Astronomy Projects for Kids
This blog is a loose and informal collection of project ideas in a variety of sciences. I also run a separate website devoted entirely to astronomy — Astronomy For Thinkers — and building that site has been, and will continue to be, my primary activity for 2020. Clicking on any of the links below will take you there.
Colorable Compass Roses
Printable outlines of compass roses for children to color, with and without fancy compass markings.
A Simple Horizontal Sundial
A two-piece paper sundial for students to print, cut, and assemble.
A Simple Equatorial Sundial
A two-piece equatorial sundial for students to cut out and assemble.
A Cube Sundial
A paper polyhedral sundial for students to make. All five faces tell time whenever they are in sunshine.
A Lunar Phase Dial
A paper
phase clock
to label, cut out, assemble, and use to predict phases and rise times.A Paper Celestial Sphere
A spherical
map of outer space
to print, draw on, cut out, and tape together.Printable Planispheres
A flat double-sided celestial sphere, with a sleeve representing the horizon, that students can make, draw on, and use as a constellation calendar.
Polygonal Planispheres
A dodecagonal version of the printable planispheres, intended as a simpler, easier to assemble,
starter
planisphere.A Paper Astrolabe
A color paper version of the classic astronomical calculator.
Polyhedral Globes
Printable paper polyhedra, to cut out and fold into various globes.
Homemade Globes
How to make your own globes representing various celestial objects, with paper, glue, and wooden or styrofoam craft spheres.
Solar Photography
How to make your own time-lapse photos of a sunrise, and what you can learn from them.
A Digital Home Planetarium
How to make your own home planetarium using cardboard, a mirror, and a digital projector.