Space Resources to Explore with Students

If your students are anything like mine, they’ve been following SpaceX, Falcon 9, Starlink, and, of course, everything Mars. Finally, the new era of space exploration is here! Overall, there are so many cool space resources to explore with students in the elementary classroom.

NASA.gov

To begin, online resources at NASA include videos about everything NASA, all about astronauts, ABCs of NASA, crafts and games, picture dictionaries, and more.

First, utilize the resources NASA provides to help your students connect current events and space exploration. Overall, NASA provides incredible resources to get your students excited about space!

National Geographic for Kids

Next, National Geographic for Kids’ Passport to Space is the perfect site for space resources to explore with students. First, check out missions to all the planets (and your friendly dwarf planets, “Hi, Pluto”). Next, take fun quizzes like “Planet Personality” and “Space Exploration”. Then, read articles about “Weird but True” space facts. Finally, teach your students how to make a simple telescope and even explore the sun with online space resources.

Kennedy Space Center

Another space resource to explore with students is the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida! Of course, this is one of my all time favorite family field trips. Even though it’s not possible to take students right now, you can experience the Kennedy Space Center virtually with the activities they have online. One way to do this is through the free Space Chase! app available in the Apple Store or on Google Play.

To begin, you can also challenge your students as they explore three different space missions. In addition, they’ll explore the main attractions at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Also, check out upcoming the rocket launch videos on the NASA website to share with your students.

Space and Solar System Unit

In addition to websites to explore space, use ready-to-go activities in your classroom! To enrich your students’ knowledge of all things space, try comprehensive activities to help them explore the universe! Also, with an alphabet of activities from astronauts to Venus, your students will learn everything they need to know about space.

Overall, the unit also contains interactive notebooks and a plethora of engaging activities and space resources to explore with students.

What You’ll Receive

• Academic vocabulary cards (moon, orbit, constellation, star, planet, solar system, equator, season, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, inner & outer planets)
• Space vocabulary matching game
• Inquiry chart ideas and student examples for classroom use
• Big idea question (discussion starters)
• Space vocabulary flip books
• Inner planets graphic organizers
• Outer planets graphic organizers
• Space ABC order
• Thematic writing paper for all planets
• Informative text for all planets, Sun, moon, seasons, stars, and space related topics
• Comprehension quizzes for all planets, Sun, moon, seasons, stars, and space related topics
• Comparison of inner and outer planets graphic organizers
• Word jumbles for various space related topics
• Solar System mobile activity
• Phases of the Moon observation journal
• Cookie moon phases activity
• International Space Station reading passage & comprehension quiz
• Sally Ride reading passage & comprehension quiz
• Astronauts graphic organizers
• Blast off into writing activity with picture cards & recording sheet
• Diagrams of Moon phases
• Earth’s features labeling activity
• Diagrams of Seasons and Earth’s orbit
• Moon phases Activity
• Solar system scoot and recording sheet
• Space Interactive notebook templates

For distance or online learning, many of activities are also now digital on Google Slides!

Start Exploring Space with Your Students

Pair this engaging unit with some of the other space resources to explore with students. Overall, it’s a great time to explore the universe with your elementary students. Who knows? You may also spark an interest in science that will inspire them to change space exploration as we know it!