Astronomy Homeschool Activities / Everyday Learning 6

Many of my most treasured childhood memories involve one-on-one time with my father: ice skating, hiking trips, studying astronomy. (Okay, and cuddling on the coach watching the original Star Wars movies too.)

I remember eagerly anticipating each lunar eclipse, comet or meteor shower, knowing that we’d get to see it together.

I have waited many years to share this joyful experience with my kids. After studying the ‘butterfly life cycle‘ and ‘leaves and seeds,’ we turned our focus this winter to astronomy, studying our moon, planets and their satellites in the solar system, and constellations in the night sky.

Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun

We stargazed with the help of Google Sky, the fantastic Earth Sky blog and Facebook page, and Skymaps with monthly, free printable sky maps…

… poured over dozens of great astronomy books (our favorites being Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations, Glow-in-the-Dark Constellations, and The Stars):

Happy birthday to our daughter

… observed the moon cycle with the Phases of the Moon app (that allows you to scroll forward and backwards through time to see how the moon changes each day) and this craft project:

Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun

… discussed the order, size, and characteristics of the planets and their satellites in our solar system with this craft project, these puzzles by Ravensburger, Melissa & Doug, and Crocodile Creek, and a craft similar to this one:

Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun
Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun
Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun

… explored the Greek and Native American myths explaining the stories behind our constellations…

… practiced identifying, drawing, and embroidering constellations:

Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun
Solar System Birthday Party
Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun

… celebrated our daughter’s six birthday with a solar system themed party:

Solar System Birthday Party
Solar System Birthday Party

… visited the planetarium at the California Academy of Science and created our own version at home (with this fantastic activity)…

Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun
Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun

… and watched our daughter write her own astronomy book (from Imagine Childhood with this white gel pen):

Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun
Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun
Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun
Everyday Learning: Astronomy Homeschooling Fun

Three months of study and we still have so much to learn! I have a whole bunch more astronomy-themed activities on Pinterest to explore in the future.

So many fun projects, so little time!

3 thoughts on “Astronomy Homeschool Activities / Everyday Learning 6”

  1. This looks like such amazing learning fun — I’m hoping on the next flight and coming over immediately, so that I can participate too!!!!

  2. So much fun doing astronomy together in the winter. too bad we didn’t use our telescope. When we finish my astronomy book can we use our telescope

    1. Miss Leyba: Of course we can! We could even use your new telescope tonight! (Or next week to watch the lunar eclipse!)

      I’m so glad you enjoyed our astronomy activities. I love our time learning together too!

Comments are closed.