Don’t have any space toys but your little one has suddenly become really interested in all things space? This DIY set up is perfect for you.
Suitable for: 2 Years +
Set up: 10-15 minutes over the course of a couple of evenings (waiting for the paint to dry is the lengthy part)
Resources
To Make The Planets
- Cardboard
- Pen
- Scissors
- White paint
- Coloured paint of your choice
- Hot glue gun
To Make The Base
- Black paper
- Cello Tape
- Stars
To Make the Aliens
The set up
To make the planets
Trace around three different sized circles onto your spare card using your pen then cut around the outlines. Cut each circle roughly in half to create six semi circles. Paint each of your semi circles white and leave them to dry.
Note: the Cardboard may begin to curl but we want to keep them as flat as possible so I used my paint bottles to weigh the middle down which kept it fairly flat.
once they are dry use your coloured paint to decorate your planets, making sure the decorate the two largest semi circles to be the same planets and so on. I made the moon, sun and earth.
Once the planets take your hot glue gun and glue the semicircles at a right angle to each other. Once the glue has hardened your planets are ready to be played with.
To make the base
Lay out your black paper over your unit and cello tape it in place. Sprinkle some stars onto the black paper and you are all set up. My stars came from the colour your own igloo we had at Christmas.
Making the most out of the activity
Ayla has really engaged in this set up, using her imagination to create her own little stories. I haven’t lead this play at all and have only followed Ayla’s lead. She pretended the planets were spaceships as she carefully placed the aliens on the moon and wooshed them up into the air. Suddenly one alien developed a cough (uh ohhh) she he was taken to one of the bigger aliens who was the DR and made him feel much better.
Let them take you on their own adventure and see where it takes you!
Learning opportunities
- Communication and Language
- Personal social and Emotional Development
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design