"If the idea of the universe is presented to the child in the right way, it will do more for him than just arouse his interest. For it will create in him admiration and wonder, a feeling loftier than any interest and more satisfying."
- Maria Montessori
Autumn is right around the corner and for us that means cool temperatures, warm blankets, hot cocoa, autumn spices, an explosion of colorful fall foliage, harvest celebrations, stargazing, twinkle lights, and all the hygge you can handle. As we prepare to welcome another beautiful season, filled with flannel, earthy tones, and moonlit evenings, we thought we'd share some of what we like to do this time of year.
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What are Montessori Unit Studies?
I've been getting some questions about how we do our unit studies. To be honest it can vary a bit. We have our general framework. However, it can look very different with each unit, depending on what our children are interested in at the time. That determines what resources we use as a result.
One benefit of Montessori homeschooling, or even homeschool in general, is the ability to treat our unit studies as family subjects. For us, that means a multi-age environment with children working on the same subject simultaneously. Multi-age learning environments are the standard in Montessori education and this works well for us. Our oldest two spend most of their time playing together. As a result, splitting them up to focus on different areas doesn't fit with our normal rhythm and routine. For us, it makes sense to include books, materials, and opportunities appropriate for our 2 y.o. son and our 3.5 y.o. daughter.
When our youngest gets a bit older, she will participate as well. For now, she seems content listening to the read-alouds, bonding with her siblings, and engaging in her own work while soaking up the atmosphere as her siblings work nearby.
When Should You Provide Montessori Space Activities for Kids?
Our children's persistent interest in the dark has peaked now that the sun is setting at a noticeably earlier time each day. They have a solar system night light/projector in their room that they are very attached to. It's part of their bedtime routine. As a result, this is an excellent time for us to do solar system activities. It is, for the most part, new vocabulary for my son and will serve as a great way to explore more in-depth some topics that would otherwise be a review of last year's curriculum for our oldest. Be sure to check out this Geography post for more on our experience last year.
If you're interested in incorporating unit studies into your Montessori homeschool curriculum and your child is showing interest, this is a great choice for the earlier part of your academic year. Montessori Geography focuses on educating children using a systems-based approach. It begins with large-scale physical geography and slowly narrows its focus to smaller-scale features such as biomes and political geography. In short, you'll be starting with the solar system for the primary years.
Montessori Space Activities for Kids
This unit uses an interdisciplinary approach in its space activities for preschoolers. It even includes space crafts for kids and resources for additional craft-making. In addition, this Montessori solar system unit provides opportunities for matching, sorting, sequencing, and pattern work. You'll find lots of new vocabulary and language work in the books and 3-part cards.
Montessori Space Activities for Kids Picture Books & Field Guides
- Planetarium - We have several in this series and they're great books to open up on the floor and gather around. The illustrations are amazing and my daughter loves looking through this book.
- Older Than the Stars - Covers the connection between humans and the beginning of the universe. Great resource for Montessori Cosmic Education.
- Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations - This book is beautiful and perfect for an animal lover. Pairs well with our Constellation 3-part cards.
- Glow-in-the-Dark Constellations: A Field Guide for Young Stargazers - This is an excellent field guide for a preschooler and covers some introductory topics, such as how and where you'll see various constellations depending on location and season. It glows in the dark. Can't beat that. Also pairs well with our 3-part cards.
- Hello World! Solar System - Great first book on the solar system. My son spends a lot of time looking at this board book. It's very bright and attractive.
- Planets, Moon, and Stars: Take-Along Guide - We have several in this series as well. It's packed full of useful information, colorful illustrations, and even includes some simple activities.
- You Are Stardust - Another great selection for Montessori Cosmic Education
- Born with a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story - Cosmic Education story told from the perspective of the universe
- Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book - Great choice for incorporating wildlife and phases of the moon
- Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings: Rhythmic, creative poems about space
See our full collection of Montessori Books about the Universe.
Books on Relevant People
- Caroline's Comets - Caroline Herschel, scientist and astronomer
- Star Stuff - Carl Sagan, scientist, astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist
- My Journey to the Stars - Scott Kelly, engineer, astronaut
- Margaret and the Moon - Margaret Hamilton, computer scientist
Activities and Shelf Work
- Stargazing, use of field guides
- Music - The Solar System Song to the tune of Yankee Doodle and The Family of the Sun to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell
- Object to Picture Matching using Solar System 3-Part Cards & Safari Ltd Solar System
- Constellation Tiles
- Constellation 3-Part Cards
- Earth vs Space Sorting (FREE)
- Planets Pattern Sequencing {Similar}
- Creating/Using Felt Solar System
- Rotation vs Revolution simulation
- Seasons Mat with Celebration Sun and Montessori Sandpaper Globe using the Waseca Biomes Curriculum Guide
- Solar System Coloring Pages
Get a $15 coupon toward your first Waseca Biomes purchase.
