Inquiring Minds ~ Space Station

Our journey into the solar system began with the children asking questions about the moon, stars and planets.

During this theme we focused on the children's interests as they inquired, explored, investigated, problem solved and used team work to travel into our solar system.

Our Space station Inquiry:

I began by building the Space Station. I painted a presentation board black and added stars and constellations. I painted another presentation board blue. I then glued the two presentation boards together. On the top I glued another piece of cardboard. On the solar system side, (the blue side), I glued on a sun, that I had made out of cardstock. I made planets out of different sizes of styrofoam ball, covered in tissue paper. I attached a picture hanging hook to the top of each planet and then hung them from fishing line attached to the top piece of cardboard. On the star side, I hung a moon, which I made out of a styrofoam ball. I glued round slices of toilet paper roll to the ball and painted it. On the one side I attached lettering that spelled SPACE STATION. On the other side I attached glow in the dark stars. I covered the top piece of cardboard with silver tissue paper. I then put the SPACE STATION on a black piece of material.

I added objects:

• space ships

• a compass

• a star gazer

• stars

• moon rocks (made out of small styrofoam balls)

• astronauts

• Buzz Lightyear

• a star box

• a light up star

The children were encouraged to explore and discover. This lead to many conversations about the different planets, the moon, stars, etc.

One of the children helped me make a space ship for the children to role play in. We covered three sides of a large box with white bristol board. We cut the back off, so the children could walk in. We then cut a circle window in the front of the box for the children to look through. We added a cone shaped piece of bristol board to the top, and two fin pieces of bristol boards to the bottom. Inside we put an instrument panel for the children to explore and discover. We added a Canadian flag luggage tag and stripes to the ship. I printed out a space window and lamenated it, to put on the one side. On the other side we attached the numbers 10 to 1 for our countdown (and to help with number recognition). This activity delighted the children and they have spent many hours traveling to the moon and planets.

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CONVERSATION:

children, "We are going to Mercury."

(The children come running back quickly)

me: "Why are you back so fast?"

children: "It's too hot! Now we are going to Neptune."

me: "You will turn into little popsicles."

one of the children: "No I won't! I'll turn into Elsa!"

They have wonderful imaginations!

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Our Space Suit consisted of a white t-shirt (worn backwards) and a white space helmet (I made out of felt using a balaclava pattern I found on the internet).

What space suit would be complete without a jet pack? Since it was Earth Week I thought it was appropriate to make our jet pack out of recycled water bottles and scraps of felt. It turned out well and the children loved wearing it.

I set out some invitations to learn. I painted all of the planets, Pluto and the sun on rocks. I painted a peg doll to look like an astronaut. I gave the children the rocks, peg astronaut, wooden stars, a space ship and galaxy dough, during discovery and learning time.

Recipe for Galaxy Dough

⦁ 4 cups flour

⦁ 1/4 cup vegetable oil

⦁ 1 cup salt

⦁ 3 tbsp cream of tartar

⦁ 3 - 3 1/2 cups boiling water

⦁ black food colour

⦁ glitter

Add together flour, vegetable oil, salt and cream of tartar. Mix together with a mixer. Add water. Add food colour and glitter.

The children were invited to make spaceships.

The children made name rocket ships.

I downloaded Moon Phases from mombrite.com. I made the page 5x7 instead of 8 1/2 x 11. I used mini Oreos to make the moon phases, so it wouldn't be too much sugar for little tummies.

We read:

⦁ Papa, please get the moon for me

⦁ What's out there?

The children listened enthusiastically to both stories.

The children made playdough planets. Pluto is their favourite, so we made it too. They expressed that they feel Pluto should still be a planet.

The children were invited to catch a star in our sensory tub. This was a good fine motor activity and encouraged strengthening in the children's hands.

The children played with the constellation wheel.

They then created their own constellations.

The children viewed different constellations through our star gazer.

The children enjoyed playing with the solar system cards.

The children made solar system crowns.

We sang:

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom!

I'm going to the moon!

If you want to take a trip,

climb aboard

my rocket ship!

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Climb Aboard

Tune: The Itsy Bitsy Spider

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!

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Five Little Astronauts

Five little astronauts, flying in the stars.

The first once said, "Let's go see Mars!"

The second one said, "There are comets in the air!"

The third one said, "There's an alien here!"

The fourth one said, "Let's fly up in the sky!"

The fifth one said, "Let's go up really high!'

Then "whoosh" went the spaceship

"Buckle up tight!"

And the five little astronauts

zoomed out of sight!

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Solar System in Motion

Tune: The Farmer in the Dell

The earth turns around,

The earth turns around,

Once a day, every day, the Earth turns around.

The moon goes 'round the Earth,

The moon goes 'round the Earth,

Once a month, every month, the moon goes 'round the earth.

The Earth goes 'round the sun,

The Earth goes 'round the sun,

Once a year, every year, the Earth goes 'round the sun.

The stars are all around,

The stars are all around,

Here to there and everywhere, the stars are all around!

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In the Sky

Tune: The Farmer in the Dell

The sun is in the sky,

The sun is in the sky,

Hot and bright, it gives us light,

The sun is in the sky.

The moon is in the sky,

The moon is in the sky,

'Round and 'round the Earth it goes,

The moon is in the sky!

The stars are in the sky,

The stars are in the sky,

Far and bright and out at night,

The stars are in the sky.

This theme followed the children's interests which made their experience richer.