Get ready for some out of this world space activities! As a matter of fact, there are so many amazing space activities here, you won’t know which to choose!
Space Activities for Preschool
To begin with, I like to bring space into every area of my classroom. So, I surround my room with planet fact posters, space posters, and pocket chart vocabulary strips. We even add a space alphabet over our existing alphabet wall! I have an entire collection of themed alphabets in my TPT store. As a result, my class learns a ton of Space vocabulary along with letters!
A play-based classroom will always include a sensory area, block center, and lots of playdough! For this reason, our block table will consist of magnatiles and astronauts. In addition to that, our sensory bin will also have small astronauts and space vehicles with different fillers. (We like kinetic sand the most!) And of course, playdough trays with astronauts and space-related cookie cutters just add to the fun!
Space Math Activities for Preschoolers
I love this counting and fine motor activity! And it combines 3 standards in one activity! First I created a rocket template, divided into numbered sections for numeral ID. Next, I added dots to make one tot one correspondence easier for my littles. Then, I got some sparkly star stickers from Amazon to add some fine motor work. In short, it’s a perfect math center for our Space unit!
To begin with, this low-prep activity is simple…and so effective. Just print a few sets of counting mats, set out some manipulatives and you are set! We love centers like this because we can easily differentiate for struggling students and those who need a challenge. Additionally, this simple center is perfect for informal assessment of numeral ID, one-to-one correspondence, and counting.
I love doing shape sorting activities with my kiddos. So, this Alien Shape Sort center is perfect! Each shape has its own little alien stapled to a paper bag for sorting the shape cards. Additionally, you can add shape manipulatives, or ask the kids to find things around the room that they can sort into the bags too! Either way, this activity gets them up and moving…which is always a plus!
Last but not least, remember to choose math activities that cover your standards. The printable activities pictured above do just that! Counting, measuring, numeral writing, numeral identification, and making sets.
Space Literacy Activities
My Pre-K kiddos are really into their letter sounds. So this letter and sound match game is always a big hit. We spend a lot of time thinking of even more things that begin with the same sound. For younger kids or those who are struggling, make sure you begin with only a few letters at a time.
A rhyming sort is such a good way to introduce rhyming word families. That being the case, this Space Rhyming Sort is perfect for this theme! Just ‘read’ the picture pair cards, and listen for the rhyme. Next, choose the right mat for the word pair.
My class loves foldable books…and space! So, this adorable book makes a quick, low-prep literacy center that reinforces theme vocabulary.
After a week or more of studying the planets, the kids always have a favorite. So, we end the week with all the planet books at our table for reference, and we write and color our favorite planet. You will be amazed by what the kids will do!
Letter matching games always make a great literacy center. I made these printables with upper and lowercase letters on the alien’s tummies. That way, I can do a straight match, or work on matching upper to lowercase letters with the kids.
Space STEM Activities
Space and science go hand in hand. Because of this, I do some of my favorite STEM activities with this unit. We begin our unit talking about gravity. So, I bought different lengths of PVC pipe, added velcro strips, and some bouncy balls to make ‘gravity tubes’. Since our wall is carpeted on the bottom half, so the tubes adhere to the wall easily. The kids create tube tracks for the balls all along the walls. They start at the top, release the balls and let gravity do the rest! It is so much fun to watch them problem-solve when the balls get stuck or don’t go down the track.
International Space Station Videos
Incidentally, there are so many AMAZING videos from the International Space Station on youtube of the astronauts doing daily tasks in zero gravity. The kids love them, I love them, and they illustrate weightlessness in a way the little ones can relate.
Nebulae are some of the most beautiful formations in our universe. To begin this lesson we show youtube video of nebulae from the Hubble telescope on our Smartboard. I have a few books with images from Hubble that I like to share as well. Then, we head into our science center and create our own versions of nebulae in mason jars. To start, fill the jar 1/3 full of water. Next, squeeze in some fluorescent paint. Then let the kids tear and stretch cotton balls to stuff into the jar. Sprinkle in a little glitter for stars. Repeat the previous steps until the jar is full. Make sure to use more than 1 color of paint. the results are spectacular!
Galaxy slime is easy to make, beautiful, and fascinating! For this slime recipe, I used clear Elmer’s glue and Elmer’s magical liquid. Next, I added dark blue liquid watercolor, silver & blue glitter, plus glitter stars. you can find the exact recipe from Glued to My Crafts here.
Space Books
Keep your classroom library full of fiction and nonfiction books about space. As a result, you’ll encourage more interest in books. As well as curiosity about space that will last a lifetime!
Space Art Activities
If you’ve never done ‘squishy paint’ art…you’ve got to try this! Start with 12 x12 cardstock circles for the planets. Next, use squeeze bottles and fill with at least 4 colors of fluorescent paint. Then swirl at least 2 colors on each circle-let the kiddos choose. Lastly, cover with plastic wrap and let the kids squish and move the paint around. The results are spectacular!
Another fun craft are these astronaut self-portraits. All you need is 2 paper plates, some black construction paper circles, a good stapler, mirrors, and crayons or markers. Set out mirrors so the kids can really look at their faces. give the kids one paper plate to draw their self-portrait. Cut a space for the face in a helmet shape from the other plate. When the portraits are done, cover with the ‘helmet, add the black circles and staple together. We always love how these turn out! So cute!
One of my favorite art projects of this unit is so simple, yet so beautiful. First, just cut 8-inch circles from either gray or white construction paper. Then, mix a dot of black paint with white to make gray. Sometimes we add a bit of soil to the paint to give it texture, but you don’t have to. After that, we let the kids paint the circles with the gray paint. When they are finished covering the entire circle, they can stamp with a tissue roll to make craters. Finish it off with a mixture of silver and gold glitter for that moonlit glow!
These name rockets combine literacy, name practice, and art. Just cut some triangular nosecones, some squares for the letters, something for flames…and you are ready for lift-off! One of my aides thought of adding colored chalk to draw stars and planets. They are adorable!
Space Station Dramatic Play
Every play-based learning program should have a dramatic play center full of print and props to ignite imaginations! Because of this, I love creating printables that bring dramatic play areas to life. So, I bought 2 space suits, found 2 space vests at the dollar store and got creative with a few more props. The result is a class full of kids using their space vocabulary as they pretend to be astronauts! It is magical! You can find this one is in my TPT store, Space Station Dramatic Play…check it out!
Read more about setting up a great Space Station Dramatic Play area here.
If you like these centers and activities, you can find them in my TPT store in All About Space 5-day Lesson Plans for Preschool, PreK, K, & Homeschool.
The lesson plan and dramatic play sett are brought together in this money-saving Space Duo bundle!
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