Get ready to make your very own shooting stars and explore a little bit of science magic right at home.
In this fun hands-on activity, kids can create colorful "shooting stars" while discovering how things move through the air. It's a wonderful way to spark curiosity, encourage creativity and practice simple STEAM skills through play.
As you build, test and experiment with your shooting stars, you can make predictions, ask questions, and see what happens when you try different designs. Who can create the fastest star? Which one will travel the farthest?
Shooting Star Launch Adventure
Have you ever wished you could catch a shooting star? Tonight, we're going on a special space adventure to create our very own shooting stars and send them zooming through the sky!
Before you begin, snuggle up with a favorite grown-up and read a story about stars and space. Then, get ready to become a junior space engineer.
Gather Your Space Supplies
You'll need:
- 10 wooden craft sticks
- Rubber bands
- Plastic spoons (for experimenting later)
- 1 plastic bottle lid
- Pom poms (these will be your shooting stars)
Build Your Star Launcher
- Make the launch pad. First, stack 8 craft sticks together. Wrap rubber bands around both ends to hold them tightly in place. This is the base of your shooting star launcher.
- Get ready for lift-off. Take the 2 remaining craft sticks. Attach one to the top of the stack and one to the bottom. Gently pull the ends apart to make a big "V" shape. Now, place a plastic bottle lid between the sticks and put a pom pom inside. Your shooting star is ready for launch.
- Launch your shooting star. Carefully place the lid on the top craft stick. Then let go and watch your shooting star soar through the air. Did it fly high? Did it zoom far? Try again and see what happens!
Space Scientist Questions
Every great astronaut asks questions. While you play, think about these:
- What do you think will happen if we add more pom poms to our launcher?
- Which do you think will fly faster: one pom pom or three pom poms?
- What if we use a plastic spoon instead of craft sticks? Will the shooting star travel the same way?
- What other items could become shooting stars? Could we try marshmallows, beans, cotton balls or buttons?
Starry Reflections
When your space mission is complete, talk about what you discovered.
- Did your pom pom remind you of a real shooting star?
- How was your launcher like a catapult?
- Do you think real shooting stars are launched into the sky by a giant catapult?
- What was the most surprising thing you noticed during your experiment?
Congratulations, Space Explorer. You've used science, engineering and your imagination to create your very own shooting star adventure!
Shoot for the stars,
Thorndyke
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