Astronomy For Kids

Astronomy for kids can be an exciting way to get young children interested in science and learning about the world around them. Whether you plan to help them stargaze with their naked eye or use binoculars, it is important to have a variety of resources on hand to encourage interest and spark a passion for the subject. This article contains a round-up of some fantastic resources for your classroom, including fun interactives, worksheets, activities and games.

Introduce your students to the planets in our solar system using these astronomy for kids games and activities. There are a wide variety of games that teach students about each planet and even about some of the moons that orbit each one. These games also reinforce important math skills such as addition, subtraction and multiplication. Some of these games and activities require additional supplies such as a globe or a telescope.

This fun interactive from Discovery teaches your students about the planets in our solar system and what makes them different from each other. The site also allows your students to explore a range of other space topics such as the Milky Way and how stars form.

Many astronomy for kids videos are available online, from educational sites to popular children’s television shows. These videos are a great way to show your students what they’re learning in class and can be very engaging. Some of these videos include animations on how our solar system was born and a fascinating video on the Kepler telescope’s search for new planets.

Educators can also help their students understand the size of the solar system by having them create a planet trail map of our galaxy. This is a great way to see the planets in their correct order and to understand the vast distances between them. This is especially helpful when trying to explain the idea of gravity to a younger student.

Make a scavenger hunt of the planets in our solar system with this astronomy for kids activity. This scavenger hunt requires a lot of walking, so it’s best to use it outside when the weather is good. Alternatively, you can do this inside by asking students to find the planets in their classroom.

This activity from NASA is a fun and effective way to introduce your students to the planets in our solar System and their unique characteristics. Students will learn to identify the planets by their shape, location in the sky and other key attributes. They will also be able to find out about some of the planets’ unique moons such as Titan, Ganymede, Io and Europa.

Turn your classroom into a planetarium with this fun astronomy for kids activity. This project is easy to do and can be done with materials you probably already have in your classroom. You’ll need a cardboard box, a flashlight, scissors and a skewer or ice pick. Cut a hole in the side of the box large enough for the flashlight to fit into and then mark dots on the opposite side with a marker. When you shine the flashlight into the hole, your students will be able to see their favorite constellation.