Turn your home into a space exploration center! These fun, educational activities will keep kids engaged while learning about rockets, planets, and astronauts.
1Build a Bottle Rocket
Create a simple rocket using a plastic bottle, water, and a bike pump! This classic experiment demonstrates Newton's Third Law in action. Kids will love watching their rocket soar up to 100 feet in the air. Make sure to do this activity outside in an open area.
- Materials: 2-liter bottle, cork, bike pump, water, cardboard fins
- Fill bottle 1/3 with water and seal with cork
- Attach pump and build pressure
- Stand back and watch it launch!
- Experiment with different water amounts for varying heights
Have a competition to see whose rocket flies highest! Decorate your rockets with markers or stickers before launching.
2Create a Solar System Model
Help kids understand the scale of our solar system by creating a model. Use different sized balls or fruits to represent planets. Hang them from the ceiling or arrange them in your backyard. This hands-on activity makes abstract concepts tangible.
- Sun: Large beach ball or basketball
- Inner planets: Peppercorns, peas, or small marbles
- Outer planets: Oranges, grapefruits, or tennis balls
- Add fun facts on index cards for each planet
- Include the asteroid belt using glitter or small pebbles
3Astronaut Training Obstacle Course
Set up an obstacle course that simulates astronaut training! Include balance beams (walking on a line of tape), "spacewalk" challenges (moving while wearing oven mitts), and "zero gravity" exercises (moving objects without touching them directly). Time each attempt and try to improve!
Award "astronaut certificates" to kids who complete the course. Make it official with their name and achievement!
4Stargazing Night
Pick a clear night and head outside to observe the stars. Download a stargazing app to identify constellations, planets, and satellites. Bring blankets, hot chocolate, and make it a special family event. Check if the International Space Station will be visible overhead!
- Best time: New moon phase for darkest skies
- Apps to use: Star Walk, SkyView, NASA App
- Look for: Constellations, planets, shooting stars, ISS
- Bring: Blankets, red flashlight, star chart
- Make it cozy: Hot drinks and space-themed snacks