Here are a few ways families can explore the wonders of astronomy together (for toddlers and preschoolers):
Skywatch
For very young kids, start by exploring all of the things they can see in the sky: clouds, airplanes, rainbows, the sun, the moon and stars. In the morning, look out the window and make a prediction about the weather that day. Will they need to wear boots? Bring an umbrella? Put on sunscreen?
Day vs. Night
What does the sky look like in the day? How does it look different at night? Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On one side draw or cut out pictures of things you see in the daytime; on the other side, draw or paste night pictures.
Shadowplay
On a sunny day, go out and hunt for shadows. Look for your own shadow and look for the shadows of trees and buildings. What happens to your shadow when you run, jump or twirl? Can you run away from your shadow? Try going out at different times of day — and notice how shadows get longer or shorter depending on where the sun is located in the sky. Inside, you can set up a scene with blocks or toys. Using a flashlight as a sun, create shadows. When the flashlight is right above a block tower, the shadow will be short. When the flashlight is closer to the ground, the shadow will grow longer.
*Click the link for activities to do with your elementary-age child.