co-op class - astronomy

This week in our co-op class, we talked about space travel. After our discussion, I had the kids design their own rocket using some basic art supplies. I didn't know if they would get into this project or not. I was really surprised at how much time, thought and effort they put into making their rockets. They especially liked the part where they got to run around the room and fly their rockets! I wish I had my camera with me so I could have taken a picture of the different designs.

materials-
toliet paper and/or paper towel rolls
foam sheets
streamers
stapler
tape
markers/paint/crayons
scissors

co-op class - astronomy

A few weeks back we learned about Saturn and I let each student make their own Saturn to take home with them.

Ella's multicolored Saturn! Gracelyn's blue with orange dots Saturn!

materials-

styrofoam ball

old cd

paint

toothpick

directions-

1. cut the styrofoam ball in half

2. paint both halves of the styrofoam ball

3. let dry overnight

4. place a toothpick in the center of one of the halves

5. sandwich the cd between the two halves

*Our cd isn't staying in place, so if I were to do this project again, I would try glueing the 2 halves to the cd. If anyone tries this, let me know how it worked for you and what kind of glue you used!

co-op class - astronomy

(picture and idea taken from The Crafty Classroom.)

week 4-

This week we talked about Jupiter and the weather on Jupiter. I brought in a hurricane tube since The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a lot like a hurricane here on Earth. We also made a mosaic of Jupiter out of dried beans.

materials-
4 different colors of dried beans

card board

glue
black construction paper
picture of Jupiter

directions-

1. cut out a circle from the cardboard

2. draw an oval near the bottom for The Great Red Spot

3. glue red beans in the oval

4. starting at the top of the circle, glue different colors of beans in alternating colors to represent the colors of the atmoshere of Jupiter

5. after it dries, glue the planet onto a piece of black construction paper

co-op class - astronomy

I put together a sensory tub for our astronomy class after I saw the astronomy tub over at Counting Coconuts. I had a lot of rice on hand so I decided to color the rice instead of buying aquarium rocks, but I really like the way her's looks with the rocks. The idea is for the ones that finish their work early, they can play in the sensory tub to keep busy while everyone else finishes their work. We will see how it goes! Even if they don't enjoy it, at least my son loves it and has enjoyed playing with it this week!

items in box
colored rice - blue
glass stones
Mars Rover
astronaut
alumium foil balls (moon rocks)
bouncy balls (planets
neon colored jacks (stars)
golf ball (moon)

co-op class - astronomy

( picture and idea taken from The Crafty Classroom.)

week 3-

This week the kids sang the Sun, Moon and Earth song again and made an Earth craft! On each strip of paper, the kids wrote out the following verse, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that who ever believes in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.", John 3:16.


materials-
4 green strips of construction paper
4 blue strips of construction paper
2 brads
whole punch
sharpie

directions-

1. give each student 4 green and 4 blue strips of construction paper

2. have student write John 3:16 onto the strips of paper, alternate colors

3. stack all of the strips together and punch one hole at the top of the strips and one hole at the bottom of the strips

4. place a brad in each of the holes

5. fan the strips out into a globe

co-op class - astronomy

This semester at our co-op group, I am teaching the astronomy class. Another mom taught it for the first semester, so for the last 2 weeks, we have been reviewing what we have learned so far.

week 1-

We reviewed the order of the planets by learning a song called The Family of the Sun and doing a solar system art project that I saw on My Montessori Journey. We are including Pluto in our learning, but we have told the kids that scientists no longer think Pluto is a planet, that it is a dwarf planet. I got the print out of the planets from the coloring castle.



week 2-

We sang The Family of the Sun song a fewer more times and then talked about how the sun, moon and earth revolve. We sang the song and wore the necklaces to help us learn about the relationship between the sun, moon and earth. I saw this idea on My Montessori Journey, too.



Be sure to check out The Preschool Corner for more ideas and activities to do with your preschooler!