Outer Space Lesson Plan for Preschool and Homeschool

Children love learning about stars, planets, and outer space. This lesson plan is geared towards preschool age students and can be used for homeschool, small groups within a preschool, and preschool classrooms.

Balloon Rocket

Thread a long string through a straw and attach one end to each end of the classroom. Attach a balloon to the straw and inflate it, holding the open end closed with your fingers. Let the balloon go and it will fly like a rocket to the other end of the room.

Outer Space Mural

Cut out different sizes of stars out of sponges and dip them in white paint. Place a large piece of black butcher paper on the ground and let students stamp star shapes on the paper. Sprinkle glitter on the stars before the paint dries for a sparkly effect. Alternate activity: Let students stamp stars on their own piece of black construction paper and create a mural using the individual sheets of paper.

Constellation Telescopes

Attach two pieces of black tissue paper to the end of an empty paper towel tube. Use a large safety pin to punch holes in the end of the tissue paper to look like a simple constellation, such as the Big Dipper. When students look through the telescope, they will see the constellation.

Flying Saucers

Glue two CDs together, shiny side out, or cut a disc shape out of heavy cardboard. Glue a milk cap to the top of the CDs or cardboard disc and let dry completely. When the flying saucers are complete, let students decorate them however they with stickers, glitter and glue, and scraps of construction paper.

Me on the Moon Creative Writing

Find a picture of an astronaut on the moon online and print up several copies. Cut out room on the helmets to fit a picture of a child's face behind. Glue the picture to the top of a large piece of construction paper. On the bottom, attach a piece of lined paper. Let students tell a short story to an adult starting with, "When I was on the moon, I _________." The adult can transcribe the story to the lined paper.

My Own Constellation Pictures

Give students star stickers and a black piece of paper. Let them arrange their stickers however they want. When they are finished, they can draw lines connecting the stars using white chalk. After they name their constellation, an adult can write the name at the top of the page.