Shoe box Universe - teach the planets and practice reading...and play a little too of course!

Its kind of ironic isn't it? Squeezing the biggest thing into a shoe box...

My son was so so excited to see what I had made for him. I regretted not making it in a bigger shoe box because he was squeezing in all his rockets, flying between the planets!

This project started with me sitting with a pile of bottle tops, thinking there was surely something interesting that could be done with them that I hadn't see before. Now, sure, there have been shoebox universes before (though I haven't seen one and thought I'd come up with something new until I hit Pinterest!). However, I have not been able to see one that uses bottle tops. The benefit of using bottle tops is that there are two flat sides - so you can write the names of the planets on one side and decorate the other. I think this turned out really well and my son, who is just learning to read, was able to read all the planets by himself - almost...!

First I got a shoe box. Black is a good choice. I covered the inside with some left over treat bags from my son's recent birthday party. Then I painted the planets.

Heres a video of me painting the planets.

https://vimeo.com/266878823

I just used standard poster paint for kids that is washable but it did have a tendency to flake off. It might better to use a stronger paint.

One the bottle tops have dried, use a hot needle or something similar (I actually used a martini pick because it was the perfect width) to make a hole right through each bottle top from top to bottom. Thread yarn or cord through the holes. Tie a knot at each end now because it is very difficult to get the thread back in if it comes out after this stage.

Trace round each bottle top onto card and cut out. Write the names of each planet onto the card and attach to the edge of the bottle top with extra strong glue. I used very strong glue because the surface which the card will attach to is very thin so you need it to be strong.

Work out where you want the planets to go making sure they are in order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune - apparently Pluto doesn't count any more if you didn't get the memo.

Make holes from top to bottom. Thread through and tie knots at both outer sides of the shoe box. You'll also need to knot under each planet to hold it in place wherever you want it to go.

This whole project took probably around two hours. Kids could help paint the planets and cut out the circles and write the names of the planets but there was a lot of adult based work to be done here too.

Now my daughter wants a shoe box world. Check back soon to see what I make!

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