SPACE
One thing I have done in the past was to have pictures of different
constellations at the flannel board center along with lots of felt stars. The
children
could recreate a constellation.
SPACE HELMET
During my careers unit, we made astronaut helmets using the buckets
from Kentucky Fried Chicken. The restaurant donated enough buckets
for the class and we covered them with aluminum foil. Cut out
a
rectangular opening for the eyes and add any details you want with
construction paper, pipe cleaners, etc.
OBSTACLE COURSE
Submitted by Trish
We created a simple astronaut obstacle course. Astronauts need
to be healthy and fit, so we prepared a course that we knew the students
could handle. After completion, they each received a special
document: (Name) has completed the Astronaut Obstacle Course. Congratulations!
SPACE BLOCKS
Submitted by Stephanie
cover wooden building blocks in aluminum foil and let the kids build
spaceships with them
We Know The Planets (To the tune of Frere Jacques)
Submitted by Cheryl
We know the planets
in their order
from the sun.
Oh, what fun!
You may think it's cheesy,
Cause it's really easy!
Let's begin
Join on in!
First there's Mercury,
Then there's Venus,
Earth, and Mars,
Jupiter,
Saturn, and Uranus,
Neptune, and Pluto,
That's the end,
Let's do it again!
Written by Cheryl Anne Frazier
1997
The Nine Planets
Submitted by Terrance
(Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Mercury and Venus,
Earth (Is Mars blushing?),
Great big Jupiter,
Saturn with its rings,
Uranus, Neptune,
Pluto's the last one, and.
These are the nine planets that revolve around the Sun.
SPACE HATS
Submitted by Joan
I used chicken buckets from KFC to make these. We covered them with
those silver blankets used in surgery at the hospital. We also made
space vest out of these,the children had a ball.
Moon Rocks
These edible Moon Rocks are as lumpy and bumpy as the surface of the
moon--but probably a bit more tasty! Enlist the help of your "astrokids" to
whip up a batch of these delicious Moon Rocks.
Ingredients for one batch:
24 oz. white baking chocolate
1 c. peanuts
1 c. pretzels
10 oz. bag M&M's®
10 oz. bag mini-marshmallows
paper baking cups
spoon
Give each child a baking cup and ask him to write his name on the
outside.
Melt the white chocolate in a large microwave able container. Stir
in the
remaining ingredients until everything is well coated. Have each child scoop
a large spoonful of the mixture into his baking cup. Chill until the mixture
sets (about half an hour). Makes approximately 25 servings.
Astronaut Exercises
Astronauts must be in top physical condition to endure the rigors of
space
travel. Get your space ace trainees in shape with an out-of-this-world
workout!
Solar System Stretch--Reach to the sky; then stretch arms out wide.
Rocket Ship Run-in-Place--Warm up and get ready to take off!
Galactic Gallop--Gallop all around the galaxy (your classroom).
Lunar Leaps--Jump as far as you can.
Trainee Toe Touches--Touch your toes ten times.
Planet Push-ups--Do nine push-ups--one for each planet!
Constellation Cooldown--Lie down on your back. Relax as you imagine staring
up at a starry sky.
Create a Constellation
Solid science information and your youngsters' imaginations are the
ingredients that make these projects just heavenly! Begin by asking
your youngsters to share their stargazing experiences. Explain that
a very long
time ago, people spent a lot of time looking at the stars--and many people
still do! After a while, those people long ago began to think that certain
groups of stars looked like pictures or outlines of things--such as an
animal, a person, or an object. These groups of stars are called constellations.
Show youngsters several pictures of constellations. (Suitable illustrations
can be found in Stargazers by Gail Gibbons, The
Stars by Patrick Moore, and The Kingfisher Young World Encyclopedia.) Then
encourage your little ones to launch their own imaginations. Give each child
a sheet of black construction paper and self adhesive foil stars.
Invite each child to arrange his stars on his paper. Encourage each child to
study his arrangement of stars and then use white chalk to connect the stars
as he desires. Have each child dictate the name of his constellation on the
paper. Post the completed pictures for stargazing--classroom style!
