Art for Kids: Glowing Paper Planets

If you have little astronomers in the making and are looking for a fun and easy planet craft for kids, making Paper Planets definitely fits the bill and the results are amazing!

I found this idea in one of my ever-favorite books The Best of Making Things: A Hand Book of Creative Discovery; they were listed as Star Balls but I thought they looked much more like planets. Plus that’s how I enticed my kids to try this project out, “C’mon guys, we’re going to make glowing planets for your room.” We just got the kids bunk beds and I’m trying to get them excited about actually sleeping in them! I thought maybe we could hang these from the ceiling and under the upper bunk for some nighttime wonderment…I don’t have a verdict back on whether they are enticing enough but I’ll keep you posted.

Anyhoo, here’s the tutorial on this super easy craft for kids and adults alike; I could easily see these double as party decorations….

Glowing Paper Planets

Materials

• Colored Paper
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Circular objects to trace
• Glue
• Glow-in-the-Dark Paint optional
• Q-tips or paintbrushes optional
• Hole Punch
• String

Instructions

• Step One Trace circular objects on your paper. We used some cans and food containers. Cut out circles.
• Step Two Fold one circle in half.
• Step three Cut a slit down the center of the circle stopping short of the edge by about 1/4″.
• Step Four Cut slits in additional circles.
• Step Five Take an uncut circle and begin sliding the slit circles onto it.
• Step Six Continue adding slit circles until you get the shape you want. If you cut different sizes of circles you can layer them on the main disc.

• Step Seven Add a little glue if you want at the connection points to secure everything in place.
• Step Eight Optional Using a Q-tip or paintbrush add glow in the dark paint to your finished planet. Your best bet for glow in the dark effects is to paint dots of paint onto the planets. We tried painting some of our circles with a coat of paint so that the whole planet would glow evenly but when the paint thins out it’s less effective. The paint does not dry entirely clear so make sure you paint it on nicely. I obviously didn’t do that here!

• Step Nine Punch a  hole in the top of the main disc
• Step Ten Thread your string through the hole and hang.

You’re done! This is a really easy craft for kids to make on their own too!

I tried to get a shot of the glow-in the dark look but I have to admit it was impossible for me to capture…it looks really good though!

Enjoy!

Tagged as: art projects for kids, CRAFTS, EDUCATION, paper planets, PARENTING, PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES