Unit Study: Space

Space is a fascinating topic for children and adults alike. To ponder the vastness of the universe, the creation of our solar system, and the scientific advances that have allowed us to explore realms beyond our planet is truly amazing.

We got started with our space unit after a field trip where we learned a bit about the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. My daughter became fascinated by astronauts and the moon, and was hungry to learn more. Following her interest, we began learning about space with an initial focus on the moon. We eventually branched out into other areas of space, including astronaut life, the planets, the sun, the stars, and even other galaxies. Our space unit became a whole family adventure, with both myself and my husband learning right along with our kids.

If you are planning a space unit study, I hope you will find some useful ideas below! Although my kids were five when we did this unit study, many of these ideas can be adapted for kids both older and younger.

My learning objectives for our space lessons included:

Kids will be familiar with the challenges faced by astronauts living and working in space
Kids will recognize and be able to name all eight planets in our solar system
Kids will learn about the sun, including the fact that it is a star, it provides energy for all life on Earth, and it sits at the center of our solar system
Kids will learn about the moon, including the fact that people have visited it, it has no atmosphere, and its surface is filled with dusty craters
Kids will learn about stars, including the fact that they are hot balls of gas and certain groups of stars form constellations

Below you will find all of the space-related posts that have been featured at Gift of Curiosity.