Outer Space: Day Three

To the Moon!

The closest object in space to Earth is the moon. Today, we will be taking a trip there to learn more about Earth's nearest neighbor.

Orbiting Round the Moon
(tune: She'll be Coming 'round the Mountain)

We'll be orbiting round the moon, yes we will

We'll be orbiting round the moon, yes we will
We'll be orbiting round the moon
We'll be orbiting round the moon
We'll be orbiting round the moon, yes we will

We'll be landing on the moon, yes we will
We'll be landing on the moon, yes we will
We'll be landing on the moon
We'll be landing on the moon
We'll be landing on the moon, yes we will

We'll be walking on the moon, yes we will
We'll be walking on the moon, yes we will
We'll be walking on the moon
We'll be walking on the moon
We'll be walking on the moon, yes we will

We'll be blasting off again, yes we will
We'll be blasting off again, yes we will
We'll be blasting off again
We'll be blasting off again
We'll be blasting off again, yes we will

We'll be landing back on Earth, yes we will
We'll be landing back on Earth, yes we will
We'll be landing back on Earth
We'll be landing back on Earth
We'll be landing back on Earth, yes we will

Read a book about the moon, such as: National Geographic's Moon--Steve Tomecek.

Do the activity at the end of the book:
Making Craters

1. Spread a towel on the table. Place a metal cake pan in the middle.
2. Fill the pan with flour so that it's about 1 inch deep. Smooth it out by shaking the pan gently.


3. Take a pebble (I didn't have pebbles, so i used a couple of magnets, marbles, and different coins) and hold it about 2 ft above the pan of flour.

4. Drop the object into the flour and watch what happens.


5. Repeat with other objects.

Ask questions and make observations:
What happens to the flour when the object hits the surface?
How does this experiment explain how craters form?
Were there any differences in the sizes of the craters?

Moondough:

Give your child large handfuls of playdough to roll and pat into thick circles for moons. Make representations of the different moon phases. Show him how to poke craters into the moons with toothpicks.

Me on the Moon

For a souvenir of your space week, find a picture of an astronaut. Make a copy of the picture. Cut out the face of the astronaut and use a picture of a child and make another copy. Now it looks like your student is on the moon. Do this for all of your children. They'll love it.

Blue Moon

Discussion: Explain to the children that there is a full moon each month. However, some months there are two full moons. And, the second full moon in a month is called a Blue Moon.

Story: The Nightgown of the Sullen Moon the moon is painted blues, greens, and purples. If not available then your favorite.

Art

Need: white paper (8 1/2" x 11" (2 sheets per child), circle patterns (about 7" in diameter), white glue, watercolors, brushes, pencils, scissors, books and pictures about the moon, book - "The Nightgown of the Sullen Moon"

Have children trace the circle pattern onto construction paper or provide already cut out circles. Draw five to seven craters inside the moon circle. Apply a bead of white glue on top of the crater outlines. The glue outlining needs to partially dry.

Put on paint shirts and set out watercolors (shades of blue, green, purple). Paint the inside of the craters first with a dark shade of one of the colors. Use water-downed solutions of the other two colors to wash across the face of the moon so it has a hazy appearance.

If children traced circles onto construction paper, when paintings are dry they can cut out the moon circles.

Snacks

Moon Balls

Ingredients: 2 C. Peanut butter, 1 1/3 C. Honey, 2 C. Raisins 2 C. Dry milk, 3 1/2 C. Graham cracker crumbs (keep 1/2 c. separate)

Mix dry milk, raisins, and 3 c. graham cracker crumbs
Add honey and peanut butter, mix will (hands do best)
Roll into small balls
Place remaining 1/2 c. of graham cracker crumbs in a large baggie Place several balls at a time into the baggie and shake, then place on a
Cookie sheet.
Chill then eat.