Preschool Astronomy

The Phases of the Moon

The first thing preschoolers see in the night sky is the moon. Many preschoolers are fascinated with the moon; not only the shapes of the moon and but that the moon seems to follow them during long car rides. With this fun preschool science activity, you can teach your preschoolers the shapes or phases of the moon and how the moon changes over the course of a month.

What your Preschoolers will Learn:
That the shape of the moon changes over the course of a 28 day cycle
What a circle is
What a crescent is
What you will Need to Teach the Phases of the Moon:
A sheet of paper
Pens

Steps:
1. Start this science activity by creating a chart with twenty-eight boxes on it. Put a title on it, such as 'Shapes or Phases of the Moon'. You can even print out pictures of the moon and glue them on as a border.
2. Check your calender for when a full moon is.
3. Take your preschooler outside on a full moon and have them find the moon. Point out that it’s in a full circle, called a full moon. Point out the 'Man in the Moon'. If you don’t know what this is, stare at a full moon. You’ll quickly see how the shadows on the moon's surface seem to form a 'face'.
4. Draw a picture of it on your chart. It doesn't have to be perfect, so don't stress about this part. 5.For the next twenty-eight days, for homework have your preschoolers go outside and find the moon. Every day have them draw a new picture of the moon on the chart. Over time, your preschoolers will notice that the moon is changing in shape. It shrinks away to nothing, and then comes back to its full moon shape.
**You don't have to have them go outside every day. Every other day or every third day should be enough for them to understand how the shape of the moon keeps changing.

Activity 2
Mr. Golden Sun

Sing "Mr. Sun, sun Mr. Golden Sun" then have fun making him as a craft!!

Supplies needed:
A paper plate
Yellow construction paper
Scissors
Glue (or a stapler)
Crayons, paint or markers
Googly eyes (optional)

Steps

1.Paint/color the back side of a paper plate yellow.
2.Trace a child's hand on yellow construction paper about 7 times.
3.Cut out the tracings.
4.Glue or staple the handprint tracings to the paper plate - the fingers are the sun's rays.
5.Color in the sun, drawing a mouth and a nose. Either draw the eyes or glue on googly eyes.

Put them up in the classroom to brighten it up!