Straw Rockets(Ages 3-16)
How fast do you think a rocket needs to go in order to launch into orbit? A shuttle needs to go from 0 to 18,000 miles per hour to get to space! (This is 9 times faster than the speed of a rifle bullet!) While these paper straw rockets don't fly nearly as fast, we had a bunch of fun watching them zoom off. Give it a try and see how well your rockets fly!
Pom-Pom Solar System(Ages 5+)
Learn more about the planets in our solar system with this charming pom-pom mobile! A perfect DIY gift for the babies (or space-loving grownups) in your life.
Space Banner(Ages 9+)
Give your walls an out-of-this-world accent with a space banner!
Blast off into STEM learning with this astronaut starter kit! Build and launch a pair of model orbiter spaceships using the power of pumps. Paint a set of model planets, then construct a miniature solar system that really spins.
Moon Crater Experiment(Ages 5-10)
When you look up at the moon at night, it often looks like there are some grey areas and some white areas on the surface. The grey areas are called craters. Have you ever wondered how the moon's craters are formed? If the answer is yes, then this experiment is just right for you. Make your own moon surface with flour and oil and then drop meteorites (small rocks and pebbles) from varying heights to create your own craters!
Galactic Painting(Ages 5-13)
Bring outer space into your home with some paint, construction paper, and an old toothbrush!
Dive into kid-friendly chemistry with a set of planet-themed bath bombs you crafted yourself! Mix together citric acid, baking soda, cornstarch, and food coloring to make a variety of colorful bath bomb powders. Use a set of molds to shape the powders into multi-layered bath bombs inspired by the layers of the Earth.
Get ready to blast off into the air with your very own bottle rocket. Assemble your launcher, rocket, funnel, and launch mixture to experience some extremely fizzy fun.
Clay Rocket(Ages 9-16)
Become a rocket scientist by building your own clay rocket with air dry clay and an old toilet paper tube!
Spinning Space Orrery(Ages 9-16)
For a long, long time, people thought that the Sun and all of the other planets revolved around the Earth. This was called the geocentric, or Earth-centered, model of the solar system. Of course, now we know that the Sun is the center of the solar system, not the Earth - the solar system is actually heliocentric, or Sun-centered.
But the geocentric and heliocentric models had something in common - astronomers used orreries to study them! An orrery is a mechanical model of the motion of the planets in our solar system. Try making your own orrery by downloading the printable here!
These 10 Space Activities for Kids Are Out of This World
From distant stars, to black holes, to the search for life on other planets, outer space has so much to explore. Inspire your child to think out of the box (and out of this world!) with our favorite space-themed science projects.