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For our 2 week journey studying "M" for Moon we decided to recreate Apollo 11 - the first time people landed on the moon. First, I did some research & compiled pictures & information (included in download) to share with the kiddos. Then, I had them watch some video clips & listen to some sound bites from the Apollo 11 mission. I learned so much myself!
We then recreated the 3 man Apollo 11- shape as best we could, hatch, windows, limited space, and control panel. The kids then decorated it in their typical creative fashion! We talked about how their was not a toilet on board this 9 day mission! We also talked about logistics of eating floating food or having to tie yourself down while you slept.
We also created a Moon buggy. The kids got their pretend camera to document their historic landing on the moon, a bag to collect moon walks, and wore space suits.
We had many hours of creative play reenacting Apollo 11's mission. The kids even recreated positioning for take-off, the pressure on their face at blast off, and we played the original sound clip for their ascent. A memorable 2 weeks!
I bought this solar system to decorate our room before our space unit. The kids loved having a decorated school room! They got really good at naming all the planets. Goofy even pointed out the asteroid belt to me between mars & Jupiter - wow I can't believe he remembered that from one of the books we read! We also played a game where I would say the name of a planet & they would run underneath it. Then they got to call out the planets & I would run underneath them. Super fun! We did solar system puzzles & played Solar System Bingo ($5)
The kids LOVE using our Bingo markers so they enjoyed making astronauts with this with M Bingo Paint Pages
We made craters in our moon dust from the My Father's World Curriculum.
We also did worksheets to enhance our learning! I used my favorite go-to places: Homeschool Creations & 1plus1plus1equals1. I used the Solar System Pack by 1plus1plus1equals1: what’s a planet, planet mini book (my kids love these mini books), and vocabulary word flashcards. Plus there are lots of other great goodies here!
I also used more free goodies from Jolanthe in her Astronaut Preschool Pack from Homeschool Creations. My kids liked the space ship color book, shadow/image match-up (harder to do than I thought it would be), different sized rockets (practice order, right/left, middle, etc.), find & color all the a’s, and fun tracer & pre-writing pages.
This has to be one of our favorite activities! We made the different phases of the moon with Oreo cookies! I know, how cool is that?!?!? I made a worksheet to go with it that looks a little neater that you are welcome to use (in the download). This was some serious, delicious, learning fun!
Our Space Sensory Tub was a HUGE hit! We bought the Safari LTD Space Toob and MOON SAND WHITE from Amazon.
We played the Astronauts to Earth Race Game by MamaJenn. We even bought the Photo Stacking Cubes to play the game (which we have gone on to use in so many things!). There are TONS of other games to play with them. Goofy has been enjoying them to learn the Dolch Words. We each made a flag to put in the "moon" when we landed to show we were there. We also made popsicle stick stars to hang from the ceiling.
We practiced our numbers and constellation shapes with star stickers.
I also created some Spanish vocabulary flashcards to go with our unit AND a moon counting book (They are also in the download). The kids are coming right along with their Spanish!
Feel free to download my resources by clicking on the image below. Feel free to hare with other by referring them back to my blog. Just please don’t link them right to the resources if you share them. Thanks!
There are several books I used & really loved. But my favorite is On the Moon by Anna Milbourne. My other resources we used & loved are above this post.
Seriously - the most fun we've had so far!
Visit the Show & Tell to get and share Education Cube ideas!
What a very fun week!!!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! The oreo idea is FANTASTIC!!! I'll tuck that one away for sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your ideas! we are currently havin space as a topic at home and the kids have so much fun with it! The Moon buggy looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteVee
Great week!! I remember doing the oreo moon phases with my oldest when she studied astronomy. Such fun!
ReplyDeletePopping in from Tot School.
love the moon phase biscuits - gonna remember that one. Thanks for visiting
ReplyDeleteZelda Homeschool Escapade
I love a delicious project, for sure. How fun was it using those oreo cookies? What a great idea. The entire 2 week project was amazing, thanks for sharing. I love creativity and fun when it comes to learning. Children have so much fun that they forget their learning.
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower. Thanks for following me. I'll be checking in often to chat about your blog post. .
Thanks everyone! I so appreciate you taking the time to leave me your encouraging comments!!
ReplyDeleteBeth =-)
I love your moon unit! Space is one of my most favorite things to teach, and now I have a bunch of new ideas! Thank you. And thanks for inviting me over to link up with you!
ReplyDeleteHi Beth! thanks for joining me on my blog with a link back to yours...I am very glad to have stopped by! I am so inspired by this post! I have been dreaming of homeschooling sinc being pregnant with my 1st son (now 21 months...so fast!) There are so many in my life against it and I know if that is the route we decided to go I will need lots of support! so...consider yourself followed! :)
ReplyDeleteThe moon cookies are brilliant - I am so going to pinch that idea when i get back into teaching! x
ReplyDeleteI love the moon cookies. Yes lets connect. I can learn so much from you about blogging. Blessings,
ReplyDeleteChandi
love this idea, following you now. Hope you follow back at allmybabybirds
ReplyDeleteLove the cookies and will do with my boys when we hit the moon part of our studies! Just saying hi and thanks for following me. I'm keeping an eye on you now too. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I am pinning like crazy from this post. Love the moon buggy/train table idea. So creative! We are getting ready to embark on an Astronomy unit and I am searching for ideas that appeal to all my kids at their various ages. Thanks, Beth, for the links you posted as well re: Apollo 11. ~Julie
ReplyDeleteCute idea with the moon phase cookies. I used a light box made from a cardboard box and a styrofoam ball hanging from the middle with a hole in each side to shine the moon phase onto the moon at different angles. A bit more involved, but had a worksheet too for shading in the phase seen through the front spy hole. My first graders loved it! Looks like your children enjoyed this exploration. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCute idea with the moon phase cookies. I used a light box made from a cardboard box and a styrofoam ball hanging from the middle with a hole in each side to shine the moon phase onto the moon at different angles. A bit more involved, but had a worksheet too for shading in the phase seen through the front spy hole. My first graders loved it! Looks like your children enjoyed this exploration. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I'm short on time to get my solar system unit ready by tomorrow and you totally helped me!
ReplyDeleteTruly love it
ReplyDeleteLots of great ideas here! Thanks so much for linking up to the Education Cubes Show & Tell! May I have permission to feature you on the Education Cubes blog? I would use one of your photos from this post and provide links back to your site. Please let me know your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great unit study, Beth! I featured your post and your Oreo cookie phases of the moon photo in my Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit at http://livingmontessorinow.com/2012/07/16/montessori-monday-montessori-inspired-moon-unit/
ReplyDeleteFound you on Pinterest! We're starting MFW M week tomorrow! THanks for all the ideas.
ReplyDeleteHow clever. I am 41 and I am making a moon plate! And NOT JUST FOR THE OREOS, either! ;oD
ReplyDelete