Off We Go To Outer Space! (Part 2)

Our second big project for the Outer Space theme is making  constellations. At one glance, it looks easy, but JS spent almost two hours making all the 12 zodiac constellations. 

The stickers were a bit tricky to handle and he had difficulties drawing straight lines using a ruler. 

I made some marks on the pieces of black papers where he is supposed to stick the stickers but I still made him check the pattern from a diagram on the laptop first. This is to give him an idea of what his end result would be. 

JS checking the diagram before putting on the stickers. 

JS putting on the stickers. 

JS drawing lines to complete the constellation.

On that afternoon, we completed the entire project. First, we arranged the planets (shared in the previous post) and then the constellations. 

JS checking the position of each constellation. 

"Found it!"

JS arranging the constellations according to the diagram.

JS studying one of the constellations.

To end the project, we talked about other things in outer space. I took out two other artwork we did that are related to the theme.

The first one is an activity which I categorise as a "quick fix". It is a picture of outer space that comes with pre-cut foam stickers. I call it "quick fix" because I do not need to prepare the materials myself. As simple as it seems to be, I took JS about 90 minutes to complete it. 

The second one is an activity we did months ago when I was teaching him shapes. The picture is based on one of his favourite bedtime stories - Maurice and the Cheese Monster. It is about a Maurice the mouse, a scientist whose latest project is to find out if the moon is made of cheese. 

We had lots of fun blasting off into space in the rocket with Maurice, to check out the moon, the stars and the planets. 

Off We Go To Outer Space! (Part 1)

This is supposed to be our second week long project after "A City Of My Own" but it came to a halt after the first day as JS was not feeling well and could not focus on painting his planets. I had to come up with other back up activities that were not so complicated for him and only resume the project last week. 

All in all, it took us four days (not consecutive) to finish the entire Outer Space project which include planets and constellations besides the usual rockets, spaceships and spacemen. We spent most of the days to complete the planets and one sessions each for the rest. 

DAY 1

On the first day, we spent both the morning and the afternoon sessions making the planets. 

First, we crumpled some newspapers and shape them into little balls of planets. We had to make sure they have the correct ratio so there were lots of measuring to do. 

Then, we cover the balls of planets in white paper. That was all we did on the first day. 

DAY 2

We spent the entire day painting all nine planets. JS managed to paint three of them - Pluto, Saturn and Earth. 

JS painting his favourite planet - The Earth

He gave up after that and told me to help him do the rest. So, I made him mix the paint for me.

JS mixing the paint. 

Not long after that, he left and went to play with his sister!

"Let Mommy do the hard work. I want to enjoy myself and entertain Mei Mei (little sister) for a while."

DAY 4

This was done on the last day of the project where we "blast off" to outer space to see the planets, moon and the stars. 

JS has to label pick the right planets, label them and arrange them accordingly based on a chart I showed him from the internet. 

"Hmmm. Which one is Jupiter?"

JS labeling one of the planets.

JS arranging the planets accordingly.
Note: We use the picture of a sun we made from labeling stickers a few months ago.

JS placing the last planet in its proper position.

JS' interest in planets and the outer space is due to some of the bedtime stories we read together. Therefore, I would say that reading plays an important role in cultivating different interest in a child.