MAKE YOUR OWN MARVELLOUS MOON ROCKS
THESE moon rocks are really easy to make, so take some inspiration from space and get creative. There are eight planets in our Solar System, plus plenty of stars, moons, comets and asteroids.
Will your rocks be from existing planets or meteors that have crashed down to Earth from worlds as yet undiscovered?
YOU WILL NEED: Air drying clay; Objects with different textures; Modelling tools; Paint; Glitter; PVA glue
METHOD.
1. Decide where you want your space rock to come from. Do some research
– have a look at some of the planets in our galaxy in books or online. What are they made from? What colours are they? How might they feel? Draw your ideas or make notes as you go.
2. Take a small amount of clay and seal the rest in an airtight container so it doesn’t go hard. Roll the piece of clay in your hands until it is easily manageable.
3. Mould it into your chosen shape. You could pinch it out to make spikes, push your fingers in to make dips or use an object to make a texture. Experiment with objects around your home and see what impressions they make. Clay can stain and can be difficult to remove so ask an adult if you are not sure which items to use. We used a pen top to make an interesting pattern in one of our rocks (see picture 1).
4. If you want your rock to look real, press the clay onto a piece of stone or brick (picture 2). Try pushing a shell in (picture 3-4) – the imprint it leaves looks like a fossil.
5. When you have finished shaping and texturing your rocks, leave to dry for a least 24 hours in a warm place until the clay hardens.
6. Now paint the rocks – check back to your research if you need to. Add some glitter before your paint is dry if you wish, or use a little PVA glue to stick glitter on afterwards.
7. When you’ve finished, why not set up a mini moon rock museum? Make some signs with the names of your rocks and where each one comes from and invite your family to take a tour.
*Adult supervision is recommended when crafting