• Home
  • About
  • Homeschool
  • Activities
    • Sensory
    • Fine Motor
    • Alphabet
    • Art & Crafts
    • Science
    • LEGO
    • Math
    • Nature Study
  • Farm
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Stir The Wonder

Charlotte Mason Inspired Learning

  • Home
  • About
  • Homeschool
  • Activities
    • Sensory
    • Fine Motor
    • Alphabet
    • Art & Crafts
    • Science
    • LEGO
    • Math
    • Nature Study
  • Farm
  • Shop

Preschool Science

Hands-on Solar System for Preschoolers

This week we started a unit on space and the solar system. It’s really hard for preschoolers to comprehend the vastness of space, so we have to begin with the basics and make it hands-on. I made this solar system using craft foam so Caden could see the differences in the planets, learn their names and their distances from the sun.

Hands-on Solar System for Preschoolers is a fun way for kids to learn about the planets!

Hands-on Solar System for Preschoolers

Supplies:

  • craft foam
  • circle patterns (bowls of different shapes)
  • scissors
  • acrylic paint
  • hot glue gun

To make this hands-on solar system trace your circles onto the craft foam and cut then out. I used different sizes of bowls and cups to make the different sized planets. I tried to make the sizes relevant to each other. Then I added more details using acrylic paint. I cut out the rings for Saturn and Uranus and attached them with a little hot glue. This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Solar System 3

To play with this hands-on solar system all you need is a large window and a spray bottle of water. It will even work in the bathtub! Caden sprayed the window with water and stuck the planets up one by one starting with the sun. As he put them up we talked about the names of the planets and I pointed out how some planets were closer to the sun and some were farther away. We also talked about the similarities and differences of the planets, how some have rings around them and some do not.

Solar System 1

To make sure we got the order of the planets correct we used his new LeapFrog LeapReader Interactive Solar System Discovery Kit. This is an activity board that uses the LeapFrog LeapReader and teaches astronomy and earth science with stickers, fun facts and games! 81WWchS1MdL._SL1500_Books are also a great way for kids to learn about the solar system. We picked up What is the Solar System? from the library. Other great books for preschoolers about the solar system include:

  • What’s Out There?: A Book about Space by Lynn Wilson
  • The Planets in Our Solar System (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Franklyn M. Branley
  • There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) by Tish Rabe
  • The Magic School Bus Lost In The Solar System by Joanna Cole

Check out the STEM Saturday co-hosts top posts in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math!

STEM Saturday logo

Does Snow Sink or Float from Lemon Lime Adventures

Ichnology from Suzy Homeschooler

Magnetic Ice Science Sensory from Little Bins for Little Hands

QR Codes for Kids | An Introduction to Technology from The Science Kiddo

Save

© 2015 – 2017, Stir The Wonder. All rights reserved.


17 Comments

« Moon Dust Writing Tray
Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop #70 »

Comments

  1. Stacie says

    January 10, 2015 at 10:05 am

    I love this idea of making planets out of foam and putting them on a window like that. I may just use this idea with my daughter when we get to planets. Thank you for telling me about the link up.

    Reply
  2. Jill says

    January 19, 2015 at 11:04 am

    This is a really neat idea for hands on solar system learning!

    Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Stars, Planets and Moons says:
    January 26, 2015 at 6:56 am

    […] Stir the wonder has a beautiful foam solar system. […]

    Reply
  2. Space Activities for Kids - Kids Activities Blog says:
    March 18, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    […] this easy, mobile, hands-on Solar System perfect for preschool fun!- Stir the […]

    Reply
  3. 25 Space-Themed EYFS Activities - Hannah and the Twiglets says:
    March 28, 2020 at 2:57 pm

    […] definitely enjoy it. Check out this post by Gift of Curiosity for instructions. Or you could try this slightly simpler version […]

    Reply
  4. 50+ awesome space activities for kids - Gift of Curiosity says:
    June 29, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    […] Hands-on solar system for preschoolers from Stir the Wonder […]

    Reply
  5. 25 Outer Space Crafts for Kids | Our WabiSabi Life says:
    August 6, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    […] Solar System Window Clings […]

    Reply
  6. 50+ Space Activities For Children! – Kungula Urban Gardening says:
    October 10, 2020 at 10:19 am

    […] Hands-on solar system for preschoolers from Stir the Wonder […]

    Reply
  7. 30+ Hands-On Ways To Teach The Solar System says:
    November 1, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    […] Foam Solar System Model […]

    Reply
  8. Space Theme Inspiration ~ Crafts, Activities, Printables and More! - Twitchetts says:
    December 31, 2020 at 3:42 pm

    […] Hands-On Solar System for Preschoolers // Stir The Wonder […]

    Reply
  9. Space Activities for Preschoolers - How Wee Learn says:
    February 26, 2021 at 5:55 am

    […] Hands-on Solar System for Preschoolers by Stir the Wonder. Preschoolers can learn all about the solar system with this colorful, hands-on activity. Kids will have fun sticking these foam planets on a glass window in the correct order.  […]

    Reply
  10. How To Learn About The Solar System In 50 Awesome Ways - Joanna Cinnamon says:
    April 29, 2021 at 2:04 pm

    […] Hands-On Solar System for Preschoolers:  Craft with foam stuck to windows – my kids will love it! […]

    Reply
  11. 🥇 Estrellas, planetas y lunas: la órbita de la Tierra - Experimentos de Ciencia para Niños says:
    May 12, 2021 at 9:04 am

    […] Revuelva la maravilla tiene una hermosa sistema solar de espuma. […]

    Reply
  12. A bolygók és a világűr - játékötletek gyerekeknek | Játsszunk együtt! says:
    August 13, 2021 at 12:37 pm

    […] Stirthe Wonder […]

    Reply
  13. Activités dans l’espace pour les enfants – Blog d’activités pour les enfants – mes emplois préférés says:
    September 15, 2021 at 9:21 am

    […] ce facile, mobile, pratique Système solaire parfait pour le préscolaire amusant!- Remuez la […]

    Reply
  14. Space Craft Ideas for Kids - Kids Art & Craft says:
    February 25, 2022 at 8:32 am

    […] Image Source/ Tutorial: Stir With Wonder […]

    Reply
  15. How To Learn About The Solar System In 50 Awesome Ways - Joanna Cinnamon says:
    July 22, 2022 at 8:43 pm

    […] Hands-On Solar System for Preschoolers:  Craft with foam stuck to windows – my kids will love it! […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Stuff We Recommend

Join the Steve Spangler Science Club “”
Subscribe:

Favorite Baby Buys for the Second Time Around

Amazon Associates

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in