Solar System Projects for Kids

Has your kid always showed an interest in the different facts about the solar system? Then why not give this interest impetus by working together on a solar system project. Choosing one of the many options for solar system projects for kids for a science fair will keep his interest alive and also help him learn more about the different celestial bodies and planets in the solar system.

Ideas for Solar System Projects for Kids

When you think of solar system project ideas for kids, the first image that crops into your mind is that of a model of the solar system. While these are definitely the best options for a science fair project on solar systems, they are also generally, the most common ones. There are a multitude of other options for easy solar system projects for kids that you can use to teach them about the different aspects of the solar system and the galaxy.

You could opt to concentrate on the constellations in the solar system for your project. If you do decide on this option for solar system projects for kids, you will need to help the child recreate the constellations on a poster board after observation of the sky on a clear night. In order to identify the constellations correctly, he will need a sky map. Get him to first recreate his observations on a poster board and then duplicate this with more clarity on another board for the science fair. If your child has shown a deep interest in astronomy, and celestial bodies, then you could also opt to recreate the different phases of the Moon. Before you move on to such a project ensure that your child understands the solar system as a whole. This is one those solar system projects for kids that will need you to observe the Moon in all its phases. This will need time. If you do not have time on your hand, then you could try and explain the phenomenon to your kid with the help of a lamp that has had its lampshade removed. Use a small ball to represent the moon and let your child's head represent planet Earth. Let the ball slowly revolve around Earth and ask your child to note down the parts which are reflecting light. Try and explain to your child, the different phases of the Moon. For the science fair project, you can create a working model, using a lamp, a ball to represent Moon, and another bigger ball to represent Earth.

Other solar system projects for kids include helping them learn how to scale down actual measurements to distances that they can easily understand. You could also decide to study the topography of other planets in the solar system. Planets like Mars and Venus which have been studied by astronomers and scientists are your best bet. You could also create models to understand the surface geography of Earth's natural satellite, Moon. One of the solar system science fair projects that you could suggest could be to study the densities of different planets and how it affects their mass. This is one of the best solar system projects for middle school students.

How to Make Solar System Projects for Kids

So you now know what are the different options that you can opt for in case you want to deviate from the oft trodden path of making a solar system model. But the fact remains that studying the solar system is always the most amount of fun if you make a model of the sun and the planets in their axis. Given below are the instructions that you will need in order to make a model of the solar system. In order to make this model you will need foam balls in different sizes, paints (acrylic), tin pie plate, wire, glue, and cardboard. This is one of the kids solar system projects that needs minimal supervision.

    * Refer to the image of the solar system, and then designate each ball to one planet depending on their size.
    * The next step is to paint the foam balls in different colors, depending on the planet/ celestial body they represent. Therefore, Mars would be painted red and Earth would be painted blue and green.
    * The next step would be to place the planets in order, according to their distance from the Sun.
    * Next you will need to create a ring for Saturn. Use the cardboard to cut out a ring with a diameter equal to the diameter of the foam ball that represents Saturn.
    * Now take the ring and slide the foam ball representing Saturn inside it. Stick the ring to the planet around the center. Paint the ring in a color that resembles the color of the actual Saturn ring.
    * Now take the wire and cut it into nine parts - one for each of the planets and one for the Sun.
    * Thread the pieces of wire through the foam balls. Once you thread it, bend the end of the wire so that it does not slip out.
    * The top portion of the wire needs to be spiraled which can be done using a pencil. First wrap the wire around the pencil and then remove it create spirals.
    * Now comes the part of attaching the planets and the sun to the tin pie plate. For this you will need to use a Swiss army knife to create holes through which the wires can be suspended.
    * Start from the middle of the tin pie plate suspending the Sun first, so that you can get your dimensions and distances right.
    * Once you have suspended all the planets, you have created your solar system model. Now just paint a background for it on a chart paper and hang it front of this background.

This is the easiest of all solar system projects for kids. It can be made easily with hardly any help. It is also possible to create 3D solar system projects for kids by using the various kits that are available in the market. These kits which are available for all ages, from solar system projects for preschoolers to project boxes for middle school students, only need you to assemble the parts given to create a solar system model. Solar system projects for kids are a great method of introducing children to the wonders of the universe and the basic concepts of astronomy.

Acting Tips for Kids

The world of showbiz is not only restricted to aspiring adult actors, but also needs talented little kids. Roles for child actors are not only found in advertisements, but also in the area of theater, television and movies. As children are not much aware of how the acting world works, it becomes the responsibility of the parents to train their child to act. Though some kids are expert in mimicking other actors as well as people they meet in their daily life, acting in a theater is totally different.

There are actually positive as well as negative aspects of trying to make children act. The positive aspect is that most children do not have any inhibitions and are ready to act in the way people want them to. However, the negative aspect is that their attention does not hold for a very long time and this can hinder their performance. Nevertheless, though making a child act can be a little difficult, it is definitely not impossible because we have seen a host of child actors who have entertained us with their acting skills. So parents, here are some acting tips for kids that will help you in teaching your kids the nuances of acting. Read on child development.

Acting Tips for Beginners - Kids

One of the most important factors that is necessary for a child to act is his/her interest. Many times, it happens that children are forced into the field of acting because of their parents interest. Parents must remember that though they may be able to force their kid initially, if the child does not have interest in acting, it will not take much time for the casting director or producer to realize this fact. Hence, it is important for parents to talk to them and make them understand the whole process (except for babies). If your child is keen on acting and has gained a role for himself, he will surely have to undergo a rehearsal. However, training him at home will not only make the process easier for him, but for the production team as well. Read more on acting tips for beginners.

Characterization
Understanding one's character is one of the most crucial acting tips for kids to help them give their best performance. Though parents may think that characterization is something that children will not understand, they are actually wrong. Children have excellent imaginary skills and are often seen to indulge in role playing and hence parents can use this method to help the child to get into his character. If your child's role in a play is of a salesperson in a shop, make up a story where he plays the shopkeeper and you play the role of the customers visiting the shop. Create certain dialogs for the character of the shopkeeper as well as the customers. Practicing in this way will help your kid in understanding how he has to act for his role.

Memorizing Lines
Memorizing one's lines is very important, especially if your child has got a part for a theater play where there are no chances for retakes. Though it is not possible to force them to learn the lines by heart, you can help him with the aid of some acting tips and tricks. Rather than just making him memorize the line, explain what is exactly happening in the scene. Tell him the situation in the scene and how his character has to behave and what he has to say. This will make the task of remembering the lines much easier for your child. Another way of doing this is by listening to the dialogs. If your child is bored of reading the lines again and again, you can record these dialogs in a CD and make him listen while he is doing other activities like reading, drawing, sleeping, etc. It has been observed that listening to something for a long time improves memory of a person.

Voice Projection
If your kid has got a part for a play, it is important that he learns to speak loudly so that the audience can hear him clearly. You can make him practice with the help of some exercises. One such exercise is where you have to keep some kind of object near your kid and ask him to say the dialogs to that object, as if it is a person listening to him. After a few lines, move the object a little behind and tell him to say the dialogs to it. When you move the object behind, your child will have to speak louder so that the object is able to hear him. This exercise will surely help in saying his dialogs loudly as well as clearly on stage. Know more about public speaking techniques.

I hope these acting tips for kids are useful for you to assist your kid to perform well on stage. Parents should have lot of patience while teaching these acting tips for children as they may not show improvement at the first time itself. Rather than getting frustrated, remember that it will require a lot of hard work, time and practice for your child to make his mark in the field of acting.