Space is so vast, that I decided to split it up into 2 preschool themes focusing on different aspects of space. The first being a space unit with emphasis on stars, asteroids, comets, astronauts etc.. basically anything that is not the planets & sun. The second, this unit, focusing specifically on the planets in our solar system.
As always, these are the activities that we are doing, and I hope that it saves you some time searching the internet for ideas.
Comprehension Questions: What does the word “commandments” mean?
Why did God give us rules? (To help the people learn how to obey God, be happy, and to know how to treat other people)
What are some of the rules that you have to follow?
Why do you have rules?
Earths Orbit in Action – Outline a path representing Earth’s orbit on the ground. Then acting as the sun, the child can shine a flashlight on you (who is the Earth) as you rotate and orbit the sun. You can reverse the role play as well.
Here is what we are doing for space this week. I also went to the library and checked out a bunch of fun and educational books on space to go on the bookshelf as well.
Some of out favorite books for space theme are: The Sun Shines Everywhere – Mary Ann Hoberman; Mousetronaut – Mark Kelly; The Spacesuit: How a Seamstress Helped Put Man on the Moon – Alison Donald; Mae Among the Stars – Roda Ahmed; Our Stars – Anne Rockwell; Astronaut Training – Aneta Cruz; Zoom, Rocket, Zoom – Margot Mayo; Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes – Stuart Murphy
You can find all my themes and what we are focusing on for each week in the freebies section. Just sign up for my newsletter to get the password emailed to you.
Magic School Bus Outerspace science fact memory game
Get a space book rom library and read it
Comprehension Questions:
What is the name of the sea that God’s people crossed?
The water was very deep and there wasn’t a bridge. How did the people cross?
When Moses raised his staff, what happened to the water?
Crossing the Red Sea worksheet Some children may be confused that even though it is called the Red Sea, the water is still blue. Decorate the sheet by painting the water blue and adding a pipe cleaner to Moses’ hand.
Red Sea Walk – Set up a long line of chairs backwards in 2 rows. Give children a walking stick and let them walk through the red sea leading you and any other children (the backward chairs). Let everyone have a chance to be the leader.
Word Stretching – You can print out a page of CVC word pictures or just show them pictures on the computer.. Like this one.. Then have them try to stretch out the sounds of the word to try to spell it on the dry erase board. You can tell them that each word has 3 letters to help them.
Nighttime star picture – Cover the entire surface of a white sheet of paper with blue, red, purple and yellow crayon. Then color over it with a black crayon. With a blunt object scratch away the black to reveal many ‘stars’. You can add a moon & other objects to the picture too if you wish. I would recommend using a half sheet a paper for smaller children so they don’t tire of coloring. You can also help.
Us in relation to space – Cut 8 strips of paper each one a little shorter than the one before. Label Home, city, state, country, planet, solar system, galaxy, universe. Then get images of each of those from online and paste them to the corresponding strip. Use a brad clip to bind them together.
Star Search – Write letters of first & last name as well as S, A & M on post-its and outline with a star. Hide them around the room and have your child go on a star search. When they find them, have them say the letter sound.
Earth’s Orbit in Action – Outline a path representing Earth’s orbit on the ground. Then acting as the sun, the child can shine a flashlight on you (who is the Earth) as you rotate and orbit the sun. You can reverse the role play as well.
