Learning about Space for Beginners

My 5-year old is obsessed with space ! Learning about the solar system is basically his first introduction to the "Big Picture." At that age, their brains are like sponges, and space is the ultimate playground for their imagination.

Here is why it’s such a powerful topic for pre-school years :

1. It Builds a Sense of Scale and Perspective

Up until now, a child's world is mostly their home, school, and neighborhood. Learning that the Earth is a "marble" in a massive neighborhood of other planets helps them understand that the world is much bigger than what they see in front of them. It’s often their first lesson in perspective.

2. It Sparks Scientific Curiosity

Space is full of "Why?" and "How?" questions:

• Why don't we fall off the Earth? (Gravity)
• Why is Mars red? (Geology/Iron)
• How do astronauts eat? (Technology/Physics)

It introduces the Scientific Method without it feeling like a chore.

3. It Makes Math and Logic Tangible

You can’t talk about space without numbers, but for a 5-year-old, it makes those numbers "cool."

• Counting: Counting the 8 planets.
• Ordering: Learning which planet is 1st, 2nd, or 3rd from the sun.
• Comparison: Understanding that Jupiter is huge while Mercury is tiny.

Checkout our Solar System Maze which combines solar system education with maze solving.

4. It Encourages "Big Picture" Thinking

Space is the ultimate story. It involves:

• History: How things began.
• Future: Where we might go (Mars missions!).
• Environment: Realizing how special and fragile Earth is because it’s the only one with liquid water and breathable air.

5. It’s a "Gateway Topic"

Space is often the "gateway drug" to other STEM fields. A child who is inquisitive about Saturn's rings today might become interested in astrophysics, space engineering or even environmental science tomorrow.

Fun Activity Sheets

Planets Fact Matching Worksheet (3-5yrs)

Planets Coloring and Facts Worksheet (3-5yrs)

Planets Activity Sheets (3-6yrs)

Space Quiz Sheets (5-8yrs)

 

Fun Activity Idea

Since you have a 5-year-old, you could try a Toilet Paper Solar System. If the Sun is at the first square, you can count out squares of toilet paper to see how far away each planet is. It’s a great way to visualize the "void" of space!

 

Other Resources

https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-kids-club/

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/space

https://www.planetary.org/kids