Family Space Day Overview - Galaxies

Family Space Day is a three hour event. The activities are set up so that children
and parents can select the order in which they undertake activities. Parents and
children are encouraged to learn, play, and explore together.

Objectives of the Day

Children will:

  • explore what galaxies are and about their different parts.
  • learn that different components within our solar system and beyond are
    different sizes, distances, and ages.
  • understand that galaxies are systems, and include smaller parts or
    components. Galaxies also are parts of larger systems.

Activities

Station 1: Galaxy Hall Posters
Children and their parents view 7 posters and respond to the poster questions to
learn more about galaxies and to prepare for the daily activities.

Station 2: Cosmic Quest Card Game
Children order images of representative features within and outside of our solar
system by distance and size to learn about the different components and how far
away they are. Older children order the images by age, learning that different
objects in our galaxy and beyond are different ages.

Station 3: My Place in Space
Children gain an understanding that they are part of a galaxy – The Milky
Way – and how immense it truly is. They explore how smaller systems exist
within larger systems as they build a collage of their place in space!

Station 4: Paper Plate Galaxy
Children make and decorate a spiral galaxy mobile and learn its different
parts.

Station 5: Glitter Galaxies
Children will learn about the different types of galaxies and make a
representation using glitter!

Station 6: Coloring Sheets and Games
Children can relax and color and play simple games related to galaxies.

Station 7: Reading Room
Children and their parents can browse and read a selection of books about
galaxies (refer to book list for suggested reading).

Other Materials

Facilitator Information – Galaxies
Explore Galaxies – Book and Website References
All About Galaxies – A Galaxy Fact Sheet

Print all