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Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They’ll Love

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A delicious edible phases of the moon kids project is just what they need to learn about the fascinating science of lunar changes. Also, look at my page Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages for more ideas.

The moon has fascinated humans for thousands of years. Ancient sailors used it to guide their travels, farmers watched it to know when to plant crops, and children gazed up in wonder at its glowing light.

Studying the moon is one of the most enjoyable parts of space science because it’s something we can observe right from our own backyards.

Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

With a little creativity, and a few Oreo cookie, you can turn this topic into a fun, hands-on learning experience your kids will remember.

What I liked about this project is that, unlike most, it can be adapted for older children, not just preschoolers by simply challenging your child to add more detail and expand on the basics.

I found a wonderful assortment of other hands-on edible science ideas to include for you as well covering a wide range of topics.

If you want a fabulous all-purpose resource grab a copy of Nature Anatomy, where we got our phases of the moon inspiration from. It works wonderfully for a large variety of topics.

BOOKS ABOUT THE MOON FOR KIDS

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.

Next, look at these facts about phases of the moon.

UNDERSTANDING THE PHASES OF THE MOON

When we look up at the moon sometimes, we see a full bright circle, and other times just a tiny sliver. But the moon itself never actually changes shape, it’s always round. What changes is how much of the sun’s light we can see reflected off it from Earth.

As the moon orbits around our planet, different portions of it are lit up. These changing views are called the phases of the moon.

There are eight main phases in the lunar cycle, and it takes about 29.5 days to go through all of them, this is known as a lunar month.

  • New Moon – The moon is between the Earth and the Sun. The side facing us isn’t lit, so it’s invisible in the night sky.
  • Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light appears on the right side. “Waxing” means growing.
  • First Quarter – Half the moon is lit on the right side.
  • Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit, leading up to a full moon.
  • Full Moon – The entire face of the moon shines brightly.
  • Waning Gibbous – The light begins to shrink from the left. “Waning” means decreasing.
  • Last Quarter – Again, half the moon is visible, but this time it’s the left half.
  • Waning Crescent – Only a thin sliver remains before the cycle begins again with the new moon.
Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

The pattern repeats each month, which is why we can predict when the next full moon will appear.

Next, look at more moon activities.

MORE MOON ACTIVITIES

OREO PHASES OF THE MOON

Now for the fun part, using cookies to bring the lesson to life with a little art mixed in for a science lesson that won’t soon be forgotten.

You will need:

Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

I wanted a nice size surface for our night sky so I used a length of black roll paper, you could also use a sheet of 12×12 cardstock to make sure you have plenty of room for your artwork and cookies.

Place a cup in the center and trace around it to create a circle for the earth.

Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

Use chalk markers or paint pens to color it in and make it resemble the blue and green of earth.

Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

Place cookies around the earth to space them out so you know where your writing will go.

Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

Paint or color in a sun on either side to show where the light comes from that illuminates the moon.

Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

Write the name of each phase of the moon below each cookie with a white pen and then remove the cookie.

Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

Carefully twist each cookie open so the cream stays on one side. Use a butter knife or spoon to scrape away parts of the cream to match each moon phase.

For example, leave all the cream for the full moon, scrape half away for the first quarter, and remove it completely for the new moon.

Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They'll Love

Place the cookies in order on the black paper to represent the night sky.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

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This Aurora Borealis craft is perfect for upper elementary through high school. Too, you’ll love my Arctic and Inuit Unit Study. Free Lapbook – Hands-on Ideas and my Arctic Region pages.

For example, the night sky has fascinated people for centuries. However, few natural wonders compare to the breathtaking beauty of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.

These glowing curtains of color, shimmering in green, pink, purple, and blue, light up the polar skies and inspire awe in everyone who sees them.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

In this art and science project, we’ll explore what causes the Northern Lights.

And how to create our own swirling, colorful version through a pour-painting activity perfect for elementary, middle or high school students who are ready for more.

You can connect this to earth science lessons about the magnetosphere, solar activity, and atmospheric layers, all great topics for middle and high school homeschool students learning about space and physics.

BOOKS ABOUT AWESOME THINGS IN SKIES

Next, look at these books about the northern lights.

5 Books About Awesome Things in the Skies

Whether it’s the Northern Lights or shooting stars these books bring the wonder of the skies to life!

WHAT ARE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Too, the Aurora Borealis occurs when charged particles from the sun, called solar wind, collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere near the magnetic poles.

In addition, these lights appear most often near the Arctic Circle in countries like Norway, Canada, and Finland. Their southern counterpart is called the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights.

  • Nitrogen produces blue and purple hues.
  • Oxygen gives off green and red light.

AURORA BOREALIS LESSONS IDEAS FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL

Additionally, have students research where and when the Northern Lights are visible around the world. They can mark aurora-viewing locations on a world map and compare why the lights are seen near the poles. Encourage them to look at weather patterns, latitude, and the tilt of Earth’s axis.

Watch PBS Illuminating the Northern Lights to learn more about this stunning phenomenon.

