Space Unit


[Home]  [Teacher's Page]  [Themes]  [Search]  [Email]


~SUBTOPICS~

Astronauts	Space Shuttles	Stars
Planets	Earth	Moon
	Sun

~NURSERY RHYME~

Star Light, Star Bright

~BOOKS~

**If any books are blocked by an Amazon banner, just hit the refresh button.**

Astronauts/ Space Shuttles:

Stars:

Planets:

Earth:

Moon:

Sun:

More Space Books:

~CIRCLE TIME~

Music:   Countdown to Blastoff - Math All Around Me [Jack Hartmann] Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - Rhymin' to the Beat Vol. 1 [Jack Hartmann] Starlight, Starbright - Rhymin' to the Beat Vol. 2 [Jack Hartmann] Chu Ech On - Multicultural Rhythm Stick Fun [Kimbo]

Classical Music:   The Planets: Venus, Bringer of Peace ~ Gustav Holst The Planets: Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity ~ Gustav Holst The Planets: Neptune, the Mystic ~ Gustav Holst The Planets: Uranus, The Magician ~ Gustav Holst The Planets: Mars, Bringer of War ~ Gustav Holst Rusalka: O Silver Moon ~ Antonin Dvorak Variations on a Nursery Song: Theme & Variations 1-8 (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star) ~ Erno Dohnanyi

Movement/P.E.:   Moonwalk We listen to slow music and pretend we are on the moon, moving in slow motion. Counting Backward We erase numbers 10-1 from the board as the class counts backward. We pretend to be space shuttles. The children squat on the floor and count backwards to blastoff. Everyone jumps up as high as they can.

Fingerplay:   Countdown: Come on, everybody! Let's go to the moon! (Motion "come one" with one hand) Hurry, hurry! We're leaving soon! (Pretend to tap watch) Put up your hand and let's all count. (Hold up 5 fingers) We're going to lift off and zoom about! (Sweep other hand upward from hip) Ready? 5...4...3...2...1... (Show each number of fingers) Blast off! (Jump up and raise both hands in the air) [Rhyme from The Mailbox]

~ART~

Coffee Filter Planets The children paint a coffee filter with watercolors, and glue it onto black paper.

Planet Earth Children cut a circle out of white construction paper, and cover the circle with blue tissue paper, painting over it with liquid starch to make it stick. They tear pieces of green construction paper and glue on the circle for the land.

Yellow Suns Children cut a circle out of yellow construction paper, and add yellow streamers and gold glitter.

~LITERACY~

Name Rocket Children write each letter of their name on squares of paper, glue the letters in order on paper, and decorate it to look like a rocket.

~FINE MOTOR SKILLS~

Alien Eyes Mix wiggle eyes into the play dough for children to find.

~MATH~

Star Sizes Each child has a small, medium and large sheet of black paper, and small, medium and large paper stars. They sort the stars by size and glue them on the three papers. Pattern Block Stars Children make colorful stars with pattern blocks using a pattern block mat. Number Constellations Children are give a piece of construction paper with a number written on it in black ink. The children lay the paper on the floor and poke small holes along the numeral with a toothpick. When they have finished, they hold the paper up to the light, and it looks like stars shining through in the shape of the number. This activity can also be done with letters.

Space Grid Game Children use a grid game board that has ten stars, and ten wooden stars spray-painted gold. They roll a die and count out that amount of stars to put on the grid. The object of the game is to fill the grid. Children can play alone or with other players. This game was made with stickers bought at Michaels.

~SCIENCE~

Paper Rockets We make paper rockets, which use a breath of air to blast off. To make paper rockets: Cut 9x12 paper in 1/4 pieces (so that you're pieces are 2 1/4" x 12"). Each child gets a 1/4 strip. Help them fold it in half (hot dog fold). Tape it, leaving one inch at the bottom. Fold the top in a point and tape. Tear paper into 3 strips on the untaped end. Decorate the rockets with markers. Slide a straw in the untaped end of the rocket, and blow on the straw to make the rocket fly.

Constellation Viewers The children color a paper towel tube with markers. We cover the end with a circle of black paper, attach it with a rubber band, and poke holes in the paper with a toothpick. When the viewer is held up to the light it looks like stars are shining through.

Moonscapes First we take a look at photos of the moon and talk about its surface (color, craters, mountains, etc.) Then we make a model moonscape. The children spread Crayola Model Magic onto a paper plate. They use toothpicks for carving and small rocks ("asteroids") to crash into the dough to make craters. We paint them gray and add a mini American cupcake flag (can be found at Hobby Lobby and other stores).

Day and Night Pictures On one half of their paper, children draw things they would see in the sky at night (stars, moon). On the other half, they draw things they would see in the sky in the day (sun, clouds).

~TECHNOLOGY~

Internet: We explore our Space Kids Page at www.prekinders.com/space_kids.htm. I read any interesting information on the pages at circle time, and the children explore on their own at center time.

 

~SPECIAL ACTIVITY~ Taste space ice cream. The Space Store Space Trader Countdown Creations

 

Links to other Space Units

© K.Cox 2003-07
www.prekinders.com
 Please do not copy anything from these pages onto other websites.