Quiet Book - Solar System

To figure out colors and design for each planet, I used different pictures I found online, this is one of them.

For this project you'll need:

felt in various colors

scissors

needle

thread

sewing machine (optional)

brown, rock-like beads

18 magnets - I got mine from Hobby Lobby and got the strongest magnets available, because they have to "stick" through two layers of felt.

The solar system pages are fairly simple overall - 

Step 1: 

Cut out three circles for each planet.

Step 2: 

Sew two of those circles together, making sure to put a magnet in the middle.

Step 3: 

Decorate each planet with felt pieces and hot glue.

 Step 4: 

Cut out a sliver of sun for the edge of the page.

Step 5: 

Sew the sun and the 9 orbit lines to the black felt pages - I used my sewing machine for this.  In hindsight, I probably should have practiced more to make sure they all ended up in a more uniform curved line - I got better the last few planets!

Step 6: 

Sew the third circle for each planet to their respective orbit lines, making sure to put a magnet in between the circle and the background page.

Step 7: 

Sew on beads to make up the asteroid belt.

Although it's not 100 % to scale and scientifically accurate, I like that there are a lot of things to learn from these pages.  The order of the planets, their sizes, relative to each other, what an orbit is, what an asteroid belt is.  If a parent is around, they can help learn the names of the planets and can help the child speculate about why earth looks blue and green and why some planets have rings.

Are you planning to make a Quiet Book? Get started with an assortment of felt: