Making a batch of astronaut ice cream is perfect to go along with a space unit or to celebrate National Moon Day on July 20th. Also, you love my page Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages.
National Moon Day was created to commemorate the first time man walked on the moon on July 20, 1969, taken there by Apollo 11.
You can watch that famous moonwalk Restored Apollo 11 Moonwalk – Original NASA EVA Mission Video – Walking on the Moon on YouTube just as many watched it at home over 50 years ago.
Six hours after landing on the moon, American Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s surface. He spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft.
5 Facts About The Moon Landing
- It took the spacecraft 4 days and almost 7 hours to reach the moon from their launch at Kennedy Space Center.
- Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon. He was followed 19 minutes later by Buzz Aldrin.
- A fragment of wood and a piece of muslin fabric from the 1903 Wright Flyer flew to the moon and back on Apollo 11.
- During the mission Buzz Aldrin repaired a broken circuit with a felt tip pen, without his sharp thinking they might have been stranded on the moon.
- After returning from the moon Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins had to quarantine for over two weeks because NASA was worried about them being contaminated with dangerous lunar microorganisms.
Be sure to add Who Was Neil Armstrong to your home library for your child to read and learn more about the first man on the moon.
Next, add more astronaut activities.
Explore More Activities To Go Along With Astronaut Ice Cream
- This Astronaut Paper Plate Craft is such a cute idea to talk about the requirements of the suit and what qualifications astronauts need.
- Another tasty space recipe- Astronaut Pudding is a great activity.
- Incorporate some hands-on science with Fizzing Moon Rocks.
- Dramatic play is such an important part of learning. Learn How to Make an Astronaut Costume that is easy peasy.
- Teach moon phases with an Oreo Cookie Moon Phases activity that will stick and is also tasty too.
Use Outer Space Toy figures to create and explore in a space themed sensory bin.
I love this dramatic play idea for a Moon Rock Exploration Station, all you need is a cardboard box and some rubber gloves for your scientist to get started.
Also, you’ll love these books to add to your study about the moon and astronaut ice cream.
12 Resources and Books For Studying About the Moon and Galileo
If you want to focus on the moon in your astronomy and space unit study, add one of these fun resources to your day.
Like Michelangelo, Galileo is another Renaissance great known just by his first name--a name that is synonymous with scientific achievement. Born in Pisa, Italy, in the sixteenth century, Galileo contributed to the era's great rebirth of knowledge. He invented a telescope to observe the heavens. From there, not even the sky was the limit!
This newly revised edition, available in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, incorporates new, up-to-date information based on recent discoveries, and includes an updated map of the moon's surface. Thoroughly vetted by an astrophysics expert, The Moon Book is a perfect introduction to lunar phases, orbit, the history of space exploration, and more.
Sixteenth century Italy produced a genius who marked the world with his studies and hypotheses about mathematical, physical and astronomical truths. His father, musician Vincenzio Galilei said, “Truth is not found behind a man’s reputation. Truth appears only when the answers to questions are searched out by a free mind. This is not the easy path in life but it is the most rewarding.” Galileo challenged divine law and the physics of Aristotle, and questioned everything in search of truths. And it was through this quest for truth that he was able to establish a structure for modern science.
It’s the perfect light nonfiction book for young stargazers—and an ideal bedtime book, ending with a giant moon hovering over a sleepy town hunkered down for bed.
Novelty Moon Lighting: Realistic Colorful Star Galaxy printed 🌌 Moon Lamp with advanced 3D technology. Now decorate your bedroom, hall, office or desk with our Space Theme gorgeous Galaxy Lamp. Your guests will definitely admire the beauty of this lively moon light.
Quality Optics: 400mm(f/5.7) focal length and 70mm aperture, fully coated optics glass lens with high transmission coatings creates stunning images and protect your eyes. Perfect telescope for astronomers to explore stars and moon.
Everything about Jupiter is big! Its size is big. Even its storms are big! Get the big and small facts about this gas giant that can be seen glowing in the night sky.
Astronomer, physicist, and philosopher Galileo Galilei was referred to as "The Father of Modern Science," because of his groundbreaking research. Making observations about nature, and using mathematics to back them up, he proved the Copernican Theory true: the Sun, not the Earth, is the center of the universe. Join Galileo on his pioneering journey to see why his work had such long-lasting implications, and why the Catholic Church even condemned him for heresy.
