Kids love learning about the stars. From Ursa Major to the clusters of stars and unique patterns, there are so many lessons to learn about outer space. The astronomy activities below explore the night sky and cycles of stars with crafts, discussion questions, and STEM star-based experiments. Many of the links also include additional astronomy resources. With billions of stars in the sky, teachers will never run out of fascinating astronomy topics. Here are 22 stellar activities to help you teach about stars!
1. Paper Plate Galaxy
This fun astronomy project helps teach kids the anatomy of a galaxy. They will use a paper plate to map the Earth and the Milky Way galaxy. Once the paper plates are done, they are ready to be put on display!
Learn More: Lunar and Planetary Institute
2. Star Scramble
This is a matching/sequence game that teaches basic astronomy. Kids can work in groups to put the star cards in order of the stages of a star. They will match the star stage to the stage description. The first group to match the stages and put the stages in order wins!
Learn More: Lunar and Planetary Institute
3. Constellation Geoboard
This astronomy craft helps kids learn about constellations and where to find them in outer space. Kids use a template of the night sky, cork board, and rubber bands to map constellations and then mark them as they find them.
Learn More: Babble Dabble Do
4. Solar System in a Jar
Kids will love making their own solar systems that they can keep on display in their rooms. All they need is clay, a fishing line, a jar, toothpicks, and glue to make a solar system come alive. They can also label the different parts of the system for added educational fun.
Learn More: Teach Beside Me
5. Moon Phases Slider
This cool activity is crafty and educational. Kids will use construction paper and a template to create a slider that depicts the phases of the moon. They can match the phases of the moon as they observe outer space.
Learn More: Teach Beside Me
6. Create Your Own Constellation
This is a great introductory star activity to start a star unit. Kids will go outside and observe the night sky. They will connect the stars in order to make their own constellation with stars that they think fit together. They can also write the mythology of their constellation for more fun.
Learn More: SkyDay
7. Starlit Night
This star activity craft is perfect for kids of all ages and they can display it in their bedroom! They will make a glow-in-the-dark constellation mobile. They will use glow-in-the-dark stars and a constellation printable to create the mobile.
Learn More: A Little Pinch of Perfect
8. Pipe Cleaner Constellations
Making pipe cleaner constellations is a great way for kids to practice fine motor skills. They will manipulate the pipe cleaners to create the constellation displayed on the constellation card. Kids will learn the constellation names and shapes.
Learn More: 123Homeschool4me
9. DIY Star Magnets
Magnets are all the rage, and kids will love making their own star magnets. All they need are glow-in-the-dark stars and adhesive magnets. They can use a fridge or a fire door to make famous constellations using their star magnets and constellation cards.
Learn More: Lalymom
10. Sew a Constellation
This star activity is great for learning how to use a needle and thread, following a pattern, and practicing hand-eye coordination. This is a great lesson to do during the day to prepare kids to find a familiar constellation at night. All they need are the printouts, a needle, and yarn!
Learn More: Kids Creation
11. Make a Stargazing Playlist
There are so many songs about stars and the night sky. Kids can make a playlist featuring stars and listen to the songs while they stargaze with their family or friends. The songs will make the memories of stargazing last.
Learn More: Kids Creations
12. Make an Astrolabe
This activity teaches kids about the stars while using math. An astrolabe is a tool that measures the stars’ angles and the object’s height above the horizon. Kids will make their own astrolabe using the template, then learn how to use math to use it!
Learn More: Make an Astrolabe Activity
13. Cultural Star Knowledge
This is a cross-curricular star activity that combines science and English. Kids will learn about stars and mythology about stars from cultures around the world. Then kids can write their own star stories using the writing sheets.
Learn More: Cultural Star Knowledge Booklet Activity
14. Solar System Ambassador
Classroom teachers will love this star activity to learn about the solar system. Each small group will be assigned a planet to research. They will then be that planet’s “ambassador”. Then, each group will meet with other ambassadors to learn about the other planets.
Learn More: Solar System Science
15. Observing the Moon
This activity encourages students to use their observation skills to track the moon. They will observe what the moon looks like during different phases and then record the moon’s appearance, including the surface and the shadows.
Learn More: StarDate
16. Stars Read-a-loud
There are plenty of star books for every grade level. Read books about stars to help students learn about the cycle of stars, the constellations, star mythology, and more!
Learn More: Classroom
17. Black Hole Model
For this activity, kids will learn all about mass, gravity, and black holes in space. They will use materials such as marbles and a sheet to create a demonstration for the class. As they observe, they will look at what the small marble does when the bigger object is in the middle.
Learn More: Science Buddies
18. Creating Craters
Kids will explore how craters are made on the moon and on Earth in this fun STEM activity. Using flour, cocoa powder, and a large baking pan, kids will make craters on a flat surface and observe the size of the craters relative to the mass of the object.
Learn More: Science Buddies
19. The Sun and Stars Video
This video is fun and engaging for elementary students. They will watch the video and learn all about the sun as a star, how stars are different and similar, and how they appear when they are closer or farther away from Earth.
Learn More: Generation Genius
20. Measuring Brightness
This lesson is great for upper elementary students or middle schoolers. They will observe the stars’ brightness and measure it in two ways: apparent and actual. This inquiry-based lesson will teach students about the correlation between distance and brightness.
Learn More: Stargazing
21. The Stars and Seasons
This fun activity is good for upper elementary students. They will learn how the seasons affect the stars’ appearance and the sky’s constellations.
Learn More: Mystery Science
22. Creation Stories
This lesson and website teach kids about how different cultures explain the creation of the stars. Kids will watch videos that tell the stories of the Milky Way’s creation and how the stars are related to our origin.
Learn More: Lessons From Earth and Beyond
30 Mesmerizing Animals That Start With “M”