Are you looking for a fun space craft?
You’re in luck then! A new month means a new theme. Since February is the month of Valentines, that means that this month’s book theme is going to be . . .
Pluto and the solar system!?
Yes, Pluto!
Several years ago, the New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto. In the process, it captured images of a heart-shaped plain on Pluto’s surface. That makes Pluto a great planet to study during February.
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If you want to avoid shopping on Amazon, I suggest checking Bookshop or your local bookstores instead.
Picture Book Pairs:
For this craft project, I highly recommend reading:
Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery, by Margaret A. Weitekamp with David DeVorkin, illustrated by Diane Kidd – Why isn’t Pluto considered a planet? (Or is it still a planet? What even is a planet?) This picture book is a fun story about Pluto’s discovery and the debate involving Pluto’s status. It also includes other fun facts about the solar system.
Mission to Pluto: The First Visit to an Ice Dwarf and the Kuiper belt, by Mary Kay Carson – a beautiful look at this NASA mission. This book offers gorgeous photos and a longer, more technical explanation of the New Horizon mission. It’s more of a chapter book, but even younger children can enjoy the photos.
Make a Paper-Plate Pluto:
Supplies:
paper plates, finger paint, a piece of construction paper, scissors.
This project is very simple (though a wee bit messy)!
When we did it, we started with a paper plate and painted it a rocky gray color. Kids can use a brush, a cotton ball or even their fingers for this step.
Then I helped trace a heart-shape onto the piece of construction paper (using pink paper, of course!), cut that out, and placed the heart over the wet paint to create the planet.
For preschoolers, paper plates are a simple way to create a circle for painting. (Be sure to cut out the hearts ahead of time if your kids can’t use scissors on their own yet.)
First and second-grade kids can use the plate to keep the project simpler. You can also cut out a heart template for these ages to trace and cut out. These students can do most of the project by themselves, though.
Older students can skip the paper plate entirely. Instead, they can trace a circle on a sheet of paper. Then, when they’re done painting, they can cut out the circle to create their planet.
Encourage kids to experiment with colors as much as they want–this is a chance to get messy and creative!
The main goal is to add Pluto’s distinctive heart-shaped plains, while learning more about this frozen planet.
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