How to Make a Solar System Bracelet
Constructing a Solar System Bracelet is a GREAT way to introduce students
in grades 6-9 to their study of the solar system. My ninth graders loved it! I
found out about the activity from former MSTA president, Shirley Greene,
who also participated in NASA's Solar System Ambassador Program. Read
the instructions below to find out how to do the activity.
Although constructing the bracelet makes students more interested in the
solar system, like most diagrams and models of the solar system, the bracelet
does not accurately depict sizes AND distances. So, it's important to set aside
time to help students understand this. CLICK HERE for suggestions.
Instructions
1. Set up several stations around the room where students can cut the "Stretch
Magic" thread needed to make the bracelets (photo). Students should obtain
12 inches of .7 mm (diameter) durable, elastic thread. Instruct students to tie a
very tight knot about an inch from one end of the thread (photo). "Stretch
Magic" thread is very difficult to break, so tell them to tie the knot tight!
2. Organize the beads in trays where students can have convenient access to
them (photo). Students should use petri dishes (either tops or bottoms) to
obtain beads that represent each of the planets. Although it is no longer
classified as a planet, a "Pluto bead" will be included to represent the Kuiper
Belt Objects (photo). Students should also obtain 1/2 teaspoon of the black,
donut-shaped "short spacer beads" (SS) and two black, tube-shaped "long
spacer" beads" (LS) (photo).
3. Give each student a 9" x 12" bead mat to place their beads on once they
return to their desk/table (photo). This will help prevent beads from rolling
onto the floor, especially if they are working on desktops that are not level.
4. Students will start by placing one of the longer black spacer beads (LS),
one of the shorter black spacer beads (SS), and the Sun bead onto the elastic
string as shown here (photo).
5. After the Sun bead students should place the rest of the beads onto the
string. Write the order on the board for students to see as they string the
beads. Remind them that "SS" means "short spacer bead" and "LS" means
"long spacer bead" (photo).
Tie a knot. - one LS - one SS - Sun - one SS - Mercury - one SS - Venus - one
SS - Earth - one SS - Mars - six* SS - Jupiter - eight SS - Saturn - eighteen
SS - Uranus - twenty SS - Neptune - sixteen SS - Pluto - at least five** SS
and one LS - Tie another very tight knot so that Pluto and the black beads
will not fall off (photo).
6. Next students should tie the two ends together as shown here (photo) and
bring the bracelet to you so that you (the teacher) can place a drop of superglue onto the knot (photo). Finally, they can use scissors to trim the excess
thread (photo). That's all there is to it! (photo)
*If you would like to include the Asteroid Belt . . .
Instead of putting six SS beads between Mars and Jupiter, put three SS beads,
followed a tiny brown (irregular shaped) bead to represent the Asteroid Belt,
followed by two more SS beads, and then Jupiter.
**For those students with bigger wrists . . .
More SS beads can be added to make the bracelet bigger (before they tie the
knot).
Be sure to check out this Bracelet REALITY CHECK (printable pdf file).