• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Living Montessori Now

Montessori Inspiration for Parents and Teachers

  • HOME
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • PR/Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
  • About Montessori
    • About Montessori
    • Resources
    • ABCs of Montessori
    • Overview
    • Principles
    • Free Printables
    • Materials
    • Homeschool Classroom and Materials
      • Circle Time Activities
    • Techniques
    • Training
      • Free Montessori Video Lessons
    • Inspiration
  • Activities
    • Circle Time Activities
    • Art
    • Cultural
    • Language
    • Math
    • Practical Life
    • Practical Life – Grace and Courtesy
    • Sensorial
    • Unit Studies
    • PreK + K Sharing
    • Monthly Themed Activities
    • Holidays and Celebrations
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool High School
    • Montessori Homeschool Classroom and Materials
    • Unit Studies
    • PreK + K Sharing
    • Circle Time Activities
    • Monthly Themed Activities
    • Holidays and Celebrations
    • Free Montessori Video Lessons
  • Free Printables
    • Free Printables
    • Sign up for the Living Montessori Now Newsletter & Get Monthly Subscriber Freebies!
    • More Than 13 Years’ Worth of Free Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities
    • Free Montessori Geography Album
  • Holidays
    • Resources for Upcoming Holidays
    • Holidays and Celebrations
  • Subscribe
    • Sign up for the Living Montessori Now Newsletter & Get Monthly Subscriber Freebies!
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Products
    • My Products

Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

April 12, 2016 By Deb Chitwood 11 Comments

My 2-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, has been in love with the moon for quite awhile now. I wanted to help extend that interest. So I’ve gathered some Montessori-inspired moon activities that work well for toddlers or preschoolers.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Observing the Moon

Phases of the Moon

Zoey has the most contagious excitement about seeing the moon! So, of course, we have to look for the moon each night. We sometimes even look during the day. Talking about moon phases has already become a long-running activity of ours.

Moon Shelf for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Moon Shelf for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Moon Shelf for Toddlers and Preschoolers

I often use tabletop easels to display the books we’re focusing on at the moment. If you have book displays that allow your featured books to face forward, that’s great, too. Or you might place your featured books in book baskets if you don’t have room on your shelf.

Pocket Hugg-A-Planet Earth and Moon – 2 Piece Bundle Set

Pocket Hugg-A-Planet Earth, and Moon 2 Piece Bundle Set

Pocket Hugg-A-Planet Earth and Moon – 2 Piece Bundle Set

We had been using an old National Geographic beach ball globe, so I wanted to get something a bit more current for our globe. With Zoey’s love of the moon, I thought the Pocket Hugg-A-Planet Earth and Moon would be a nice choice for her. I like that the moon can be stored in the planet earth’s pocket. It’s a snuggly set that can be used for babies or toddlers and can be a fun toy when Zoey plays catch with her grandpa. So it’s a perfect addition to our Montessori-friendly home.

Montessori-Friendly Moon Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

We used the The Earth and Sky (A First Discovery Book). This is the main book with the solar system that I kept from when my kids were little because the information has changed. But the transparent overlays in this series are very appealing (and Zoey absolutely loves them). So I just change the information on the one page about the planets. On Amazon, there are complaints about the moon phases description, so you can easily change that part when you read it. With a toddler, you generally won’t read all the words anyway. And you can get the book for $0.01 plus $3.99 shipping. Zoey has loved these books since she was a young toddler, so I don’t mind correcting a couple bits of information.

"Reading" the Moon Phases Mini Book

“Reading” the Moon Phases Mini Book

Otherwise, my main focus right now was on some books made with free printables. Zoey loves handmade books, and these were very easy to put together. Zoey adores the moon phases mini book, a free printable from 123 Homeschool 4 Me. It’s a super-cute idea … an 8-page pocket book that only requires cutting and folding a one-page printable on regular printer paper.

I also printed out two free books: My Moon Book and My Phases of the Moon Book from A Day in First Grade. To keep the books Montessori-friendly, I didn’t attach the last page of My Moon Book because of the smiling moon. Zoey liked both of the books.

Which moon books you choose to buy or get from the library will depend a lot on the age of your child. Of course, if you have a toddler, you can’t skip the classic Goodnight Moon, even though it isn’t “Montessori friendly.” Yes, it does have unrealistic images like the cow jumping over the moon and “3 little bears sitting on chairs.” But it’s too beautiful to pass by. And Zoey loves to laugh at the cow jumping over the moon and say, “That’s silly.”

Moon Orbiting the Earth Activity for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Demonstrating the Moon Orbiting the Earth

Demonstrating the Moon Orbiting the Earth

We used the Pocket Hugg-A-Planet Earth and Moon for Zoey to demonstrate the moon orbiting the earth. Zoey loved to have us take turns holding the moon while we walked around the earth. Because of Zoey’s age, I didn’t focus on where our orbit was or that it needed to be an elliptical shape. We just focused on the concept that the moon orbits the earth and reflects light from the sun.

More Moon Activities and Resources for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Goodnight Moon Resources and Activities

A Goodnight Moon unit is lots of fun for toddlers and younger preschoolers.

Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit

Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit, my roundup post, has many activities that would work especially well for a moon unit for older children while younger children have a Goodnight Moon unit.