Extend this lesson with a short study on the sun’s magnetic activity and solar flares. Students can track real-time solar data from NASA’s Space Weather Prediction Center and make predictions about aurora visibility. Discuss how the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from solar radiation.

Dive deeper into the science by having older students investigate how different gases create different colors in the aurora. A simple color chart can help them match light wavelengths to each gas. This ties beautifully into physics and chemistry lessons.

Ancient cultures often had fascinating explanations for the Northern Lights. The Norse believed they were reflections from the armor of the Valkyries, while some Inuit groups thought the lights were spirits playing games in the sky. Students can compare myths and then write a creative short story inspired by these legends. Read various Folklore about the Northern Lights from around the world.

After completing their paintings, have students write a descriptive paragraph or poem capturing the feeling of watching the Northern Lights. Encourage them to use sensory language, how the air might feel, what emotions the colors evoke, and how vast the sky appears.

Introduce how scientists today use satellites and cameras to study the aurora. Students can research how auroras affect power grids and radio signals. This adds a modern, practical STEM connection to the lesson.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

The Aurora Borealis reminds us that science and art often work hand in hand, physics creates beauty, and creativity helps us understand it.

Through this project, students not only learn about space and light but also express the wonder of nature in a colorful, hands-on way.

HOW TO MAKE A COOL PAINT POUR AURORA BOREALIS CRAFT

You will need:

  • Canvas 
  • Acrylic paints in black, white, blue, green, purple, and pink
  • Pouring medium
  • Small plastic cups
  • Stir sticks
  • Gloves
  • Black cardstock
  • A covered work surface
How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

Optional: metallic paint or glitter for extra shimmer

First, start by painting your canvas black to represent the night sky. Let it dry. Or you can just purchase a black canvas to save this step.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

In separate cups, mix a small amount of each color paint with the pouring medium according to the instructions (usually a 1:1 ratio).

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

Be sure you have a covered work surface, a plastic disposable tablecloth works great,you can just roll it up and toss it all for easy clean up when you’re done.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

Place your canvas up on some disposable cups to keep it off the work surface so the paint can drip freely without puddling around the edges.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

Pour one color at a time on your canvas in irregular streaky patterns.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

Flip or tilt your cup onto the canvas and let the paint flow freely. Tilt the canvas gently so the colors swirl and streak, mimicking the movement of the real aurora.

Use a brush or palette knife to lightly drag through the colors if you want more defined waves. Add metallic touches or white dots for stars.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

Let your painting dry for at least 24 hours.

To add some dimension and make your painting resemble the northern lights against the backdrop of nature, cut various sizes of mountain shapes and tree shapes out of black paper.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

Layer them on the canvas, smaller trees in the background, larger in the foreground.

How To Make A Cool Paint Pour Aurora Borealis Craft

To add depth, fold some paper up and glue to the back of the middle and top pieces to make them “pop” off the page.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

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For the littles today, we’re crafting a pipe cleaner fall tree to celebrate the autumn season. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Fall is a beautiful time of the year. The air turns crisp, the leaves burst into fiery colors, and nature itself becomes a beautiful work of art

Do this fun pipe cleaner fall tree and your littles will never know they’re learning about the season changes as they develop their fine motor skills.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

And little fingers get a workout as they twist the tree and branches and create with the pony beads.

Besides, while your littles are crafting it leads to conversations about why leaves change colors, how trees prepare for winter and the importance of trees to earth.

Next, look at some of these fun fall books.

FALL BOOKS FOR KIDS

I prefer living books so I know you’ll love this roundup.

15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.

Next, look at more pipe cleaner crafts.

MORE PIPE CLEANER CRAFTS

Too, look at more fall craft ideas for preschool.

FALL CRAFT IDEAS FOR PRESCHOOL

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Finally, look at how to make this fun fall tree.

PIPE CLEANER FALL TREE FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • Brown pipe cleaners
  • Pony beads in fall colors (red, orange, yellow, green)
How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Twist a few brown pipe cleaners together to form the trunk of the tree.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Leave several ends sticking out at the top to create branches.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

At the bottom, bend and spread out the pipe cleaners to make a sturdy “stand” so the tree can stand upright.

Invite kids to thread the fall-colored pony beads

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Benefits:

Seasonal learning – A hands-on way to talk about autumn leaves, colors, and changes in nature.

Fine motor skills – Threading beads onto pipe cleaners strengthens finger muscles and hand-eye coordination.

Creativity – Kids can design their tree however they like, experimenting with colors and patterns.

Focus and patience – Sliding small beads takes concentration, encouraging calm, mindful play.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

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The letter K is a fantastic one to explore and this K is for key craft is just plain fun and invites your child on an adventure. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

This week’s alphabet adventure focuses on K is for key. It is a theme that opens the door (literally and figuratively) to creativity, early learning, and hands-on fun.

Keys are one of those everyday objects that kids see often but don’t always get to explore.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

They might watch adults using keys to open the front door, start the car, or unlock a special drawer, but to them, keys often seem a little mysterious.

That makes this a perfect topic for preschoolers because they’ll love discovering what keys do, why they’re shaped the way they are, and imagining what magical doors they might open.

