Construction: Space Ship

This project could continue for a week or more.

Objectives

Children ages 4-5 years can paint, keeping the color in designated areas FM III
All children participating will be able to initiate ideas for design and construction of space ship SE IV
use tools appropriately SE V
and can accept others ideas and directions for play SE IV

 
 
 

Materials

Tall, cylindrical packing drum (call Bekins); poster board for nose cone; cylindrical ice cream containers for helmets; coping saw; hinges; nuts and bolts; wooden knobs; paints and brushes; plastic wrap and masking tape for windows; pictures and books about space ships and rockets.


SEE ILLUSTRATION.

Procedures

1. Set the background for this activity by displaying pictures and books about space, space people, and space ships. Time the activity with an actual lift-off from Cape Kennedy for real excitement, if possible. This activity could easily take more than one day, with construction first and then painting.

2. “Who would like to build a space ship? What’s the first thing our space ship will need? Door? Nose cone?” Have the children decide where to put the door and measure how high to cut it so the kids can get inside. Help the children cut the door with the saw. Replace it by attaching hinges with bolts so it will open and shut. Put on the door knobs. For the nose cone, shape and cut the poster board into a cone and attach it to the top with masking tape or brass brads. If the space ship is to have windows, cut them now.

3. Discuss the need for keeping the rocket cool while it's in space. Explain to children that sunlight will bounce off lighter colors, but that dark colors soak up more sunlight. A demonstration is useful in explaining this idea. Paint the space ship. When the paint is dry, the rocket’s name, chosen by the children, should be lightly printed on by teacher with each child painting over a letter to make the name more colorful. Tape the plastic wrap inside for windows.

4. Bring out the ice cream containers. “We can use these cartons for helmets. Any suggestions on how to do it?” Look at pictures of space suits and helmets. Have miscellaneous materials for elaborating on the helmets as well as painting them.