Outer Space Clip Cards

Malia — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 10:44:21 +0000

Kids love learning about outer space! That’s why we pulled together a batch of counting clip cards that combine science and math into one motivating activity.

Grab your copy below and get ready for some out of this world fun! (Pun intended.)

Getting Ready

To prep, I printed the clip cards (below) on cardstock to give them extra durability and make the colors really pop. Then, I cut along the bold black lines to separate the pieces and grabbed a handful of medium-sized clothespins.

I clipped the correct number on each card and flipped it over to mark the spot with a small crayon dot so the boys could easily self-check their answers later.

Note: If you’ll be using the cards in a classroom, you may also want to laminate for extra durability.

Counting Clip Cards

My boys and I have been talking a lot about the planets and sun, but they’re less accustomed to seeing pictures of each of them.

We started the activity by studying every picture and talking about what we noticed. For instance, Uranus’ rings spin on their side so it rolls like a barrel instead of a top and the dirt on Mars makes it a brilliant red color.

Next, I challenged Middle Brother (age 4.5) to grab the card showing the fewest number of objects. He quickly reached for Uranus and clipped the one to show it was just a single planet.

One card after another, he and Big Brother (age 6) counted and clipped the right spots.

And when they were through, they flipped over the cards to check their answers.

Grab Your Set

Ready to play?! Click the blue button below to grab your outer space counting clip cards and then hop over and pick up our Outer Space Activity Pack!

The post Outer Space Clip Cards appeared first on The Stem Laboratory.

Outer Space Pattern Block Mats

Malia — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Kids of all ages love learning about outer space! Whether you’re looking for a fun math activity to add to your space unit or you want to entertain your future astronaut with a quick prep activity, these free outer space pattern block mats are a perfect fit.

Grab your copy below and then hop over and download our Outer Space Activity Pack, too!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Getting Ready

Prepping for these mats was as quick and simple as they come.

I printed the space pattern block mats (below) and then cut along the grey lines to separate the halves. (Included in this download is one color copy for preschoolers who are just beginning to recognize shapes, plus a black and white version for more advanced mathematicians.)

Then, I grabbed our set of pattern blocks and called Middle Brother (age 4.5) over to join me!

Building with Pattern Blocks

Middle Brother has had plenty of practice building with pattern blocks. (They’re an incredibly entertaining quiet time activity!) He is still learning the names of each shape though, so we began by picking up one shape at a time. We talked about its unique characteristics (the number of sides, the number of corners, etc.) and then practiced saying its name.

After our quick review, I gave Middle Brother the colored rocket and invited him to cover it with pattern blocks.

Each time he picked up a new shape, I named it. For instance, when he grabbed the red trapezoid below, I said, “Now you’re sliding the red trapezoid into place.”

Once he was finished building, I wanted to take the learning one step further so we worked together to count each of the shapes. There were no hexagons in the rocket, so we wrote a zero on that line. But when we moved on to trapezoids, Middle Brother was excited to count four!

When our counting was finished, Middle Brother was eager to move on to the next challenge: a black and white pair of stars.

Although Middle Brother wasn’t quite ready to tackle it, his older brother (age 6) loved playing around with the pattern blocks to see how many different ways he could cover the star shape. These pattern block mats kept him focused and entertained for a LONG time.