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My daughter recently finished her science curriculum. With only a few months until summer break, we decided we’d create our own unit study. “I want to learn about the stars,” she said, so we did what we do when we want to know something- scoured our bookshelves, checked out our favorite YouTube channels, Googled, and headed to the library. Below you’ll find the many astronomy resources we found, used, and loved so you can create your own astronomical unit study!
Astronomy Activities and Resources for Kids
Know- Want to Know- Learn
A great place to start any unit study is with a KWL. Talk about or make a list of all the things your kids already know about the subject they are going to study and get them thinking about things they are wondering about- what do they want to know about? The learning part will come throughout the unit. Use their questions and interests to guide what resources you choose.
Star Gaze
One of the best ways to learn is to jump right in! We love our Planet Finder and SkyView apps. This article lists a bunch of apps to help families and kids get outside and really see the sky.
A Kid’s Guide to Stargazing has great tips and directions on how to make a star journal.
We also love our 100 Things to Spot in the Sky cards.
Astronomy Books
Good books are essential to any unit study! My favorite way to find them is through recommendations (see below) and by going to the library. We find the right section and start pulling books off the shelf. One by one, we make a pile (a big pile). We flip through books, judge books by their cover and pictures, and argue over who is going to carry the books to the car 🙂 Spoiler alert- we both do because we are the people who check out all the books!
Once home, we take our pile, grab good snacks, a fuzzy blanket, and a dog or two, and dig in.
We learned a lot and loved the books below.
Astronomy Videos
My daughter and I loved these videos. These YouTube channels are also our go-to places for all things science.
Astronomy Activities
Create Your Own Constellation and Story
After learning about constellations and reading related stories, have learners imagine and create a constellation they’d like to see. Would it be an animal, a person, or an object? Next, invite students to write a story about their constellation.
Make Astronomy Art
- Kiwi Co has an awesome Astronaut Starter kit! My kids loved making solar system models.
- Make a constellation flashlight
- Make a shoebox planetarium.
- Galaxy slime is fun!
- A Star Finder
Check out NASA’s Interactives
Learn about Astrology
Astronomy and Astrology are wonderful to teach together. We all love learning more about ourselves! By learning about astrology, kids can connect who they are with the science around them.
- Horoscope Crafts
- Learn about astrology from Debra Silverman
- Learn about astrology from the Astrotwins
- Astrology Zone with Susan Miller
- Check out Chani’s app
- The Moon Calendar app is awesome