Young learner using a sun-shaped flashlight to make a shadow on small yellow and red toy bears

Early Learner Earth and Space Activities

A selection of hands-on Earth & Space activities that work well for young children.

The Rural Activation Innovation Network (RAIN) is engaging rural communities in Arizona utilizing a collection of existing NISE Network early learner activities. These activities will be compiled along with other resources for community educators, such as librarians, to use with their audiences. 

Earth & Space Early Learner Activities

Facilitator and Learner use a block with a rover image to transport astronauts

Exploring the Solar System: Story Blocks

Every space mission has a story. In this activity, learners use blocks to tell a creative story about planning a space mission to explore the Moon together.
Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow activity image of a mother and girl holding a flashlight representing the sun

Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow

In this activity, learners move a flashlight around an object to make and experiment with shadows, followed by reading a storybook.
Girl using paint in nebula spin art activity

Exploring the Universe: Nebula Spin Art

In this activity, learners create their own colorful model nebula using paint and a spinner.
Young learner places blocks in scale while facilitator watches

Exploring Science Practices: Measure Up

In this activity, young learners and caregivers use measuring tools to investigate foundational scientific concepts like distance, mass, and volume. Try this with a toddler or preschooler!
Group of learners participating and enjoying the Hide and Seek Moon activity

Exploring the Solar System: Hide and Seek Moon

In this activity, learners use binoculars to find a hidden object on a Moon poster and learn how cultures around the world have viewed the Moon.
Facilitator and young learner squeeze colored water into a dish

Exploring Science Practices: Early Explorations

In this activity, learners are given an opportunity to practice scientific ways of thinking that are developmentally appropriate for early learners.

More Early Learner Resources

Children listening wearing paper elephant ears in Horton Senses Something Small NanoDays activity

Early Learners

A collection of activities and resources for young learners and early childhood educators.

More Earth & Space Resources

Children and adult investigating globes of ice in Icy Orbs activity

Explore Science: Earth & Space Toolkits

Hands-on STEM public engagement activities and professional development resources about Earth and space science.
Perseid Meteor Shower - a meteor streaks across the sky 2016 in Spruce Knob West Virginia Credit NASA Bill Ingalls

Astronomy

A compilation of astronomy and space science hands-on activities and resources. Also included are connections to celestial events (meteor showers, lunar eclipses, solar eclipses, full moons, and planetary events) and annual events such as Asteroid Day, Yuri's Night, Astronomy Week, and more.
An image of a lunar eclipse

Lunar Eclipses

Check out the upcoming total and partial lunar eclipse events in the United States. During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon. Earth's shadow covers all or part of the lunar surface.
2017 solar eclipse square format

Solar Eclipses

A compilation of solar eclipse resources including resources for the October 14, 2023 annular solar eclipse and the total solar on April 8, 2024.
Asteroid Bennu mosaic image taken by OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2018 Image Credit to NASA, Goddard, and University of Arizona

Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, and Meteorites

A compilation of educational materials about asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites including resources for Asteroid Day, meteor showers, and links to NASA missions such as Lucy, OSIRIS-Rex, Psyche, Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), and Near-Earth Asteroid Scout (NEA Scout).
Half of the blue marble for Earth Day hero

Earth Day

A compilation of resources for engaging the public in the Earth, Earth Day, and Earth science. Resources can be used for celebrating Earth Day April 22, Earth Week, and Earth Month.
Cumulonimbus cloud over Africa

Climate Change

A compilation of climate change public engagement and professional learning resources for informal science educators.
NASA Satellite photo of the Korean peninsula

Air Quality

A compilation of educational resources and activities about air, air quality, and pollution.
An illustration of water on a hydrophobic surface. The water forms perfect spheres.

Water

A compilation of water public engagement resources and activities; topics include water quality, pollution, supply, hydrological cycle, properties at the small scale including hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, bubbles, ice, and clouds. Also included are resources for annual events including Groundwater Awareness Week, World Water Day, Earth Day, World Oceans Day, National Pollution Prevention Week, Coastal Cleanup Day, Earth Science Week, and Imagine a Day Without Water.
mars panorama photo from pathfinder

Mars

A compilation of resources for engaging the public in the Mars, Mars rovers, and the Mars Perseverance landing.
Apollo 11 lander

Moon

A compilation of resources for engaging the public in the Moon, the Moon Landing 50th Anniversary, the Apollo missions, and the Artemis missions.
James Webb Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope

A compilation of resources for engaging the public in the James Webb Space Telescope. The James Webb Space Telescope will find the first galaxies that formed in the early universe and peer through dusty clouds to see stars forming planetary systems.