Last week, I focused specifically on astronaut activities. Today, I want to focus on Montessori-inspired studies of space/the universe, with many activities appropriate for both preschool and early elementary.
Planet Cards (Image of Free Printable Download Available from Montessori Mom)
Montessori education has much to offer in the way of cosmic education, and there are some wonderful resources online. Here are links to some of the great Montessori-inspired astronomy activities available:
Montessori Mom has Planet Cards (click on link for “here are some beautiful planet card templates to print out”) as well as other astronomy resources on the page and left sidebar.
In last week’s Activity of the Week, I had a link to Counting Coconuts’ On Our Shelves – January post with many space activities. Counting Coconuts also has recent posts on Space Lessons and Life Cycle of a Star PDF.
My Montessori Journey has a Solar System Project.
My Work Plan has posts on Learning the Names of the Planets and My Universe, a wonderful Montessori activity if you have Karen Tyler’s astronomy album for guidance. Note: watch for my upcoming amazing giveaway regarding Karen Tyler’s Montessori training and albums!
The Adventures of Bear has posts with links and activities on The Universe – The Planets and The Universe – Day 2, 3, 4, and 5.
The Homeschool Den has a post on The Eight Planets.
Leptir has 9 posts on Space.
The Moveable Alphabet has posts on the Solar System.
There’s also a free download of Moon Phases 3-Part Cards by Anjum Husain via Motherwell Montessori.
Life in the Pink Tower has an activity for creating the moon’s phases with Oreos: The Moon Isn’t Made of Cheese After All.
UPDATE of my space posts: Astronaut Unit, Montessori-Inspired Star and Constellation Unit, Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit, and Montessori-Inspired Solar System Activities and World Space Week 2012 Blog Hop.
Have fun with astronomy!
Karen says
January 17, 2011 at 5:57 amthanks for the info. karen
Deb says
January 17, 2011 at 11:47 pmYou’re welcome, Karen! I had fun finding such great links!
Jody says
January 17, 2011 at 1:13 pmThanks for all the links Deb, it is wonderful to have them all in one spot!
Happy Martin Luther King Day!
Deb says
January 17, 2011 at 11:49 pmYou’re welcome, Jody – and thanks for your kind comment! I’m glad my research fun is helpful!
Michelle says
January 17, 2011 at 8:49 pmDeb–Thank you so much for all the great resources here and all your posts!!!
Deb says
January 17, 2011 at 11:50 pmYou’re welcome, Michelle! And thanks for your kind words!
SUE says
January 17, 2011 at 9:39 pmHooray for this post! We’re studying Astronomy right now and I plan to visit EVERY single link you’ve listed. I tell ya, Deb, your blog never lets me down.
Thanks for joining the HHH.
Blessings,
Sue 🙂
Deb says
January 17, 2011 at 11:53 pmThanks, Sue! I’m so glad I’m able to help! You’ll find a couple of awesome elementary-aged astronaut units in last week’s Activity of the Week post, too!
Sherry says
January 17, 2011 at 9:56 pmGreat resources! Thanks–I’ve bookmarked them for later. 🙂
Deb says
January 17, 2011 at 11:55 pmThanks for your comment, Sherry! There are some wonderful activities at the blogs I linked to – I hope you find lots of ways to use them!
meghan says
January 17, 2011 at 10:26 pmWhat great links you have provided. Happy Homeschooling and once again (I <3 your blog) 🙂
Meghan
Deb says
January 17, 2011 at 11:56 pmThanks so much for your kind words, Meghan! And thanks again for all you’re doing through Hip Homeschool Moms!
Sherry says
January 18, 2011 at 4:54 amYou always have the greatest of links and ideas, Deb. Thank you!! 🙂
Deb says
January 18, 2011 at 5:49 pmThanks so much for your kind comment, Sherry!
Discovering Montessori says
January 18, 2011 at 5:55 amNice post! You have rounded up a lot of nice resources. I love it! Thank you for linking to us. The kiddos love these activities. Isn’t Karen Tyler amazing? Thank you again for sharing.
Deb says
January 18, 2011 at 5:57 pmYou’re welcome – and thanks for your wonderful activities! Karen Tyler is definitely amazing – I love what she offers!
Leptir says
January 18, 2011 at 8:17 amThanks for sharing and for including my Astronomy posts 🙂
Deb says
January 18, 2011 at 5:59 pmYou’re welcome! And thank you for all the great activities you share through your blog!
Michelle Breum says
January 22, 2011 at 1:38 pmYou are sharing some great resources on this blog! I’m going to collect some of these astronomy links with Simply Box for my 7 year old son. He’s shown some interest in this area lately.
Have you heard of Simply Box. You can find by searching with a search engine. I’ve used it for awhile and you can share your boxes with a link. I’m just starting to use it more.
I’m adding your blog to my blog list at Beginning Reading Help.
Deb says
January 23, 2011 at 4:47 pmThanks so much for your kind words, Michelle! Simply Box looks very interesting. It sounds like there’s a fee after the initial trial, though. I didn’t see where it tells how much it costs.
The Homeschool Den says
February 6, 2011 at 7:47 pmThank you so much for linking to my blog. Sorry not to write earlier, I’ve been under the weather. I wanted to add what a great blog you have. I’ll definitely be back to browse lots more when I’m totally on my feet!
~Liesl
Deb says
February 12, 2011 at 2:20 amYou’re welcome – and thanks for the great ideas you share on your blog! I hope you’re feeling much better now!
Jessica says
February 25, 2012 at 5:27 pmI know this is an older post, but the resources are still really great!
I have another to add:
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=70638&affiliate_id=16019
This is a link to the March 2012 edition of the Celestial Almanack. Every month a homeschool father puts this resource together and offers it for such a low price ($3) – just to get people out and looking at the night sky.
My son really loves it, though there is enough content “above” him yet, that it really works for children (and adult-children 😉 ) of all ages.
I sound like I’m advertising it – but really, the only benefit I get from talking it up is so that he’ll keep creating this great resource 😉
It works SO well with Montessori, Charlotte Mason and pretty much any approach!