How to Make a Moon Model

Wash your hands thoroughly. Shape the clay into a sphere 5 inches in diameter and place it on the ovenproof plate. Hold up the ruler to the sphere to check its width and adjust as needed.

Mark three inches down from the top of the skewer, and stick it into the center of the clay sphere to that mark. The area with the hole will become the bottom of the moon model.

Make a 5 inch by 5 inch clay block that is 3 inches thick, using the knife and the ruler. Place the block on the ovenproof plate.

Mark off two inches upwards from the bottom of the skewer, and stick the skewer down into the center of the block up to that mark.

Bake the sphere and the square on the ovenproof plate according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Study the pictures of the moon. Practice sketching the basic shapes of the most notable features of the moon on paper. Practice painting the outlines of the shapes and then filling them in, then adding detail, until you feel confident in your ability to reproduce the shapes.

Set up the moon pictures and your best pictures where you can see them. Pencil the outline of one major shape onto the clay sphere and then fill it in with the basic color. Prop it up between the two phone books and let it dry. Then paint in the details and let it dry. Repeat this for the other shapes.

Set the moon model on the skewer, and set the skewer into the block.