It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why so many kids love outer space. The thrill of discovery, cutting-edge technology, the potential for adventure, and the mystery of the unknown makes for a fascinating mix of possibilities.
Space travel may not be an everyday event—at least not yet—but that doesn’t mean journeying to the stars is beyond your child’s reach. With a bit of research, some basic craft supplies, a few printable templates, and an eager sense of imagination, you and your young astronaut are sure to enjoy hours of fun with these perfect space crafts for kids.
3-2-1, Create!
Going to outer space requires a lot of specialized equipment, but easy crafts that are out of this world? Not so much. You probably have everything you need to blast off to creativity in your pantry or recycling bin. Here are a few ideas for outer space crafts for kids:
Paper Roll Rocket
Helping your young one craft their very own rocket ship is easier than you think. Use a cardboard paper towel tube or toilet paper roll to make a rocket’s body, then cut construction paper into a nose cone and wings. Glue them on and draw in details like a logo for your own space exploration agency with markers or crayons. Finally, add some colorful paper flames on the bottom, and your young astronaut’s spacecraft will be ready to soar through the outer reaches of the galaxy.
Aluminum Foil Moon
This spacecraft idea is perfect for kids captivated by Earth’s lunar neighbor. Help your young interstellar explorer cover a paper plate or a circle made of heavy stock paper with aluminum foil. Then press coins, glasses, and other round objects into the foil to recreate the Moon’s craters.
Solar System Bingo
An art project and a game all in one? Bingo! Here’s a fun space craft to help future astronauts learn about the solar system. Design and print bingo cards that feature the names of the planets and their moons. Encourage your child to decorate theirs with crayons and colored pencils before you begin playing, and use different colored pom-poms as markers. It’s a blast!
Paper Rocket Poster
Let your young astronaut’s imagination soar with spaceship craft ideas made with colorful construction paper. Help your child by cutting out shapes, then let them design their own rocket ships or UFOs by piecing the shapes together. Glue the spaceships on a black background, add some stars, and voilà! It’s an out-of-this-world craft fit for framing or sending to a family member as a greeting card.
DIY Moon Rocks
Here’s an idea for a space party activity that’s rockin’—literally! Help your child mix baking soda with water and black food coloring to make a thick, claylike paste, then divide it among the guests and let them add sparkles and form into moon rocks. Guests can take their rocks home and let them dry overnight for the perfect addition to a space collection. Or you can make dissolving moon rocks with simple ingredients from the pantry.
Galaxy Play Dough
Preschoolers will especially love this space-themed craft, but it’s a fun activity fit for kids of all ages. Help your child whip up a batch of your favorite homemade play dough recipe and add a tablespoon of glitter with the food coloring. Mix well, and you’re ready to blast off to create planets, moons, or galactic dioramas.
Ready for Liftoff
Convert your backyard or basem*nt into an homage to the famous launch pads at Kennedy Space Center by building your very own galactic voyager. All you need are a large cardboard box and some basic art supplies to craft a space shuttle fueled by your child’s imagination. Ground Control, we have a party!
Materials
- Large square cardboard box
- Extra cardboard for wings and nose cone
- Duct tape or packing tape
- Safety scissors (for your junior space ranger)
- Box cutter (for adult engineers only!)
- Tape measure
- Permanent markers
- Decorations
Construction
Create the nose cone for the top of the rocket:
- Working together, the adult engineer (you) and the junior space ranger (your child) measure the top edges of the big box. These measurements determine the size of four triangles that create the nose cone. You may have two different sizes if you use a rectangular box.
- Now, let’s start building the nose cone for the top of the rocket. Trim four pieces of your extra cardboard to match the edge measurements of your box. For example, if yours is a 22” x 16” box, cut two 22” x 22” squares and two 16” x 22” rectangles.
- Next, begin converting the squares and rectangles into triangles to create a pyramid shape for the nose cone. Working together, mark the center of each cardboard piece’s top edge. From the example, the center mark of the 22” x 22” inch square would be located 11 inches from any side. The center mark on the 16” x 22” rectangle is 8 inches along the shorter top edge. Draw two straight lines from that center mark down to the opposing corners of the piece using a permanent marker and tape measure to create the triangle. Do this for each piece.
- Cut along the lines to create four triangles using the box cutter (this step is for you, adult engineer!).
- The junior space ranger can hold the edges of each triangle and help the adult engineer tape them together to form a pyramid to serve as the nose cone. Use as much packing tape as you need to make it sturdy.
Add windows, wings, and the nose cone:
- With the box pointing upward, decide where to place the window. Have your junior space ranger draw it before you cut it out with the box cutter.
- Using another piece of cardboard, draw and cut out four equal triangles to form the rocket’s fins.
- Tape one fin onto each side of the box to add stability to the rocket.
- Tape the nose cone to the top of the rocket.
Now it’s time to decorate! Grab markers, crayons, stickers, watercolors, or even homemade puffy paint, and work together to put the finishing touches on your spacecraft. Once all the final flourishes have dried, it’s time to get in, set the countdown timer, and prepare for the big launch.
Warp to Even More Fun
Exploring the solar system through fun crafts and activities gives your child an introduction to space, and it builds a sense of wonder that will accompany them throughout life. Thinking about the other planets in our solar system may even enrich their appreciation for life here on Earth.
Is your young space adventurer eager for more activities? Help them create a fun glow-in-the-dark galaxy jar that allows them to stargaze even when they’re indoors, and spark their sense of scientific exploration with our Science Expeditions subscription box. If they’re looking for adventurous fun here on this planet, get ready to answer the call of the wild with our Animal Wilds subscription box, or join them in discovering the hidden secrets of how puzzles are made.