SPACE TELESCOPES
Submitted by Susan
Space telescopes: take a paper towel tube and cover the
end with black paper using masking tape. Then take a thumb
tack and punch in the holes that become a constellation. When
you look up towards a light you can see the different constellations. (you
could make any kind of pattern, including alphabets, numbers, etc.) They
finish by decorating their tubes with paint or stickers, etc.
SPACE
Submitted by Cathy Simon
This is a song that will help your children learn the names and order
of the planets: sung to the tune of "The ants go marching"
The planets revolve around the sun, hurrah, hurrah
The planets revolve around the sun, hurrah, hurrah
The planets revolve around the sun, the spin on their axis everyone
and they all go spinning around and around and around
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, hurrah, hurrah
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, hurrah, hurrah
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars all whirling and twirling around the
stars
and they all go spinning around and around they go
Jupiter and Saturn are next in line, hurrah, hurrah
Jupiter and Saturen are next in line, hurrah, hurrah
Jupiter and Saturn are next in line, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto makes
nine
and they all go spinning around and around they go
SPACE HELMET
Submitted by Joy
Using large grocery bag cut a hole in the middle on one side. This
can be the helmet of a space uniform
SPACE UNIT
Submitted by Jen of the KOS Loop
My class and I took a pretend spaceship ride to a strange planet
(the playground). The kids were armed with plastic bags, spoons,
and some with notebook and pencil. I put them in groups of 2 and
they each had an assignment such as...group one your mission is to
find at least 2 different kinds of rock.....group two your mission
is to find at least 3 different kinds of plants......group three
your mission is to draw a pictures of things you find on the planet.....group
four at least 2 different kinds of soil ... we always tell the astronauts
to let the "captain" know if they've found any insects or if they
have any questions about the "mission." The kids love this activity
and it is a great way to encourage them to work as a team. We brought
all our found items back to the classroom and looked at them under
the magnifying table and then we labeled the bags with the contents
and the scientists who discovered them, staple them to poster board
and displayed them for all to see!
Submitted by Theresa of the KOS
This is a variant of "Let' s Go on a Bear Hunt." Seat the
children in a circle. Have the children repeat the words and
any appropriate motions.
Let's go on a space trip.
Let's pack our bags.
Don't forget your toothbrush.
Let's climb aboard.
Strap yourself in.
Count down-10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,0, lift off!
we're going faster!Hold tight!
Now we're in space.
Oh look I see the moon!
It's big:
Can't go over it, can't go under it, let's go around it.
Look, there's the sun.
It's so bright it hurts my eyes
we're turning back.
I see the planet;
I see the moon.
Look, there's the earth.
It's getting closer
The parachute is open.
we're floating down to a soft landing on Earth.
You can change the words to anything that fits your lesson.
SPACE
Submitted by Robin
We take a refrigerator box and paint the inside black, cut the bottom
out, and stick some glow in the dark stars on the box and let some
hang down using fishing line. Be sure to turn the box over
at the end of the day so the stars can get "juiced up".
Classroom Rocket
Submitted by Theresa
Get a refrigerator box, one medium and one small corrugated cardboard
box, and one cardboard ice cream cylinder (get at an ice cream store). cut
away the bottom of the refrigerator box and cut a door in one side. Cut
fins from tag board and tape to each side of the box. Have
the children paint the refrigerator box and fins white. Paint the
small and med box blue and tape them on top of the refrigerator box. Paint
the cylinder box red and place on top of small box. Place a small
American Flag on top.
Shuttle Mix
Have packages of dried fruit (apples, peaches, bananas, pineapple,
etc.)
Divide in equal portions and serve in zip lock bags.
If you want to show the class how apples are dried, peel and core several
apples, slice horizontally in rings about 1/4 inch thick, pass a length of heavy
string through the holes in the rings, and hang (clothesline-fashion) in the
warmest area of your room. Allow up top 2 weeks to dry. When dried,
the rings will resemble leather and have a chewy texture like those you buy in
the store.
SPACEMEN
Submitted by Margie
Someone had given an activity regarding space....it made me think
of one I always did in day care centers and the parents loved it.
