One of the great joys of my childhood was staying up late in the summer. We used to lie in the grass, listen to the crickets, and watch the darkening sky. Stargazing is a great way to let your imagination roam. It’s also a great way to learn about the moon and our galaxy.
Encourage your children’s interest in the stars with Constellations on LearningGamesforKids.com . They’ll watch a fun animated poem and then have the opportunity to make their own constellations on the screen.
Ready for more night sky activities? Organize the Sky is a puzzle on our sister site, Science4Us. As students put the strips of the night sky in order, they think about the things that are on Earth and in space. They consider what is nearby and far away.
The moon is another important element of the night sky. It was full on July 12 and will be again August 10 following the new moon on July 26. Watch Lunar Tune on Science4Us and then lie back in the grass to note the moon’s phases.
No matter where you are this summer, you can use games to ignite your children’s curiosity about the night sky. And when you lie back to contemplate the stars, you’re not simply relaxing, you just might be building life-long memories.