Rocket Imagination Station

Wasn’t the recent super moon spectacular?!?

Have you had the chance to read astronaut Chris Hadfield’s book, “The Darkest Dark”* where he shares what inspired him to the profession?  Space holds children’s imagination- the magic that is beyond us.  Put out these simple materials for children to build their own rocket!

Materials

* These are only suggestions based on what we had.  This is a perfect time to use up your odds and ends!*

• Cardboard tubes
• Paper (we went with black, metallics, and brights)
• Circles (in case that they wanted to make a cone shaped top, you could put out lids to make circles themselves.)
• Metallic ribbon, rick rack
• Caps
• Fabric pieces
• Adhesive jewels
• Sequins
• Bubble wrap
• Tissue paper
• Paper ribbon
• Gold cord
• Wooden pieces
• Felt
• Glue
• Scissors
• Binder clips
• Stapler and/or glue gun (Once we got busy making these, we found them quite handy!)

We always find these items helpful too:

• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

• Place your supplies into an organizer for children to chose from, adding some glue and scissors.

• If your child/ students have some pieces to hold together while the glue is drying, you can always employ a binder clip.  It often minimizes frustration and allows for hand free drying while one can move onto other parts of the project.  Simply remove it the next day.  A stapler or glue gun (if you are comfortable with it) are our personal favourites!

• Try to incorporate a clean-up time which allows the children to invest care into the environment, sort and work collaboratively on a common goal.

***

If you want to extend the project or display the rockets, here is a background based on the work of

Julia Linsteadt of Cut Out Studios: https://www.instagram.com/p/BISPZMigAw3/?taken-by=julialinsteadt&hl=en

Make A Multi-Layered Moon

• Don your smock.  Lay your canvas in your tray.

• Experiment with your various types of paint and tools, layering them on top of each other to create your own individual moon.

Space-y Gift

• Love using literature as a starting point for a birthday, Christmas, etc. gift?  Here are some simple ideas to pair with The Darkest Dark:

Purpose

• Using one’s imagination.
• Experimenting with different materials.
• Exploring various painting techniques and their effects.
• Developing fine motor skills.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors, a stapler, a glue gun and binder clips (which sometimes pinch) with care and direct adult supervision.
• Cord, yarn etc. can be a strangulation hazard, therefore be sure to use with direct supervision and for its intended purpose.
• Small parts can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.