Do you have a budding astronaut or aerospace engineer in your classroom? Then try these free space activities for preschoolers. Each space themed activity featured in this post also includes a free printable!
Free Printable Space Activities for Preschoolers
These free space activities for preschoolers are designed to be simple enough to do at home, but they can also be done easily in the preschool classroom. Be sure to pin this page of preschool space activities and download your free lesson plans at the end of this post.
FAQ About Teaching a Space Preschool Theme
Outer space can be a pretty abstract topic for preschoolers. After all, they can’t really see space firsthand. But that doesn’t mean that the concept of space is too hard for them. Start by teaching your preschoolers about the sun, moon, and stars. Those are all things they can see in the sky. Then teach them about the planets and how humans might explore space.
The solar system consists of the sun and everything that orbits (or moves in a circular motion around) the sun. Eight planets and their moons orbit the sun, as well as dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and small icy objects. These are all part of the solar system.
Astronauts have plenty of things to keep them busy in space. They conduct scientific experiments, collect data and samples, and do repairs on the spaceship. Astronauts have meetings via their computers with scientists on Earth, too. They also clean the ship and work out at least two hours a day to stay healthy and strong.
Space Theme Math Printables for Preschoolers
This space theme grid game teaches children to count and how counting builds, thus teaching beginning addition concepts. This activity counts to 20 and is simple but effective.
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 outer space pattern block mats are a perfect fit. Preschoolers will learn about shapes, colors, and counting as they play.
These counting on planet puzzles take just a bit of prep, and are an excellent way to teach math (and planet names at the same time). Each puzzle has 10 pieces and counts to 50 in total.
This monster counting activity and free printable monster number cards is easy to set up and a fun way to explore counting and one-to-one correspondence. Sensory play is an added bonus!
This space sums with a number line activity can be used for addition or subtraction sums. It’s a fun way to teach math while keeping your kids entertained and enjoying learning.
These free space counting mats can be used for both addition and subtraction. You can also use this activity to teach the names of planets and how far they are from the sun.
This space rocket mini eraser preschool math activity pack is full of patterns, sorting, ten-frames and more! It’s a fun and interactive way to teach math and colors.
This jar of stars roll and cover activity is fun, simple, and effective. You can easily differentiate this activity between preschoolers and kindergarteners by writing equations on the dry erase dice or adding letters to make it a literacy game.
Don’t Forget Space Learning Toys
Learning about outer space can be heightened even more by having some highly educational learning toys on hand. These are some of my favorite space themed toys.
Space Theme Literacy Printables for Preschoolers
This space theme CVC game takes a few minutes of prep, but creates a super fun way for your kids to learn short U words. There are four player options, and you can add an imagination element by creating a space-themed backstory or premise.
Rhyming is imperative for learning to read, and this free rhyming rockets printable is for kids who are up for a challenge. If they’re able to write they can fill the words in themselves, or you can team up and make it a fun game you do together.
This free astronaut letter matching game helps student learn uppercase and lowercase letters. This activity is perfect for both beginners and more advanced learners.
This outer space alphabet puzzle is a great way to see the order of the planets as well as practice ordering the alphabet letters. This is a very easy activity to do and a great way to work on alphabetizing!
Teaching sight words can be a very boring activity, unless you get creative with activities like this star sight words printable! All you need is a flashlight and these editable cards to tailor the experience to your students and keep them engaged as they learn.
This rhyming rockets matching game is the perfect activity to help reinforce rhyming skills. This free printable set includes 10 rockets cards, and each rocket card has two images on it that rhyme with each other.
These free space-theme cards teach both uppercase and lowercase letters. You can use these to match, play memory games, or pack in alphabetical order!
These free space robot CVC word puzzles are guaranteed to be a hit and have your students engaged and excited about learning. This printable contains twenty complete puzzles: four different puzzles for all five vowels.
Don’t Forget Picture Books About Space!
Because outer space can be a little abstract for young learners, having a really good book list for space can be a game changer. These are some of my favorites.
Space Theme Pre-Writing Printables for Preschoolers
This space theme number writing practice activity is meaningful, enjoyable, and won’t frustrate your preschooler. It can be easily adapted to students who are and are not ready to write.
This outer space pre-writing practice printable is a fun way to get your preschooler learning with a space theme. Whether you use a marker to trace the lines, or a finger or rocket ship cutout to move along the trail of stars, you can easily practice important fine motor skills that help with learning to write.
Writing trays are an engaging way for kids to develop handwriting and fine motor skills. Combine your writing tray with these free printable alphabet cards for a fun and tactile learning experience.
These free planet-themed pre-writing printables are a fun and easy way for preschoolers to practice line tracing. You can use pencils, markers, tiny erasers, or whatever else to best suit your little learners.
I am Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home mama of five! I am the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught range of levels, including preschool and college, and a little bit of just about everything in between. Right now, my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction
