28 Space Activities for Kids Excited About Disney's Lightyear

What kid doesn’t dream about being an astronaut one day and visiting the stars? All future astronauts and rocket scientists will love these fun and free space activities for kids. It’s time to blast off into learning—just in time for the release of Disney’s new movie Lightyear!

1. Construct a spinning solar system.

paper plate painted black with a yellow pom pom, construction paper circles and pebbles painted silver on top

This fun pinwheel galaxy is perfect for teaching the orbit of the sun. All you need is a paper plate, colored construction paper, pebbles, and black and silver craft paint.

Learn more: Books and Giggles

2. Create a space-themed board game.

a hand drawn board game with a curving path with questions written in different boxes

This planets board game is a fun way to learn and practice facts about the planets in our solar system. Kids roll a die and work their way around the path to the finish line. This activity comes with free downloadable planet cards.

Learn more: Inspiration Laboratories

3. Make a balloon-powered space rover.

This clever craft simulates the tiny rover (just a couple of inches high) that NASA built to explore the surface of an asteroid and take pictures.

Learn more: Space Place

4. Make yarn-wrapped planets.

cardboard discs wrapped in yarn

This simple activity will help young students understand the relative size of the planets as well as help them build fine motor skills as they wrap cardboard discs with different colors of yarn.

Learn more: And Next Comes L

5. Craft a DIY sundial.

Help your students build their scientific observation skills. This simple sundial will teach them to tell time by tracking the sun’s movement across the sky.

Learn more: Green Kid Crafts

6. Make a model solar system.

Space Activities for Kids Colorful mobile of the planets hanging from the ceiling

This is one of those classic space activities for kids that everyone should try at least once. There are hundreds of ways to make one; find options at the link.

Learn more: Gift of Curiosity

7. Snack on the moon phases.

Oreo cookie moon phases activity card showing 8 oreos with varying amounts of cream filling representing the phases of the moon

What goes better with Oreos than a glass of milk? How about a little bit of moon science! We love lessons you can eat when you’re finished, don’t you?

Learn more: Science Bob

8. Use geoboards to map constellations.

Space Activities for Kids using a geoboard made from pushpins and rubber bands to form constellations

Geoboards are such a cool classroom tool, and you can use them for so many things—like making constellations. Get free printable patterns below.

Learn more: School Time Snippets

9. Create an astronaut training center.

a play astronaut training center made from two sides of a cardboard box with colorful printouts attached, plus tools and a clipboard

Space activities like this one for kids encourage them to use their imaginations while they learn. Get lots of cool ideas for stocking your astronaut training center at the link.

Learn more: Early Learning Ideas

10. Propel a rocket into space.

space activities for kids- 4 colorful paper rockets attached to striped drinking straws

Color the free printable rocket templates, then mount them to straw launchers and send them soaring!

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy

11. Play a solar system flash-card game.

young boy wearing a headband with a planet card attached

Use these free printable planet flash cards and repurpose an old Hedbanz set. No game set? Just tape them to kids’ foreheads instead!

Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom

12. Find out why the moon has craters.

Space Activities for Kids- a cake pan with white sand inside and pebbles beside it

This clever science demo simulates the action that formed the moon’s craters. All you need is flour, baby oil, and some small rocks.

Learn more: I Can Teach My Child!

13. Assemble marshmallow constellations.

tiny marshmallows connected by wood toothpicks to create constellations

Here’s some more yummy science to try! Use toothpicks to connect the marshmallow “stars” to form constellations.

Learn more: Play Teach Repeat

14. Play with galaxy play dough.

space activities for kids- two hands holding grey play dough flecked with pink and blue glitter

This gorgeous DIY galaxy play dough is so much fun to play with while you read a book or watch a documentary about space. Learn how it’s made at the link.

Learn more: Days of a Domestic Dad

15. Launch a bottle rocket.

hand pointing a DIY rocket made from a green plastic bottle with brown cardboard wings up to the sky

This is another one of those classic space activities for kids you simply have to try. Visit the link for the full how-to.

Learn more: Wikihow

16. Model planets from clay.

twelve play dough balls representing planets made from different colors

There’s no better way to get to know the individual planets than to model them from clay. Try using foam balls in the center so you don’t need quite so much clay for each one.

Learn more: 3 Dinosaurs

17. Build a LEGO moon rover.

Space Activities for Kids- DIY space rover made from lego pieces

Aspiring engineers will love this STEM challenge! Set a series of parameters their creations must meet, then put them to the test.

Learn more: Adventures in Mommydom

18. Light up the constellations.

Space Activities for Kids- magnetic LED lights attached to a metal cookie sheet and glowing in the shape of the big dipper

First, make your own LED light magnets, then use them to map out all your favorite constellations.

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy

19. Design a space lander.

DIY space landers made from small plastic cups, orange construction paper and masking tape

The challenge? Design a space lander that allows two passengers to land safely on the planet’s surface, using only some very basic materials. This one will really get them thinking.

Learn more: Vivify STEM

20. Join the NASA Kids’ Club.

screen shot of NASA kids' club website

What better place to find space activities for kids than NASA? Their Kids’ Club is full of games, videos, activities, and much more, and it’s all free.

Learn more: NASA Kids’ Club

21. Put the planets in order.

Space Activities for Kids- a collection of balls of different sizes laid out to represent the planets in order

Round up all the balls in your house (and a handful of pom-poms for asteroids). Lay them out in order with their relative sizes as a guide.

Learn more: Inspiration Laboratories

22. Craft a moon-phases toy.

two plastic cups stacked together with phases of the moon drawn around the perimeter of the outside cup

This cool little DIY toy demonstrates the phases of the moon. It’s a snap to make with a couple of clear plastic cups and some construction paper.

Learn more: Happy Tot Shelf

23. Shine a constellation flashlight.

Space Activities for Kids- star projector made from a flashlight covered on the light surface by a black construction paper disc with holes poked into it to represent a constellation

Turn a flashlight into a star projector by poking holes into black construction paper. Take it into a dark room and let it shine!

Learn more: Handmade Charlotte

24. Recycle cardboard tubes into space shuttles.

colorful homemade space shuttles made from toilet paper tubes and scraps of cardboard

During its heyday, the space shuttle was the most sophisticated spaceship around. Help kids learn about it by building little models from cardboard tubes.

Learn more: A Little Pinch of Perfect

25. Eat a fruity solar system.

a tray with fruits of different sizes laid out in a line to represent the order of the planets

Snack on the solar system as you learn! This activity combines a healthy snack with space fun.

Learn more: Me and B Make Tea

26. Assemble a constellation luminary.

Space Activities for Kids- a paper cube with a different constellation printed on each face with holes poked through to allow light from a candle in the center to shine through