Take foil strips long enough to reach just past the head and toes of a child.
You will need 2 strips and tape them together so that they are double width.
Now lye the child down on the floor face up. Mold the foil around the
top and sides of the child's body; when you get to the face, warn them and
do it quickly as to not smother them or scare them.
Then lift off the foil carefully,,,hang face down from the ceiling, hang on
the walls at angles etc.....they look really neat...and sometimes scare the
cleaning people at night too! HA!
SPACE
Submitted by Susan
We recently did a "favorite stories" theme. One book I picked
was eric carle's "Papa, please get the Moon For Me". Art Activity: cut
out stars, moons, planets from cut half of potato, make colorful
prints on blue or black paper. (an advance activity could be
to cover a piece of white paper with blue paint, using bold strokes
as Eric Carle does. Then use these to print on.) another
art project: brush vinegar to cover white paper, stick on tissue
paper moons and stars. When dry, the stars fall off, leaving
cool prints. We ate moons and star shaped cheese for snack,
read the story, then each child "danced with the moon", holding a
white cardboard cutout to waltz music. At our small group activity
we: 1. acted out "hey diddle diddle" (the dish LOVED
running away with the spoon!) and 2. made "ladder books". On
each of 4 pages, I wrote at the bottom - "a RED ladder", "a
BLUE ladder", etc. The children then drew in the correct colored
ladders. (great fine motor practice.) You can also visit Eric
Carle's website for a few other cool ideas that were a bit too complicated
for my kids. It was a fun day!
SPACE AND PLANETS
Submitted by Marilyn
We have been learning about space and the planets. We read, "My
First Book About Planets", a Golden Book. We also read, "So That's
How the Moon Changes It's Shape". On the top of a black piece
of construction paper we wrote, "Phases of The Moon". Then we glued
on pre cut shapes of the moon in their correct order: New Moon, Crescent
Moon, First Quarter Moon, Gibbous Moon, Full Moon, Gibbous Moon,
Last Quarter Moon, Crescent Moon, and New Moon. We also made
our planet earth. Each child had a straw and a styrofoam ball. We
stuck the straw through the middle of the styrofoam ball. We
painted the ball with green, blue and white paint to resemble the
earth. You could also use other colors to create your own planet. The
children really enjoyed these projects and learned a great deal as
well.
Title: Space Suits
Submitted by Margie
You take foil (if you're in a CDC the large foil width will do, if
you supply your own you tear off two long sheets
an tape them together to make it double in width) and have a child lay down
on the floor in any position.....legs straight, one bent, etc., and mold the
foil over the top of them. Be careful when you start on their faces;
make this part quick...warning them. Then lift off the foil and you have
their body mold to hang on the wall,,,,from the
ceiling.....etc. It looks really cool...and parents love it
TRIP TO THE MOON
Following songs and cross curricular ideas submitted by Jan
Area: Language Game
Materials:
one large moon shape, marker and suitcase
Process: Cut out a giant moon shape from yellow poster board. Bring
the moon, marker and suitcase. Say to the children "Let's pretend
we are astronauts and take a trip to the moon. (Open the suitcase)We
can only bring one suitcase for all of us, so each person can take
one thing."
Have each child tell what he/she would take along and come up and pretend to
put it in the suitcase. As each child is putting his choice in the suitcase
write what he/she says on the moon. When fisinshed hang the moon from the ceiling.
Extension: Share the list with your parents in the next newsletter.
Title: ROCKET SHIP
Climb aboard my rocket ship.
Hold on tight.
5, 4 3, 2, 1
BLAST OFF.
Title: RING AROUND THE ROCKET SHIP
(Tune: Ring Around the Rosie)
Ring around the rocket ship.
Reach for a star.
Stardust, stardust.
Fall where you are.
Title: WE'RE FLYING TO THE MOON
Tune: The Farmer In The Dell
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!!
We're flying to the moon,
We're flying to the moon,
We've left the earth in our rocket ship,
We're flying to the moon.
We're taking a walk in space,
We're taking a walk in space,
We've left the earth in our rocket ship,
We're taking a walk in space.
