Assign each of the students in your class a different constellation in the night sky. Explain that they will be creating a model of their assigned constellation. Cover one end of a toilet paper roll with a sheet of aluminum foil. Glue the foil into position. Cover the outside of the tube with black construction paper. This will cover the seam where the foil and tube attach to one another. Use a toothpick or pushpin to poke holes in the foil to form the constellation. Decorate the outside of the mini-planetarium as desired. Point the end of the tube toward a source of bright light and look through it to see a small image of the night sky. Have students pass their tubes around so that the class can experience a full planetarium show.
Create a model of the planets in the solar system as they revolve around the sun. Allow students to be creative and come up with their own plans. They may use play-dough, Styrofoam balls, poster board or other craft supplies to make their planets. Multiple design ideas are available at the Classroom Jr. website. You may have children only include the main planets, with or without Pluto, or you may have them include planets, moons, comets and other celestial bodies. Whatever design you choose, make sure students place the sun, the solar system's largest solar body by far, at the center.
A comet can be built from dry ice, water, dirt and ammonia. Specific assembly instructions are available from the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (see Resources). Children can see how a comet forms in space and also how it deteriorates. After making the comet, have students record their observations about the comet throughout the day. The comet will turn to a gas and evaporate as it melts, rather than melting into a puddle. Use this project as an opportunity to discus the specific differences between a comet and an asteroid.
A magnetometer measure changes in Earth's magnetic field. These changes often happen in response to a solar storm. Help students build their own magnetometer from a 2-liter pop bottle and monitor its reading to look for signs of a solar storm. Specific construction instructions are available from NASA (see Resources). If you live in an area where the Northern Lights are visible, have students track the relationship between the visibility of the Northern Lights and movements in the magnetometer.