, try:
📚 Reading space storybooks
🛰 Watching kids astronomy videos
🌠 Visiting a planetarium or science museum
🪐 Downloading astronomy printables
📅 Celebrating NASA launch days
✅ Space Questions to Spark Curiosity
Ask kids:
- Why does Earth have life?
- What makes Saturn’s rings so special?
- Why can’t humans breathe on Mars?
- What would aliens look like if they existed?
These open-ended questions build imagination and scientific thinking — two of the most powerful tools a child can develop.
✅ Conclusion
These solar system crafts for kids bring the universe right to your living room or classroom. With simple supplies and big imagination, children can explore planets, stars, and galaxies — building confidence, creativity, and curiosity along the way.
Encourage them to keep asking questions, keep looking up at the night sky, and keep dreaming big — maybe they’ll grow into future astronauts, astronomers, or space engineers.
Space isn’t far away when it’s in your child’s hands.