Storytime: Outer Space

This storytime was for a preschool-aged group at my library.

Read Aloud Books

Stars! Stars! Stars! Written and illustrated by Bob Berner

An older book, but a perfect storytime read--short, sweet, and informational! In a simple rhyming scheme, a child stargazes and learns about constellations, the sun, and each planet (yes, including Pluto; it's that old) with bright and beautiful illustrations.

A Trip into Space Written by Lori Haskins Houran, illustrated by Francisca Marquez

A brand new book, this one is an awesome look into life on the International Space Station. It follows to astronauts as the take off from Earth and do some work in space! It has up-to-date information and has beautiful illustrations. 

How to Catch a Star Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Okay, it's true, I only really picked this book because I love Oliver Jeffers. Unlike the other two, it's pure imagination as one boy tries to reach into the sky and pluck a star. Is the tree high enough? Maybe he needs a rocket... I really liked it, and the kids thought it was pretty fun and silly. 

Songs and Rhymes

Hello Song

Song: "Climb aboard the Spaceship!"

Tune: Itsy Bitsy Spider

Climb aboard the spaceship,

We're going to the moon.

hurry and get ready,

We're going to blast off soon.

Put on your helmets

And buckle up real tight.

Here comes the countdown,

Let's count with all our might.

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1---BLAST OFF!!

(The rest of my songs/rhymes are

with my Flannel Board activities...)

Goodbye Song

Games and Activities

Flannel Board: Shooting Stars! Astronauts!

Yep. Today, I had TWO different flannel board activities. (The kids are so spoiled...)

First was a little ditty about shooting stars. I made the stars out of felt and tulle (it needs a tail!), and this is the little rhyme that goes with it:

Four little stars

winking at me.

One shot off,

then there were three!

Three little stars

With nothing to do.

One shot off,

Then there were two!

Two little stars

Afraid of the sun.

One shot off,

Then there was one!

One little star

Alone is no fun.

It shot off,

then there was none!

Later, we worked with Astronaut Fred, designed from some clip-art. Fred isn't quite ready for space yet, so the kids helped me finish getting him dressed. Here's a close up of how I made Fred: 

And we sang a little song about it. I dressed Fred and then all of us would do the sign language actions for each item.

Song: "If You're Going to the Moon"

Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It

If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots

If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots

If you’re going to the moon, this is what you have to do,

If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots.

(…wear your glove)

(…wear your helmet)

Kids thought it was pretty fun! And they got to play with Fred on their own afterwards. Here's the clip art I used to make Fred:



Craft: Constellations!

This was super easy but the kids loved it because--obviously--STICKERS! Stickers stickers stickers everywhere. So I just got all kids of star stickers and some black paper and let the kids go to town. They could choose to connect their constellations or not with colored pencils. It was pretty fun!

Other Book Ideas

MousetronautWritten by Mark Kelly, illustrated by C. F. Payne

Fancy Nancy: Stellar Stargazer!Written by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Higher! Higher!Written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli

Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of Our Solar System and BeyondWritten and illustrated by David A. Aguilar
(...especially nice to have on hand to show the kids some actual pictures of space!)

AND if you want to be really cool, here's a link to a video of an astronaut reading a book from the International Space Station: storytime from space!