When building a model of the planet Jupiter, it's important to highlight a few of the planet's most notable features, starting with its size. Jupiter was named after the king of Roman gods because of its size, making it the biggest planet in our solar system. Another notable feature is Jupiter's color -- a mixture of reds, browns and swirls and stripes, which includes the Great Red Spot, one of the largest storm systems on the planet.
A model of Jupiter should ideally include orbital elements of the planet, such as the planet's satellites, which is its own version of Earth's moon. Unlike the Earth however, Jupiter has more than one satellite; scientists are continually discovering more hovering around the planet. For a school project model, it is sufficient to depict the four largest and most famous satellites: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
You can use a variety of materials to construct a model of planet Jupiter. Styrofoam balls are ideal to achieve the general shape of the planet, and can be obtained in a variety of sizes to be used for both the planet and its satellites. This material is also simple to color and decorate but it is not the only material that can be used. The Jupiter model project can also be made with wires, wood and plastic shaped into a sphere. In addition, a model can be created using 3-D imaging software, which allows you to create a computer-animated representation of the planet.
All of the effort and detail put into making a model of planet Jupiter generally culminates in a presentation, either in front of a class or in a science fair type of showcase. How you are required to present the project influences how it is built. For instance, if the model needs to be seen from a distance, it should be large. In a science fair setup, details about the planet that cannot be included on the model itself must be placed on a display, such as a poster board with written material and images, which helps viewers learn more about Jupiter. Ideally this presentation involves a demonstration in which you can show how the planet and its satellites move through space.