Make visuals stating important facts about Neptune, such as copies of pictures taken by NASA's Voyager 2 in 1989, how long it took Voyager 2 to reach Neptune, information about its moons and how it got its name. Students could take turns giving the Neptune weather report. A student can convey information about what the planet is made of near an area with caution tape between two construction horses warning people not to stand on Neptune (because there is nothing solid to stand on).
This part of the project is sure to catch the attention of every student in your school. Pick a dry day without much wind. You need a roll of toilet paper, 9, ½-inch diameter dowel rods, approximately 12-by-12-inch color pictures of the sun and the planets except Neptune, a larger color picture of Neptune or a paper mache replica, 8 pieces of 12-by-12-inch heavy poster board, a larger piece of heavy poster board, double-sided tape runner, a stapler and a table for the presentation materials. Use the tape runner to attach the pictures of the planets and the sun to the heavy poster board. Label each object and staple them to the tops of the dowel rods.
The toilet paper will act as a measuring tape for determining the proper placement of the planets. One sheet equals 10,000,000 miles' distance between celestial objects. Pick a location for the sun, the starting point of the model and push the sun rod into the ground. Try not to tear the toilet paper as you work and leave it carefully on the ground between the planets. Continue placing the planet rods in a straight line from the sun using the following order and the number of sheets of toilet paper required to measure from the previous object: Earth (2.6), Venus (3.1), Mercury (3.6), Mars (4.8), Jupiter (34.3), Saturn (40.3), Uranus (90.0). The display for Neptune will be 101.0 sheets from Uranus.
Set up a table in the location for Neptune and assign students shifts at the presentation table. One student will describe Neptune and tell a few interesting facts about the planet. A second student will hand out "Your Neptune Age" worksheets and explain how to calculate your alternate age using the length of time it takes Neptune to complete an orbit. Since the planet was discovered in 1846 and completed one orbit in 2011, its "year" is 165 earth years long. Divide your age (rounded off to the nearest year) by 165. For example, if you are 10 years old, divide 10 by 165. Your Neptune age is .06 years old, rounded to two decimal points. A third student will hand out "Your Weight on Neptune" worksheets and explain gravity and how to calculate your weight. Multiply your weight by 1.4 for your Neptune weight.