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How to Make a Rocket Board

The solar system consists of a star, the sun, which is orbited by nine major celestial bodies, of which Earth is one. You can use ordinary craft supplies to make a game at home that can help teach children the names of the planets in a fun and engaging way. The game is called a rocket board, a playing board on which each of the eight planets and the central star are represented. Players then attempt to "land" a rocket playing piece by tossing it at the board, much like a game of beanbag toss.

Things You'll Need

Tack or pin
Cardboard
Pencil
String
Scissors
Markers or colored pencils
Pennies or other small coins

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a square of cardboard measuring 2 feet on each side.
- 2
  Insert a tack or pin in the center of the cardboard square.
- 3
  Cut a 14-inch length of string and tie one end to the tack and the other end to a pencil so a length of 10 inches remains between the two.
- 4
  Draw a circle with the pencil using the string as a guide and keeping it taught as you go around the center.
- 5
  Shorten the string by 1 inch and draw another circle. Repeat until you have drawn nine circles, representing the eight major bodies of the solar system and the sun.
- 6
  Label the circles with the names of the planets in their order (from the inside out: The sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune). Color and decorate the playing board.
- 7
  Draw and cut out a 4-inch-long rocket shape out of cardboard. Color and decorate it with markers or pencils.
- 8
  Tape one or two pennies to the back of the rocket to weigh it down.

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