These Mirus Toys Constellation Tiles pair well with the field guide and other constellation books in this unit. Our collection consists of the Animals in the Sky (set of 6) and 4 custom tiles (Ursa Major, Draco, Orion, and Canis Major) for a total of 10 constellation tiles. This gives us a nice set of circumpolar (visible year-round) and seasonal constellations for our location in the Northern Hemisphere.
These materials are also come in handy when teaching the Great Lessons in Elementary.
This Earth vs. Space Sorting activity is lots of fun. Also, there are tons of ways to extend the learning with these, depending on the age of the child.
The Waseca Biomes Seasons Mat and Celebration Sun are excellent materials for demonstrating the rotation of the earth on its axis, the revolution of the earth around the sun, and the resulting seasons.
We come back to these materials frequently for various lessons throughout the school year for preschool and elementary. In addition, the mats are used for our Montessori birthday celebrations.
Get a $15 coupon toward your first Waseca Biomes purchase.
Montessori Space Activities for Kids Conclusion
This unit study work is self-directed and self-correcting. My 3.5 year-old typically completes all the works, and teaches my 2 year-old at times when he is interested. My 2 year-old is currently focusing a lot of his attention on the solar system board book, the music, and the art materials. Scissors are his jam right now.
Most of the printables are free and we used mostly resources we already owned. In fact, the Safari Ltd Solar System miniatures and the felt are the only materials we acquired for this unit. However, they will be useful in other works throughout the school year.
Special thanks to all the folx for the printables and Cosmic Montessori School for sharing the book suggestions.
More Montessori Unit Studies
- Geology & Paleontology Unit Study
- Montessori Tree Unit Study
- Continent Studies: Antarctica
- Montessori Community Helpers Unit Study
Thanks for stopping by!
- Kristin
Space Activities for Kids
Free & affordable materials, printables, books, & resources to encourage fun, hands-on learning about space. These space activities for preschoolers and kindergartners will encourage a lifelong love of astronomy.
Materials
- Planetarium
- Older Than the Stars
- Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations
- Glow-in-the-Dark Constellations: A Field Guide for Young Stargazers
- Hello World! Solar System
- Planets, Moon, and Stars: Take-Along Guide
- You Are Stardust
- Born with a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story
- Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book
- Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings
- Caroline's Comets
- Star Stuff
- My Journey to the Stars
- Margaret and the Moon
- I Wonder What's Out There: A Vision of the Universe for Primary Classes
- Waseca Biomes Curriculum Guide
- Safari Ltd Solar System and 3-Part Cards
- Holland Wool Felt Collection
- Waseca Biomes Seasons Mat
- Waseca Biomes Celebration Sun
- Montessori Sandpaper Globe
- Mirus Toys Constellation Tiles
- Constellation 3-Part Cards printable
- Earth vs Space Sorting printable (FREE)
- Planets Pattern Sequencing printable {Similar}
- Solar System Coloring Pages printable
Tools
- See Materials List
Instructions
- Introduce the solar system books to kids and explore them, following the child's interests. Provide plenty of opportunities for continued exploration of these and books on relevant people.
- Pair the field guides and other books with stargazing. Use the constellation tiles and constellation 3-part cards to continue the learning during the day or on nights indoors.
- Create and use a felt solar system and mat to visualize the solar system, assisting kids as needed. The sun and planets can be traced using household objects. Add the Safari Ltd solar system manipulatives and 3-part cards for as an extension once, kids are familiar with the order of the planets on the mat.
- Additionally, kids can match the Safari Ltd solar system and 3-part cards on their own.
- Use songs such as The Solar System Song and The Family of the Sun to reinforce knowledge about the solar system.
- Introduce the Earth vs Space sorting activity and provide plenty of time for repetition. Look for opportunities to extend the learning with labels, discussion prompts, etc.
- Introduce the Planets Pattern Sequencing activity to kids. Start with the simpler A/B pattern strips and add the more advanced pattern strips to the environment as the child develops mastery of the A/B strips.
- Simulate rotation vs revolution using the Sandpaper Globe and the Celebration Sun. Repeat as needed before continuing on to the next step.
- Using the Waseca Biomes Curriculum guide, introduce the Seasons Mat with the Celebration Sun and the Sandpaper Globe. Repeat the lessons as the child shows interest and revisit the activities to mark new seasons and birthdays.
- Provide coloring pages in the environment to stimulate interest and creativity.
Notes
Full Lesson Info and Pictures at: https://happyhomeschooladventures.com/montessori-solar-system-unit-study/
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