It's hard to believe that more than 50 years have passed since Astronauts landed on the Moon for the first timeand that the last time astronauts ventured to the Moon was in 1972. The moon landings were just the beginning of human space exploration. In 1971, the first space station was launched; in 1979, Pioneer 11 flew by Saturn; in 2005, a probe landed on Titan; and most recently, in 2023, Osiris Rex The mission became the first US mission to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu. The ingenious spacecraft did not land, but instead dropped the samples back to Earth before continuing on to its next mission to collect samples from the asteroid Apophis. The year 2024 looks even more exciting with possible human moon landings from several countries around the world.
Here at Science Sparks, we love all things space. My book, This is rocket science Includes 70 space-themed experiments and investigations that take readers on an adventure around the solar system. It's a great starting point for learning about the challenges of space travel and exploring some of the complexities of the solar system through fun, hands-on investigations.
Continuing with the excitement for Moon landingsI have put together some simple examples Scientific activities based on trips to the moon and space. For children of all ages.
10 activities for kids about the moon landing
All of the science activities and investigations listed below are easy to organize and encourage scientific thinking, problem solving, and teamwork.
Each activity stands alone or can be completed as part of a series of Moon-themed investigations.
1. Lunar craters and landing sites
When choosing a landing site, scientists must understand the lunar landscape. Landing at the South Pole is particularly tricky, as there are many craters and deep pits.
Discover How craters are formed with a simple scientific demonstration using flour and cocoa powder.
2. Take a virtual trip to the Moon
Use a bright Interactive Moon NASA resource for finding landing sites, exploring the lunar surface, and even seeing the inside of the moon! We've loved playing with this. It's a brilliant and fun way to learn more about the geography of the moon.
3. Launch a rocket
Build and test a mini bottle rocket! These go off with a bang, so always stay away. This activity is great for learning about the forces involved in space travel and is an introduction to Newton's laws of motion.
To reach space, rockets must overcome gravity, which they do by creating a huge amount of thrust. In real life, the combustion of rocket fuel creates hot exhaust gases, which produce a downward force. The resulting reaction force creates an upward thrust force, which propels the rocket upward.
In the case of this mini rocket, baking soda and vinegar react together to produce carbon dioxide. The gas fills the bottle and eventually creates enough pressure to push the cork down. The resulting upward force pushes the rocket into the air! This is a brilliant example of Newton's third law.
4. Learn about the phases of the Moon
My moon phases coloring sheet makes learning about moon phases easy!
5. Keep track of the Moon
Keeping track of what the Moon looks like each night is another fun way to learn about the phases of the Moon.
6. Stargazing logbook
You don't need any fancy equipment to observe the night sky. On a clear night, you can easily see stars, constellations and planets.
Phone apps are great for identifying stars, planets, comets, and the International Space Station. Night sky It's a great option to get started with and is available on Apple and Android.
He Free stargazing logbook What follows is ideal for recording observations over time.
7. Map the moon
Create your own map of the moon with my handy template. It's a great research exercise. NASA's website has some fantastic maps. Resources for lunar mapping Which are an excellent starting point.
8. Build an egg parachute
Most spacecraft returning to Earth use a large parachute to slow their fall. Parachutes work by increasing air resistance, which slows the fall of the attached object.
A simple egg-shaped parachute is an easy way to demonstrate how increased air resistance slows an object's fall. Kids can experiment with different parachute sizes and shapes to find out which works best.
9. Movement of planets and moons around the sun.
Make a walking model The Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the theory of heliocentrism around 1514, but did not publish his ideas until 1543. Copernicus's theory was revolutionary in its time, as the Earth was thought to be the center of the universe and that the Sun and planets revolved around it.
10. Katherine Johnson and NASA
Read about Katherine Johnson and her role at NASAKatherine calculated the trajectory of Alan Shepherd's space flight in 1961, and when computers were first used, it was Katherine who checked that her calculations were correct!
Let me know if you have more. Scientific activities on the moon Let's try it!
Scientific concepts and curricular links
Forces – pushes, pulls
Friction
Air resistance
Astronomy
Energy
TIC
Last updated on January 15, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