Montessori-Inspired Phases-of-the-Moon Playdough Tray

We love our Montessori-inspired phases-of-the-moon playdough tray!

Free Moon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities

My Free Moon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities post has lot of great printables and activities for a moon unit.

Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Units

You’ll find links to all my Montessori-inspired astronomy units in this post.

You’ll find more great moon activities (and other astronomy activities) in the links below!

This post is part of the 12 Months of Montessori Series!

12 Months of Montessori Series – Astronomy

  • Moon Activities – Montessori Inspired Astronomy (Free Printables) | Natural Beach Living
  • Free Astronomy Home Study {Printable Set} | The Natural Homeschool
  • Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers | Living Montessori Now
  • Montessori Inspired Space or Earth Sorting with Printable | The Kavanaugh Report
  • Montessori Inspired Solar System Introduction | Mama’s Happy Hive
  • Space Yoga for Kids | Sugar, Spice & Glitter
  • How to Introduce Space and Planets to Toddlers | The Pinay Homeschooler
  • Montessori-inspired Astronomy Resources for Kids | Every Star is Different
  • Gearing up for Astronomy | Grace and Green Pastures
  • Astronomy for Christian Children | Christian Montessori Network

Do you have a favorite moon book or activity for young children?

Deb - Signature

If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), and YouTube. While you’re here, please check out the Living Montessori Now shop.

And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive some awesome freebies in the process!

Filed Under: Activities - Cultural, Montessori Homeschool Classroom and Materials, Unit Studies Tagged With: 12 Months of Montessori Learning, Goodnight Moon, Montessori, Montessori-friendly books, Montessori-inspired moon activities, Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit, moon activities, Moon Unit, preschooler, preschoolers, toddler, toddlers

Previous Post: « Montessori-Inspired Spring Phonics Activities with Small Objects
Next Post: Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Activities – Thailand »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicole says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:17 am

    Great ideas! I love that little hug-a-planet!

    Reply
  2. kimberly says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:57 am

    These are great ideas and Zoey is so cute!

    Reply
  3. Marie says

    April 12, 2016 at 8:29 am

    So many wonderful resources! I love how Zoey is excited to show us all she has learned!

    Reply
  4. Renae says

    April 12, 2016 at 9:49 am

    It’s amazing how much little ones love the moon. I am absolutely in LOVE with the plush Earth & moon set. That is definitely going on Sunshine’s wish list! Thank you for the printable book resources. Sunshine is obsessed with books and papers she can hold and flip through. I have yet to include them on her shelves.

    Reply
  5. The Natural Homeschool says

    April 12, 2016 at 9:55 am

    This is such a fantastic unit! I love the plush earth and moon! 😉

    Reply
  6. Jae says

    April 12, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    The beach ball globe is adorable and so is Chloe! I love all the booklets used, I have to print a copy. What’s with the moon that kids love? Vito is obsessed with the moon as well. Thanks for sharing Deb!

    Reply
  7. Bess says

    April 13, 2016 at 9:32 pm

    Love it! Now I want an Earth/Moon bundle set for my youngest. I know he’d love rotating the Earth.

    Reply
  8. Vanessa says

    April 14, 2016 at 4:10 pm

    The hug-a-earth and moon are just adorable! This is a wonderful way for a young child to become familiar with our earth in the solar system.

    Reply
  9. Shecki says

    April 17, 2016 at 7:26 pm

    We love our Hugg A Planet! Even the teenagers, lol. They use it for a pillow.

    Reply
  10. Rebekah Gienapp says

    April 18, 2016 at 12:54 pm

    This reminds me a bit of the birthday celebration they do at my son’s Montessori school, where the children hold the earth and orbit the sun for each year they’ve lived!

    Reply
  11. Hil says

    April 19, 2016 at 5:23 am

    My three year old just LOVES planets, she would love to learn more about the moon too. I like the orbiting activity, I should do that with her, my husband is pretty thorough in her physics though so I bet he has already taught her that, especially since he was teaching her about gravity last month.

    Have you linked up at #everythingkids yet this week? You should!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

What Are You Looking For?

Montessori Mega Bundle at 95% Off (Only $25) + Freebies Through May 12!!!

Montessori Mega Bundle 95% Off (Only $25) Through May 12!!!

...and get free geography album, monthly subscriber freebie, and access to the Living Montessori Now Resource Library! 

 I respect your privacy

Categories

Shop Living Montessori Now!

Living Montessori Now Sponsors

Montessori Print Shop

Alison's Montessori
Montessori for the Earth

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives

I Recommend (My Affiliates)

Montessori by Mom

Shop Montessori Services
Shop For Small Hands

How to Get Kids to Listen without Nagging, Reminding, or Yelling



Shop KiwiCo

Shop Little Passports for Award-Winning Adventure

Printed Alphabet Wood Tracing Board

Little Passports

Footer

Connect with LMN



Supervision

The activities shared on this blog require adult supervision at all times. You know which activities are appropriate for your children and/or the children under your care and are responsible for those children's safety.

You Can Also Find Me

Bits of Positivity PreK + K Sharing Spring Snow Publications

Subscribe by Email


Copyright © 2025 Deb Chitwood