We're landing on the moon,
We're landing on the moon.
We've left the earth in our rocket ship,
We're landing on the moon.
We're walking on the moon,
We're walking on the moon.
We've left the earth in our rocket ship,
We're walking on the moon.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF
We're flying back to earth,
We're flying back to earth.
We've left the moon in our rocket ship,
We're flying back to earth.
We're splashing down in the sea,
We're splashing down in the sea.
We've left the moon and outer space,
We're splashing down in the sea.
Title: CLIMB ABOARD THE SPACESHIP
Climb aboard the spaceship,
We're going to the moon.
Hurry and get ready,
We're going to blast off soon.
Put on your helmets
And buckle up real tight.
Here comes the countdown,
Let's count with all our might.
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-BLAST OFF!
Title: RING AROUND THE SPACESHIP
Ring around the spaceship.(walk with other in circle)
Try to grab a star.(reach up high)
Stardust, stardust,(wiggle fingers)
All fall down. (drop to floor).
Title:ONE LITTLE ASTRONAUT
One little astronaut floating out from base,
Hooked to a hose, exploring space. Pretend to float in space)
She thought it was such an amazing trick,
She called another astronaut to join her quick. (beckon with hand)
Two little astronauts floating out from base (hold hands with second
astronaut)
Hooked to a hose, exploring space. (pretend to float in space)
They thought it was such an amazing trick,
They called another astronaut to join them quick. (beckon with hand)
Continue until all children are holding hands.
Title: STARDDUST BOTTLES
Area: Art
Materials: Small Glass Bottles
Water
Glitter
Food Coloring
Process: Have the children put glitter and stars in the bottle.
Have the children pour water into the bottle and then add food coloring.
Put the lid on tight. (I hot glue gun the lid before I send them home.
Title: FLYING SAUCERS
Area: Art
Materials: Paper Plates, Felts or Collage Material
Process: Have children staple two paper plates together.Have
them decorate them and they will have flying saucers.
Title: SHOOTING STARS
Area: Art
Materials: Gold paint, straws, and stars
Process: Have children blow paint with straws on blue construction
paper and then add stars (stickers) to their sky.
Title: ASTRONAUT SHAKES
Area: Cooking
Materials: 3 8 oz. cartons of plain yogurt
3 very ripe bananas
1 1/2 cups of cold apple juice
1 1/2 cups of cold milk
Process: Combine the yogurt and bananas in a blender and mix
until smooth. Pour the mixture into a large pitcher and stir
in the juice and milk. Enjoy.
Title: TRIP TO THE MOON
Area: Language Game
Materials: l large moon shape, marker and suitcase.
Process: Cut out a giant moon shape from yellow poster board.
Bring the moon, marker and suitcase. Say to the children "Let's
pretend that we are astronauts and take a trip to the moon. (Open
up suitcase) We can only bring one suitcase for all of us, so
each person can only take one thing." Have each child tell what
he would take along and come up and pretend to put it in the suitcase. As
each child is putting his thing in the suitcase write what he says
on the moon. When finished, hang the moon from the ceiling.
EXTENSION: Share the list with parents in your next newsletter.
Title: E - A - R - T - H
Submitted by Peg
Tune: Bingo
We all live on this great big planet and Earth is it's name-o
E - A - R - T - H
E - A - R - T - H
E - A - R - T - H
And Earth is it's name-o
We all live on this great big planet and Earth is it's name-o
(clap) - A - R - T - H
(Clap)- A - R - T - H
(Clap) - A - R - T - H
And Earth is it's name-o
Continue song taking off a letter and substituting with clap till end
with 5 claps.
Extension: Write each letter on felt, tag board, poster board or simply post-it
notes and remove each letter as you sing this song
Title: 5 ASTRONAUTS
Submitted by Peg
Five brave astronauts floated into space (5 fingers float)
The first one disappeared without a trace (show one then quickly
hide behind back)
The second one somersaulted past the moon (roll hands)
The third on entered the atmosphere too soon (hands to face)
The fourth one took off counting ten to zero (show 10 fingers then none)
And the fifth one landed safely like a hero. (jump then hands on hips)
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