Start your lesson by showing your child a few real keys. You can use house keys, car keys, or old keys from a junk drawer. Let them notice how heavy they feel, the different sizes, and how each key has its own unique pattern of teeth.

 Talk about how those tiny notches help each key fit just right into its designated location; no two are exactly alike.

If you have a padlock handy, demonstrate how a key turns to unlock it. Kids are fascinated by this simple cause-and-effect moment. It’s also a great way to introduce new vocabulary like lock, unlock, turn, and fit.

MORE KEY IS FOR KEY CRAFT ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES

  • Focus on the letter K—its shape, sound, and how it appears in words. Have your child trace a big K with their finger, make it out of playdough, or use crayons to color a giant K on paper.
  • Letter K | Explore & Learn Today — ABC See, Hear, Do
  • Practice saying K words aloud: key, kite, kangaroo, king, kitten, kitchen, kettle, kind, and kick. Make a game of finding K words around your home.
  • Alphabet Printable Craft Pack for Preschoolers
  • If you have extra keys, invite your child to sort them by size, color, or shape. Sorting helps build early math and observation skills.
  • Cereal Box Cat with Juice Box Kittens Kids Activities Blog
  • Trace the shape of several keys on paper, then let your child color or paint them. You can even make a “Key Collage” full of different designs.
  • Kite Craft
  •  As you read together, point out every time the letter K appears or when the story mentions something being locked, opened, or discovered.
  • Popsicle Stick Kings.
  • Ask your child to imagine what their key might open up, maybe it’s the door to a castle, a magical box filled with treasure, maybe it starts up a space ship.
  • Try some foods that start with K- Key lime, kiwi, kasha, kimchi, kombucha, kidney beans, kettle corn, kumquat, and kalamata olives.

Then, add a few more learning ideas.

Once you’ve explored real keys, it’s time for your main hands-on activity: making a giant cardboard key wrapped in shiny aluminum foil! This project is fun, inexpensive, and perfect for developing fine motor skills.

Preschoolers will love tearing off pieces of foil, wrapping, and smoothing them over the cardboard shape until their key gleams like silver. Add some sparkle with sequins, stickers, or gems if you’d like—it’s the perfect way to make their key look “magical.”

When the keys are complete, don’t just hang them up, use them for pretend play. Your child can “unlock” different parts of the house: the door to the kitchen, a toy chest, or a secret treasure box.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Also, look at more letter craft activities.

MORE ALPHABET LETTER CRAFTS

Finally, look at how to make a giant key with your preschool and kindergarten kids.

HOW TO MAKE A GIANT K IS FOR KEY CRAFT

Cutting cardboard, wrapping foil, and decorating their key all help strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers, skills that are important for writing later on.

You will need:

  • Cardboard
  • Aluminum foil
  • Pencil
  • Scissors, box cutter
How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

First, draw an oversized key shape on a large piece of cardboard; the bigger the better.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Next, cut the key shape out with a straight-edge blade or sturdy scissors.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Then, “paint” one side of the key using glue with a little bit of water mixed in to make it flow nicely.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Also, provide your child with small torn pieces of aluminum foil and demonstrate how to cover the whole thing with foil by pressing it in and wrapping the edges.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

When finished, flip the key over, paint glue on the other side, and continue covering the surface with aluminum foil pieces.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Allow to dry and trim off or glue down any loose pieces.

Use a black permanent marker to draw a lower and upper case K on the head of the key to help your child remember what it looks like.

Let your child use their imagination to unlock a world of fun.

Any leftover foil can be used for more sensory exploration-flatten it, crumple it, shape it into letters or objects that start with K.

Nature’s Rhythms: Get Your Free Phenology Wheel Nature Tracker

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You’ll love my free printable phenology wheel nature tracker.

A phenology wheel is a visual study or journal of the cycles in nature.

It is a way to record your nature observations every day, week, month, or season. You can record plants, and animals, the weather, the moon phases, sunrise and moonrise times, significant days, etc.

Nature's Rhythms: Get Your Free Phenology Wheel Nature Tracker

All those changes are part of something called phenology which is the study of how living things change through the seasons.

Imagine a wheel divided into 12 slices — one for each month. Inside each slice, you draw or write down what you observe outdoors.

You can make your wheel about anything in nature. For example, you can do plants or trees, birds or insects and even weather patterns.

BOOKS ABOUT NATURE STUDY

Next, look at some of these books to use for your nature study.

6 Nature Study Books and Resources

Add one of these resources or books to your study about nature. They all give you a starting point or use one or two of them as a nature spine.

Also, here are more nature hands-on ideas.

NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Finally, look below at how to grab the freebie.

Nature's Rhythms: Get Your Free Phenology Wheel Nature Tracker

Additionally, I have included 3 wheels so you can use them as you like.

I have the traditional wheel which includes the major 12 sections to divide by month with season.

And I have two blank circles for you to divide how you want because there are small sections within the main section. This allows you and child to journal what you observe.

HOW TO GET THE FREE PHENOLOGY WHEEL NATURE TRACKER

Now, how to grab the freebie.  It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!