Solar System Scale Model Walk
Build a scale model of the solar system using everyday objects and walk the distances between planets. Understand just how vast space really is — with your feet.
What You'll Need
- 1Basketball (Sun)
- 2Small objects for planets (peppercorns, pinheads, walnut, acorn, peanuts)
- 3Measuring tape or step counting
- 4Labels or sticky notes
- 5Large outdoor space (park, field, or sidewalk)
What You'll Need
A basketball for the Sun
Small objects: pinheads (Mercury, Mars), peppercorns (Venus, Earth), walnut (Jupiter), acorn (Saturn), peanuts (Uranus, Neptune)
Labels or sticky notes
A large outdoor space — park, field, or long sidewalk
How to Play
Place the basketball (Sun) at one end of a park or long sidewalk.
Walk 10 paces to Mercury (pinhead). "Mercury is tiny and close."
Walk 9 more to Venus. 19 more to Earth. 14 more to Mars.
Walk 95 paces past Mars to reach Jupiter (walnut). "So much empty space!"
Continue: Saturn (112 more), Uranus (249 more), Neptune (281 more).
Look back at the basketball-Sun. It's barely visible.
"And the nearest star? At this scale, it would be 4,200 miles away."
Why It Works
Textbook diagrams show planets lined up neatly, but they completely hide the scale of space. Walking the actual proportional distances transforms abstract numbers into a felt experience. The empty stretches between planets — especially the vast gap between Mars and Jupiter — are genuinely surprising. Your child will never think about the solar system the same way.
Tips
You need a LOT of space. A park, a long beach, or a running track works well.
Pre-calculate the step distances for your chosen scale. Many NASA websites have ready-made scale models.
Take photos at each planet with the planet object. Create a photo album of the scale model.
Discuss: "If we drove to the Sun at highway speed, how long would it take?" (About 177 years at 60 mph.)
Pluto is controversial but fun to include. At this scale, it's another 245 paces past Neptune — and the size of a grain of sand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 45 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: basketball (sun), small objects for planets (peppercorns, pinheads, walnut, acorn, peanuts), measuring tape or step counting, labels or sticky notes, large outdoor space (park, field, or sidewalk).
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Does this need to be done outdoors?
This activity is best done outdoors where kids have space to move and explore.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
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