Showing our kids how to make wise choices when it comes to selecting apps and using apps for learning is something we can model for them. Adding a few space apps to your child’s list of apps is a great way to ignite and inspire a love of astronomy. Best of all, space apps get them outside exploring the sky.
If you love using the Apologia Young Explorer Series in your homeschool, you will love these Apologia's Astronomy Book Printables!
Looking for fun kids astronomy activities for teaching? Check out these ideas about space and the solar system to make your lessons more fun!
After one of my amazing Patriots built a scale model of the planets, I was motivated to finish the Space Exploration badge with my unit. While I do create many of my own activities, sometimes there…
Pinay Homeschooler is a blog that shares homeschool and afterschool activity of kids from babies to elementary level.
This is an informational text timeline activity to help your students to learn about the biggest events in space exploration history. There are 29 events included, each represented on a timeline card with a relevant photo and caption (from NASA’s public galleries). I have included two sizes for the timeline cards (large and smaller). There is a student timeline worksheet which contains a box for each major event on the timeline in which students will fill in information and answer questions while analyzing the text on the timeline cards. There is a last page of the student timeline that provides the directions and website links for students to do further research on events in space exploration since the last event represented on the timeline. This is a great way to allow students to follow their curiosities after learning the amazing history of what humans have learned about space so far! There are a few ways to use this resource depending on your students and time allowances. I explain these further in the teacher notes but to give you an idea: -Make a set of timeline cards per group of 2-3 students. Students will arrange the cards chronologically and use them to complete their timeline worksheet. -Create booklets of the timeline cards already in chronological order using metal rings. Students will use the booklets to complete their timeline worksheet. -Print the larger version of the timeline cards and tape them chronologically around your classroom; have the students travel around on a Gallery Walk to complete their timeline worksheet. -Print the larger version of the timeline cards and date markers and create a bulletin board or wall display of the history of space exploration. This can be used for a station activity, an activity for early finishers, or simply as an informative display for during your astronomy unit! Whichever way that you choose to use the timeline cards, you can still give students the follow-up assignment that is on the 5th page of the student timeline worksheet– they will research the recent and planned events in space exploration using provided website links or sources of their own finding. There are also some blank timeline cards provided. You can use these in a few ways too!: - Have students create a card for each of the ‘now and the future’ events that they research - Add in other events if you feel that there were some missing from the resource - Have students find other events through the past decades to add to the timeline - Ask students to choose a few of the events that are most interesting to them and do a little extra research on those events– displaying it on the blank cards. You may also be interested in these resources: Masterpieces of the Hubble Space Telescope Activity The Universe and Its Stars Unit Earth in Space Unit Thanks for looking! Sunrise Science
Introduce the history of space exploration for kids by reading about famous space suits and making astronaut paper dolls!
Introduce the history of space exploration for kids by reading about famous space suits and making astronaut paper dolls!
San Francisco has always had plenty of entertainment....from fine opera, ballet, and symphony companies, theatre and musical comedy performances, down to the bawdiest of North Beach night clubs. But...as an entertainment capital....S.F. was not. The television and movie industries were in Los Angeles and Hollywood....as well as the advertising and promotions for both that were created there. Still, occasional 'show biz' related assignments and stories came my way. This week's CAWS will show a few. Redd Fox, with one of his oft feigned heart attacks on the entertaining sitcom, 'Sanford and Son', back in the 70's. His flexible face and expressions were a pleasure to draw! The 'Sanford' montage, and the actors heads, were done with what became my favorite tool in the 70's....plain General charcoal pencils, 2B to 6B. 'That's Entertainment' was the original idea on this piece: a PG&E newspaper TV ad with two inch spots...proving a lot can be shown in a small space. Next scans, three 1960's KFRC radio disc jockey promos....'hippie era' stuff...and my adaptation to it. One, a scruffy technique on a scruffy DJ! Also, an 8" x 10" B&W copy of a Burgie billboard....I think early 60's. We brought in a couple of models from one of the agencies in town....the young guy just bursting with energy, pep and go. His name was Bill Bixby....and I had a hunch he wouldn't be around long. Obviously, he went on to a long TV series and career in Hollywood. Finally, the 'Chevron Island' hula dancer, tied in with their TV ads at the time. The last image on 'show biz' will have to be in the viewer's eye... and we'll liberate a fine Bob Peak cheer-girls 7up illustration to set the scene... On a crisp fall morning in the 70's, I delivered a job to P&H in S.F. Walking in, was 'shhhh-ed' at the door by the receptionist. "They're video taping!" P&H had added a service called the 'Film Works' in the 60's...film/photo/video/documentary stuff. I walked quietly up carpeted stairs to Chet Patterson's office....which had a glass wall looking down on the photo studio. For some corporate client....and to lights, action, and camera....a cute blond cheerleader was going through her act. Practiced moves, white outfit and shoes, with big red pom-poms....just one thing was missing....her top! A few seconds later, the final big leap, arms and pom-poms high in the air....for a brief instant, all defied gravity! I turned to Chet....'Wow....the Film Works has all the fun jobs....who's the model?' He said, 'She's from San Mateo....her name is Suzanne Sommers'. As we know, Suzanne went on to a successful career on the sitcom, 'Three's Company', as well as other venues in Hollywood. Still active in business, and looks great. *Charlie Allen's Flickr set.
Make "planets" with the kids using simple ingredients. Then let them have a super fun science experience by making the planets fizz and dissolve!
Little space explorers, meet Mercury, the closest planet to the sun! This planetary coloring page comes with some fun facts about Mercury.
We have been learning about space this week. Check out some of the fun we've had! We filled the sensory table with Moon Dust (flour) and recreated the moon landing. One of my students discovered she could leave her hand print on the moon! We also dropped medium sized stones into the moon dust to create craters on the moon. You can see one if you look to the right of the hand print. Writing like astronauts! Shaving cream fun....Saturn! .......The Sun! Click on the image to see this FREEBIE Space Counting! A new fun way to practice counting and number writing!
When planning out our Tot School calendar I have to tell you that I was not really as excited for some themes as others… I mean pumpkins, apples and Valentines, YES! Bring it on! But space, cars and dinosaurs aren’t exactly my jam. I’m a girl mom to 2 little pink tutu wearing cutie pies. […]
Ultimate Astronomy and Outer Space Resource list for your multi-age homeschool unit study or textbook-free science exploration! Books, Art, Videos, Projects, and more! Homeschool Science made FUN!
Thema Ruimte; activiteiten & spelletjes voor kleuters & basisschool
Astronomy is a fantastic science for young learners. Almost every child is enamored with space, exploration, the moon, shooting stars, and the glamorous dre(...)
This was an after school program that I put on for kids. (See all my kids' programs here!) Basically, I love all things astronomy (here's another kids' craft and a storytime), so it was only a matter of time before I got an actual astronomer in here to talk about constellations. [Insert picture of Astronomer lecturer here...] Yeah, I forgot to take a picture. So you'll just have to believe me. Anyway, I was able to find a willing expert astronomer from our local astronomy club. He talked to the kids for about fifteen minutes on some popular constellations and their history. Here's some visual stimuli: from Wikipedia from Wikipedia And with that introduction, the kids were free to begin our craft: constellation viewers! Super simple, but lots of fun. The kids loved it. Here were the supplies needed: The steps to make them are pretty easy; I got the idea and the instructions from Momma Owl's Lab. Basically, choose which of the constellations you want, cut out the circle and glue it to some black paper. On a piece of cardboard (or something to stop the pin), the kids poked out the holes for the constellation. The we rubber-banded the paper to the toilet paper tube. They could also be decorated with markers and stickers. Here's the view: Pretty cool, right?? They're TOTALLY awesome and I love them. The constellation sheet comes from space.about.com, but they're backwards. Which is to say, they're correct, but since we're looking through the tube at the back, they needed to be inverted. So I went ahead and made a sheet where the constellations are inverted, but their titles are still readable. Click to get larger version to print. So I would say this program was a total success. The kids made a couple of viewers in the time they had at the library, but they also could take home the rest of the constellations and make more there. Also, books were available for check-out! The Stars: A New Way to See ThemWritten by H. A. Rey NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the UniverseWritten by Terence Dickinson Scholastic Discover More: Night SkyWritten by Giles Sparrow A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky Written by Michael Driscoll, illustrated by Meredith Hamilton
Roundup of solar system printables and activities for a Montessori-inspired solar system unit for preschool through early elementary!
Go out of this world with this free space themed I spy printable! Perfect for little or big explorers who love the hunt of a look & find!
