We’re heading into the sky this week! From clouds and constellations to planets, rockets and moon-inspired creations, this week is all about looking up, using your imagination and dreaming big.
For ages 4–12 • Mix and match the ideas to suit your family
SUNDAY 23 AUGUST
Cloud Watching Adventure
Find a comfortable spot outside and spend some time looking up at the sky. What can you see in the clouds? A dragon, a castle, an animal or maybe an entire magical world? Draw or write down the shapes you discover and create a little story about one of them.
Night Activity: Stargazing & Constellation Hunt
When the sun goes down, head outside with a blanket and look up at the night sky. Try to spot as many stars and constellations as you can. Use a stargazing app or star map to help identify them, and keep your eyes open for shooting stars. Make a wish when you see one!
Constellations to Look For
- Orion – Looks like a person or hunter, with three bright stars in a straight line forming his belt.
- Southern Cross – Looks like a small cross, with four main stars.
- Scorpius – Looks like a curved scorpion, with a long, curling tail.
- Leo – Looks a little like a lion, with a curved shape forming its head and mane.
- Taurus – Looks like a bull, with a V-shaped face and two horn-like points.
- Canis Major – Looks like a large dog; it contains Sirius, one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
- Sagittarius – Often imagined as an archer, but its stars can also look like a teapot.
- Centaurus – Looks like a centaur, or roughly like a person with outstretched legs and arms.
Challenge: Can you spot 3 constellations and draw them on your own star map?
MONDAY 24 AUGUST
Studio Activity at the Fragile Pottery Studio
Create a Sun & Moon Tile
Time: 15:30 pm – 16:45 pm
Cost: R275 per class
Contact Sarah to book: 082 457 8177
Get creative with the sun, moon and stars and design your own magical pottery tile. Think about the colours, shapes and patterns you would use to create your own little piece of the sky.
Home Activity
Create Your Own Solar System Mobile
Bring the sky into your home! Create a colourful solar system mobile using the planets, sun and stars. Hang it up and see your very own little universe come to life.
Free printable template:
https://www.twinkl.com.au/resource/t-t-29100-solar-system-mobile-craft-activity
TUESDAY 25 AUGUST
Outing – Tuesday: Planetarium Adventure
Take a trip to the Johannesburg Planetarium and explore the fascinating world of space, stars and our solar system. Spend some time discovering how astronomers study the universe and learn about the history of this much-loved Johannesburg landmark.
Opening hours: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
The Wits Planetarium has been inspiring children and adults since 1960. Wits University and Anglo American announced a R75 million project to refurbish, expand and digitalise the Planetarium, with plans for a new 360-degree digital experience and science facility. The project was planned in three phases, with the final phase still requiring funding at the time of the article.
Read more about the planned transformation:
https://www.itweb.co.za/article/pics-joburg-planetarium-gets-r75m-high-tech-facelift/DZQ58MV8jeKvzXy2
WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST
Studio Activity at the Fragile Pottery Studio
Activity: Solar System Plate
Time: 15:30 pm – 16:45 pm
Cost: R275 per class
Contact Sarah to book: 082 457 8177
Create your own solar system on a pottery plate. Add planets, stars and your own creative details while learning a little more about the amazing world beyond Earth.
Home Activity: Build a Rocket
Use cardboard boxes, toilet rolls, paper cups or anything else you can find around the house to build your very own rocket. Give it a name, decorate it and imagine where you would travel if you could launch it into space.
https://za.pinterest.com/pin/294704369390950536/
THURSDAY 27 AUGUST
Studio Activity: Moon Bowl
Time: 15:00 pm – 16:15 pm
Cost: R275 per class
Contact Sarah to book: 082 457 8177
Create a special moon-inspired bowl and let your imagination take over. Think craters, stars, moons and magical night-sky colours as you turn a simple piece of clay into something completely your own.
Home Activity: Make a Moon Phases Foldable Chart
Learn about the different phases of the Moon by making your own foldable Moon Phases activity. Cut, fold and put the pieces together to create a fun 3D learning tool that you can open and close as you explore the Moon’s changing appearance.
https://za.pinterest.com/pin/294704369390950559/
FRIDAY 28 AUGUST
Studio Activity: Art Club: Wet Felting
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Cost: R350 per class
Contact Sarah to book: 082 457 8177
Spend the morning creating with friends at The Fragile Pottery Co. This week’s Art Club is another chance to get creative, experiment with materials and use wet felting to make something you can be proud of.
Home Activity: Make a Sky-Themed Dream Board
Create a dream board filled with everything you would love to explore, learn or experience one day. Add drawings, words, stars, planets, places you would love to visit and big dreams for the future. Because when it comes to dreaming, the sky really is the limit!
SATURDAY 29 AUGUST
Library Adventure
Visit your local library and look for The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Take it home and enjoy reading this magical story together.
If you can’t find the book at your library, you can watch an animated version here:
You can also listen to an audio reading of the story here:
Write Your Own Sky Adventure
After reading or listening to The Little Prince, create your own story about a journey to another planet. Who would you meet? What would your planet look like? What strange or wonderful things would you discover?
Give your story a title, write it down and draw a picture of your favourite part. Let your imagination take you as far as the sky, and beyond!