Space Themed Activities

The Order of the Planets from the Sun: Ordinal Numbers, Planets

Arya was 26 months old

Materials:
I inserted eight straws in two bars of sponge. You can have a bar if the sponge is long enough. I labeled the ordinal numbers on the sponge below the straws. Next, I prepared the planets along with the pins from the solar system planetarium. My child's task is to put the planets on the straws in the right order.
We have read a book about the order of the planets several times. Arya has got the idea where the planets belong to. He took the planets randomly and inserted the pin of the planets in the straws. I still had to remind him which planet went to which straw by asking, "What planet is that? Is it the first? Is it the fifth?" When he answered correctly, I gave confirmation, "Yes, Jupiter is the fifth! Which one is fifth?" Then he placed the planet on the right straw. When he had known the correct order, I didn't ask any questions since it would distract his concentration. I just gave confirmation. This activity needs hand-eye coordination.

Extension activities:
Imaginative play
Arya suddenly blew the planets on the straws as if they were candles. We sang "happy birthday" and "let's blow the candle" song. I changed the 'candle' into the names of the planets. He enjoyed blowing them one by one.

This activity took 30 minutes with several repetitions since Arya tend to drop the planets after singing. It means he wanted to do the activities more and more.

After being tired singing and blowing, he pretended licking the planets as if they were lollipops. He offered me, "Mama, Here is Saturn lollipop." I said thank you and pretended to eat it. We can teach about good manners in offering and receiving things.

This activity is still a hit two days after. Arya is getting better in choosing the right order and more skillful in placing the planets on the straws.

Planet Mobile

Materials:
A used-mobile
8 stereofoam balls in different sizes
1 ball for the star
Poster colours
String
Toothpicks
Wire

Steps:
1. Insert the toothpicks through the diameter of the stereofoam balls.
2. Paint the balls based on the colour of each planet. The toothpick functions as the handle when painting.
3. Dry the planets.
4. Take off the toothpicks.
5. Insert the wire through the diameter of the planets and the sun.
6. Bend the wire on each end.
7. Tie a piece of string on each planet and sun.
8. Replace the hanging ornaments on the mobile with the planets.
9. Hang the sun on the mobile center.
10. Hang the mobile on the bedside.

My son (26 months old) helped me painting the stereofoam balls. He did it only for 5 minutes but enjoyed an activity he created himself. He mixed some watercolours in the bucket in the bathroom. He ran back and forth to pinch the watercolour in the living room and dipped it in the water to see the colour changing. He reported what colour he was having at that time.
I let him do it while I painted the rest. I finished making the planet mobile myself for two weeks. If you have older children, they will be great help and this activity can be their art project.

Extension activities
1. Ask the child to point out the planet based on our questions: Which is Mars? Which is Earth?
2. Ask them to touch each planet while saying its name.
3. Sing planet song.
4. Give additional information: Mars is the red planet. Jupiter is the biggest planet. Saturn has a ring. We life on Earth. The first planet is Mercury, etc.
5. Asking some information: what is the biggest planet? Why is Mars red? What planet do we live in?

The older your children are, the more complex information you can give.

Photo will be uploaded soon.