Imagine that you're walking on the moon. What is it like? For thousands of years people looked up at the moon and wondered about it. Now we know what the moon is like. There is no air on the moon and nothing grows, but there are towering mountains and deep craters—and much more.
Colder than the desert, the hotter than the desert, the moon is an amazing place to explore.
What would it be like if the moon was your friend? Find out as you walk alongside a little boy who journeys through life to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. And then blast off with your little one as you zoom to the moon together!
The story begins when a little boy, who is flying his kite, notices a sad Moon. He sends up kites to her, writing notes promising he will come see her someday. This promise propels him through years of studying, learning, and training to become an astronaut. Until … he finally goes up, up, up in a big rocket ship with a fiery tail.
A Kite for Moon:
- Features over 20 gorgeous illustrations by award-winning artist Matt Phelan
- Is the perfect storybook for children ages 4 to 8
- Celebrates every child’s fascination with space
You could also grab these meteorite specimens (artificial) to let your child use for impact craters!
Meet Moon! She's more than just a rock―she’s Earth’s rock, her best friend she can always count on. Moon never turns her back on her friend (literally: she's always facing Earth with the same side!). These two will stick together forever. With characteristic humor and charm, Stacy McAnulty channels the voice of Moon in this next celestial "autobiography" in the Our Universe series. Rich with kid-friendly facts and beautifully brought to life by Stevie Lewis, this is an equally charming and irresistible companion to Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years and Sun! One in a Billion.
More Space and Astronomy Activities
Additionally, add some of these fun space and astronomy activities.
- About Astronomy and Space Science Fun Quick Unit Study
- Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket
- Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages
- Galileo Discovery of Jupiter Moons and Fun Hands-On Moon Crater Experiment
- Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)
Also, add this fun astronomy lapbook for multiple ages.
Finally, look how to make this easy fun astronaut ice cream.
Fun Facts about Astronaut Ice Cream
Now onto the yummy ice cream that you can take anywhere, even on a picnic without worry of it melting.
It is super easy to customize in fun flavors and colors, no plain vanilla here, unless that’s your thing.
Because most of us don’t have the space or the money to keep a big freeze-drying machine on hand, we are going to make a faux astronaut ice cream.
But, don’t worry it is pretty close to the same flavor and texture as the little packages you can buy but much easier to produce.
Basically, these are baked meringues. They can be flavored just about any way you like.
Astronaut ice cream was originally created in 1968 and was first taken and eaten in space on Apollo 7.
But, it wasn’t a big hit with the crew because it was too dry and made a crumbly mess so it never went up again, yet it is still popular at space museums and space centers.
It is really a fun novelty for kids to enjoy and opens the door for discussions on what type of food can be packed and eaten in space.
“’Shoot for the moon; you might get there.”- Buzz Aldrin
How to Make Astronaut Ice Cream
You will need:
- 6 large egg whites, room temp
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- Flavored extract or flavoring oil drops
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Separate the eggs and add just the whites to a large mixing bowl.
Beat until they start to foam up.
Mix in the cream of tartar and whip for several minutes until soft peaks are formed.
Now add your sugar a little bit at a time until it is incorporated.
Mix in the flavoring, if using mild extracts like cake batter, vanilla, etc. you want about 1 Tablespoon. Peppermint extract is much stronger, and 1 teaspoon is plenty.
Whip until stiff peaks form, you will know when you are at this stage if you pull the beater out and the peaks stay straight up instead of falling over, this usually takes about 7-8 minutes of beating on high.
If you wanted, you could also add food coloring to match the flavors.
You can either place scoops on a parchment paper lined sheet
Or smooth it into silicone molds to get something a little closer to the look of the typical block of astronaut ice cream.
I used these molds that we have also used to make soap in the past, do not spray with nonstick cooking oil or the bottom will stay soggy.
Bake for 2 hours.
Allow to cool and remove from the pan.
This is how they should look, completely dried all the way through the center. If you test one and it’s still a bit wet let them sit in the warm oven a little longer.
I like to serve them wrapped up in aluminum foil, it feels kinda space themed that way.
