We all really enjoyed this weeks activities – learning about the eight planets, astronauts, meteorites, comets, the sun, the moon, rockets and so much more.
Space Themed Activities
Creative Space
Play dough, stamps, scissors, lacing beads and cards, puzzles and blocks are set out for the children to choose from, and get creative during this 30 minute period.
Space Themed Circle Time
Every day during Circle Time we do the morning routine, which includes the Calendar and ‘Number, Color, Shape and Letter of the week’. We then read a story, sing a few songs and do a group activity.
On every Monday we change the ‘Classroom Helpers’ Classroom Jobs. Each child has a name card on a popsicle stick, and they get to choose their job of the week.
Space Themed Circle Time Activities
Activity 1: Weekend News
Every Monday morning each child gets a chance to talk about their weekend and what they did. The children then draw a picture in the ‘weekend news’ journal, and the teacher writes down what they have said.
Activity 2: Where is the Astronaut?
Place the space pictures in the middle of the circle. Children close their eyes. Hide the astronaut under one of the pictures. When the children open their eyes, they must guess where the astronaut is.
Activity 3: Do you want to go to the moon?
Give each child a picture of an astronaut. Ask them to write their name on it. Draw a table on the board with 2 columns (yes & no). Stick the sentence above the columns. Children stick their astronauts in the columns. Count and compare.
Activity 4: Earth Out!
Children sit in a circle. Stick the pictures of all the planets on the board from smallest to biggest (Mercury, Mars, Venus, earth, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter). The first child says Mercury, the child next to them say Mars. Continue in this order. Whoever is earth is out. Continue until there is only one child left.
Activity 5: Ostrich Game
The children sit in a big circle. 2 children stand facing each other in the center. Clip a card on each child’s back. They now must try and see what card is on their opponents back. Their hands must be behind their backs.
Space Themed Songs
Thirteen action songs and rhymes all about Space to get those bodies moving and grooving. Click on the image to head over to the post.
Space Themed Books
Twenty of the best story picture books that are perfect for a theme all about Space. Click on the image below to read what these books are about.
Space Themed Literacy Activities
Activity 1: I want to be an astronaut Art Activity
What you need:
- White, blue and green paint
- Black construction paper
- An old toothbrush
- A flat container
- White construction paper
- Cut out of picture of astronaut
How to complete the activity:
When the green and blue painted paper is dry, cut it out in circles. When everything is dry, put it all together. paste the astronauts on the black paper and give each child an ‘earth’ to also glue onto the paper.
Center 1: Mystery Picture Letter Match
Cut out and laminate the matching cards. Laminate, but don’t cut the sheets with the pictures and their names on it. Children match the upper- and lower-case letters, look at the picture in the middle, and place it on the correct space on the picture sheets.
Center 2: Spin & Cover the planets
Cut out, laminate and assemble the spinner and the ‘Cover the Planets’ cards. Children take turns to spin the spinner. Children cover the planet the spinner lands on, on their card. The first one that covers all the planets on their cards wins.
Center 3: Shape Hunt
Cut out and laminate the shapes with the words on them. Hide these around the room or outside in the garden/ playground. Give each child a Shape Hunt recording sheet. Children find the shapes and write the words next to the correct shape on their recording sheets.
Space Themed Math Activities
Center 1: Rocket Counting
Look at the first number on the rocket and add that many links. Look at the second number and add that many links. Count all the links
Center 2: Counting On Dice Game
Put the space shuttle on ‘0’. Throw a dice and move up that many times. Record the number. Throw the dice again and move up that many spaces. Record and add.
Center 3: Copy the Constellations
Copy the constellations onto the grids by counting how many spaces from the top, left, right or bottom.
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Activity Sheets
Space Themed Art
Click on the image to pop over to MomDoesReviews.com and to get a free printable and instructions on making these adorable Paper Plate UFO’s.
Space Themed Science – Moon Phases
We did not have enough time this week to try out this awesome activity, but you can head over to happytotshelf.com for detailed instructions on how to make your very own moon-phases cup 🙂
STEM: Space Lander Mission
I got the fantastic idea for this activity over at vivifystem.com. Click on the image to head over to their blog for full instructions.
Space Themed Snack Idea
I found the idea for this fruity solar system at creativekidssnacks.com. You will need salami, strawberries, oranges, purple and green grapes, small marshmallows, kiwi fruit, bread and honey melon. Put these all together as seen in the picture, and enjoy!
Click on the images below to download the Space Themed Math & Literacy Centers, Printables and Activities.
