Young children are natural explorers who are curious to learn about the world around them. They are fascinated by the sky, and wonder about things like the sun, clouds, and stars. They might even ask questions, trying to figure out how everything works, such as “where do stars go during the day?” These questions and conversations about space offer wonderful opportunities to encourage curiosity and introduce STEM concepts. In this article, we highlight activities and books that introduce toddlers and preschoolers to outer space and space exploration.
Teaching children about outer space nurtures their natural sense of curiosity and wonder. Many children are fascinated by the vastness of the universe, and introducing conversations about things like the planets and solar system will engage and nurture their inquisitive minds.
When young children learn about the solar system and different planets, it helps them to recognize that our home on planet earth is unique and precious. For example, because Earth is the only planet that is known to have water, it’s especially important to be thoughtful about how much water we use. These conversations can reinforce ideas about sustainability and the importance of caring for our planet.
This topic can easily be connected to science, math, literacy, pretend play, and other parts of your curriculum. Children can count stars, read books about outer space, and dress up as astronauts. If you are working with older children, talking about space is also a great jumping-off point for other STEM topics. For example, you might use a conversation about the planets to introduce some of the basics of gravity, or engage children in a conversation about rockets to introduce physics and engineering.
Although the concept of outer space can be difficult for young children to fully comprehend, research has found that children are interested in topics related to space from a very young age. In fact, a 2019 study in which parents kept a diary of the conversations they had with their young children showed that children as young as three years old initiated conversations about the sun, moon, and stars. Educators who work with toddlers observe the same type of curiosity when children point out clouds and the moon in the sky.
Children each develop at a slightly different pace, and they are exposed to new topics at different ages. A great way to see what the children in your care understand about outer space is to introduce a few books with stories about space to see how much they know and what questions they have.
Books, videos, and art projects are all great tools for learning about outer space. To introduce this topic, it can be helpful to start with what children are able to see, such as the moon, sun, and stars. From there, you can explore less familiar topics, such as planets, the Milky Way, and any other concepts that children are interested in learning more about! Check out the list below to find ideas for children of different ages.
Galaxy-Themed Sensory Activity
Set up a sensory bin using black beans for the sky and glow-in-the-dark stars. Add play planets (if you do not have any, use different colored pom-poms or bouncy balls) and allow toddlers to enjoy feeling all of the different items and textures in the bin.
Using recycled water bottles, you can make a galaxy for young children to explore in the palm of their hands! These are simple to create, with black glitter glue and star sequins that children can watch move around as they shake up the bottles. Use tape or super glue to keep them sealed tight and safe for little ones to play with.
This is a bilingual English/Spanish book that explores the sun, moon, and the planets, with the help of Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina to travel into space. The story celebrates the achievements of Ellen Ochoa while introducing little ones to the solar system.
Moon: A Peek-Through Board Book
This book includes peek-through holes so that young children can interact with the story. The book shows the moon’s different phases with each turn of the page.
This book shares the story of the first moon landing in simple, toddler-friendly language with colorful pictures. If the children in your care enjoy this book, they might also like Hello, World! Solar System by the same author.
Story Time from Space Astronaut Videos for Children
This website has free videos of astronauts reading children’s books from their station in outer space. There are a variety of books read by different astronauts. The story shared here is Give me some Space by Philip Blunting, and read by Shannon Walker (PH.D) a NASA Astronaut.
Balloon Stamping Solar System Art Project
This activity allows young children to enjoy an opportunity to paint with unusual items and to create a final project that looks just like outer space. Balloons are dipped in mixed colors of tempura paint and then children use them as stamps to leave circle shapes that look like planets on black paper.
Luna Muna: Outer Space Adventures of a Kid Astronaut
This sweet and sparkly book tells the story of a young girl who dreams of going to outer space. The book includes easy-to-follow language to explore what life is like for an astronaut who is living in outer space. The children in your program might enjoy this video of astronaut, Peggy Whitson, reading Luna Muna from outer space!
This book puts a unique spin on learning about the moon, by telling a story about its friendship with Earth. The story tells about how Moon never turns her back on her friend (she’s always facing Earth with the same side!) and how the two will be together forever.
Pete the Cat: Out of This World
Pete the Cat lovers will enjoy this story of adventures in space camp. The book follows Pete as he learns what life is like as an astronaut and what kinds of things he would see if he went to outer space. There’s an engaging read-aloud video of this book on youtube.
