How To Make Paper Mache Planets

Inside: Step-by-step guide to making paper mache planets.

Paper mache planets are the answer to a fun, engaging activity to integrate arts into your science curriculum! 

If you have been looking for how to do this, look no further! I’ll show you, step by step, how to create a paper mache solar system with your students.

Start by gathering your materials

This activity is a lot of fun for your students and a great way for them to show what they know about the planets after your solar system unit. It will take a few days to complete the entire project so be sure to plan the time.

Here is what you will need:

• Balloons (one balloon per pair of students)
• Water
• Flour
• Large Bowl
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Acrylic paints (Green, blue, red, orange, yellow, brown)
• **If you are making a paper mache solar system instead of a single planet, you will also need colored paper or other materials to create rings for Saturn and Uranus.

Make the paper mache

First, you’ll need to create the paper mache. This is very simple. Mix 1 part flour to 2 parts water. Stir until there are few lumps left in the bowl. It should be runny, not thick. You’ll need to make quite a bit to have enough for a whole class (more than I made). 

I recommend filling the entire bowl to start out. Then divide it into bowls for smaller groups of students. Have extra ingredients on hand in case you need to make more!

Pass out the balloons

Next, give a balloon to each student (or pair of students if you are having them work together). Have the students blow the balloon just enough that it looks like a nice circle. They should NOT blow it up all the way, because then it doesn’t have that nice spherical shape that you need for a planet.

Hand out newspapers

Then, hand out newspapers to students and have them cut the newspaper into strips. 

Once the balloon and strips of the newspaper are ready, give each pair of students a bowl of paper mache glue. (Or, have groups of 4 share). Students will dip each strip into the paper mache, covering both sides, and then stick it to their balloon. 

Have students do two layers at once and then let it dry for a day. Then, repeat the next day.

When the planets have completely dried, students may begin painting their planets with acrylic paints. Students may decorate their planet(s) using paints, colored paper, or any other materials on hand. They should get creative! Students with Saturn and Uranus should have some sort of material to create rings for their planets with.

And that’s that! Your paper mache solar system is complete!

Can you guess which paper mache planet I created? …..It’s Neptune 🙂

Check out our Solar System Research Unit

If you love this activity and are looking for more curriculum for your Solar System unit, check out my Solar System Informational Text Research Unit! This unit will show your students how to use informational text to study the solar system, choose a planet to research, and focus on one question each day in their Solar System Research Journal (which is no prep and ready to go for you).

Then they will create these paper mache planets and invite parents and other classes to come to their “Planet Fair”! Worksheets, parent letters, invitations, and everything you need are included in both color and black and white. Check it out in my shop or  Teachers pay Teachers store if you’re interested!

Let me know if you try this paper mache planet activity in your classroom! I’d love to hear about it and see pictures of your student’s work! You may also like to try out making salt dough fossils with your class as well!