Children have a natural curiosity about the moon, especially now because of the solar eclipse. Support this curiosity and encourage a deeper understanding of the moon and outer space topics with these books. They’re perfect for launching into a new school year.
A Moon of My Own–An adventurous young girl journeys around the world, if only in her dreams. Always changing, yet always with her, the moon remains her magical friend and loyal guide. Activities are provided in the back of the book, and additional lessons free online.
Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun–Our earth is part of a fascinating planetary family that tilts, spins, rolls, and whirls around the sun. Set to the tune of “Over in the Meadow,” kids get a glimpse of our place in the very big universe. Check out the activities in the back of the book as free download.
The Next Time You See the Moon–Through vivid pictures and engaging explanations, this nonfiction book teaches about many of the Moon’s mysteries. Free supplementary activities are available on the NSTA website.
Kinder Kapers–Early education teacher Terri Izatt offers suggestions about sharing the eclipse with young children on her recent blog. One idea I’m going to use is creating an “eclipse snack.” Cut a banana into rounds, put a dab of yogurt on it, and half a grape. The grape (representing the moon) covers most of the banana (the sun), allowing just an outer ring of the banana to show (the corona of the sun at the time of total eclipse).
