Space Theme Activities for Preschool

Who doesn’t love Space? Ok, well kinda me, the vastness freaks me out, but I adored it as a child. The unknown, the possibility for adventure and maybe even other life forms out there! Using a space theme for preschool learning is not new, but hopefully, some of the 20 space theme activities on this list will rejuvenate your classroom and grab the attention of your students. Using themes isn’t a must for preschool, but I like using them because of the novelty and excitement they bring to my class. I still use every day free choice activities and fit in other ideas like learning about emotions no matter what theme I may be doing. Also, if the theme isn’t engaging or exciting my students, I adjust. Learn more about emergent curriculum and how to use it in a more traditional ( like one using a thematic calendar) here.

 

Space Art Projects & Space Crafts

Recycled Rocket

Glow In The Dark Puffy Paint Moon 

Pie Plate UFOs

Letter Constellations

Sandpaper Sun

Make Your Own Constellation

Alien Headband

Puffy Paint Moon

Toilet Roll Rocket 

Recycled CD UFO

Hand Print Sun

Glow In The Dark Star Paintings

Paper Plate Planet

Sponge Painted Stars

Space Preschool Activities

Baking Constellation Cookies 

Space Playdough 

Alien Slime 

Star Sorting Sensory Play 

Melting Alien Brain 

Glow in The Dark Slime 

Space Fingerplay – with FREE printable lyrics!

Space Shadow Matching – free printable

Space Books for Preschool

Here are are few of my favorites from our huge list of books about space for preschoolers. 

All our book reviews contain affiliate links.

 

Penguinaut by Marcie Colleen was sent to me by the publisher, and I am so glad it was. It’s such a sweet story about thinking outside of the box, about having dreams bigger than anyone lets you have, and persistence! Also how goofy is a penguin in space? If you want to teach your students that anything is possible read this book to them.

On the Launch Pad: A Counting Book About Rockets by Michael Dahl was a great find, my son loved counting down from 12-1 with the bright illustrations, simple text and hidden numbers on each page. Something that seems simple but was really awesome was that each page had the number written as a word, shown as a digit and as dots to count. You can take the time to count each dot, read the word or simply recognize the digit!

Aliens Love Underpants: Deluxe Edition Claire Freedman was sent to me by the publisher. I am not sure if they had any knowledge of just how much my daughter loves both aliens and any book remotely related to potty training. I”™ll be honest the whole potty thing has been a struggle, and funny books like this that are books she”™d be reading anyway have been super helpful. The book is all about aliens who come to earth on a giant panty raid, but the book is funny and cute, and its rhyming text is wonderful for emergent readers ( and any others)  like my daughter. She loves for all of us to choose our favorite pair on each page!

See the whole list of space books for preschool here.

 

 

Need more space theme ideas?

Check out our Space thematic unit. There are circle time lesson plans, even more, art ideas, a long book list, and fantastic center ideas all with a space theme! Learn more about it and all our thematic units here.