Astronauts & Space Exploration

Some of these ideas were on the Cornerstones letter that went out at the beginning of our Moon Zoom project, so you may have done them already.  I'll add a few others as well.  

There are lots of ideas on websites and shared on Facebook and Pinterest, for crafting, Science, Maths, English, etc.  BBC Bitesize & BBC iplayer are great too.

• With an adult, search the web for fascinating space facts and make your very own space fact book, or write in the book provided.
• Use an app to find constellations, planets and stars in the night sky. Which
  constellation is the easiest to recognise? Which star is the brightest?  You can use this check list to record what you see, maybe over several days?
• https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-he-730-northern-hemisphere-constellation-spotting-checklist
• Make a telescope from junk cardboard materials and sticky tape. Just before
  bedtime, use your telescope to look up at the stars. Can you see any wonderful star
  patterns in the sky? Grab a piece of paper and draw the pattern of stars that you
  spotted.
• With an adult, explore the Hubble Space Telescope website. Check out the amazing
  gallery images! Or look on the NASA Kids website.
• Can you make a list of all the astronauts who have been to the moon?  There are 12.
• With an adult, watch videos on You-tube about life as an astronaut on ISS and draw a picture of your favourite thing.
• Imagine you’re an astronaut completing different space missions and make a mini
  book about your work. 

Astronaut's kit - Linked to the English text "What Ever Next!", you could have a go at making a space rocket from things about the house, or maybe a helmet from a box or paper bag (please remind children how dangerous putting a plastic bag on their heads is). 

You could wear an adult T-shirt, with a knot at the bottom and stuff it with extra clothes, cushions etc to make a space suite. 

To make the space walk jet pack you need a cereal packet and 1 or 2 pop bottles, plus decorations.  For best results turn the box inside out before you paint.  If you have limited supplies of paint, then just leave it blank, or add a bit of colour with crayons, or felts.

Solar System Mobile - you can make a mobile in a variety of ways - on 1 string, attached to a coat hanger, maybe an embroidery hoop, or a crossed pair of gardening sticks.  You can make the planets by making balls from sweet papers & foil, paper mache, 2 circles of card slotted together, or pictures cut out.  Can you put them in order?  Do you remember the mnemonic you made a school to remember?  Maybe you could make a new one?

You could learn this song to help remember: