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When I make a model of the solar system, I make it to scale, which
takes up about 1000 yards. Relative size is a little hard for 2nd
graders to master, but here are the things I use:
Sun: a beach ball 8-inches across
Mercury: a pinhead
Venus: a peppercorn
Earth: a peppercorn
Mars: a pinhead
Jupiter: a walnut
Saturn: a hazelnut
Uranus: a jellybean
Nepture: a jellybean
Pluto: a really small pinhead
For 2nd grade, a better project may be to focus on the colors
of the planets and the fact that Saturn has rings. I have found
that paints found at craft stores actually do a decent job
of painting styrofoam, if that is something you'd like to do.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Jennifer Johnson
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