Celebrate the end of the month’s “Blue Moon” with a Quest! On today’s Quest we’ll learn the answer to the riddle: How much is the moon worth?
For this Quest you will need:
- All printable worksheets (see below)
- Ziplock bag
- Straw
- Drink (i.e. juice, chocolate milk, applesauce)
- Plain paper
- Colored pencils
- Pencils
- Wide-lined paper
- Foil
- Gray paint (or black mixed with white)
- Black construction paper
- Flour
- Flat pan (like a 13 x 9)
- Large cardboard box (i.e. priority mail box from the post office)
- Scissors
- Duct tape
- Rubber gloves
- Rocks
- Magnifying glass (optional)
- Ruler
Pre-Quest Prep:
The home-educator should read through the Quest in advance, to be sure he or she has everything necessary and to-hand. Print off all necessary worksheets, one per student.
In this Quest, kids will learn: observational skills, reading, writing, art, science, measuring length, organization from largest to smallest, scientific observation, problem-solving, and all about the moon, including its phases.
To Begin:
Save and print the Quest answer image, as well as the bookmarks found here at 3dinosaurs.com.
Set one bookmark at each location. Number them 1-8 (with the final #8 marking the answer to the riddle). You could mark the corresponding letter that will go with each number in pencil on the back, so you don’t have to keep looking it up during the Quest.
Let the kids explore each activity in whatever order they’d like, writing the corresponding letter answer in the correct spot as they complete each activity.
1, O: Eat Like an Astronaut
Begin by watching these fascinating videos where NASA astronauts answer questions in space, like how to wash your hair, how to make a PBJ sandwich, and what happens when you cry in space!
Now grab a ziplock bag and a straw. Place some sort of drink (i.e. juice, milk, applesauce) inside the bag, then place the straw so it sticks out the top and close the bag around it. Have your kids drink out of the pouch, just like astronauts!
2, N: Read with an Astronaut
Now it’s time to read a book—in space! Follow this link to storytimefromspace.com to hear astronauts reading books from the International Space Station!
Our favorite story is Mousetronaut because it’s written by a real astronaut and based on a semi-true story. There’s also a sequel, Mousetronaut Goes to Mars.
Have your kids write/draw a story about an animal they love going to space. (Don’t have wide-lined paper? You can download some and print it for free here at teacherspayteachers.)
3, E: Moon Print
Next we did this foil-print moon craft from adabofgluewilldo.com. Simple, yet looks great when you’re finished!
4, D: Moon Craters
Time to talk about craters. Pour a couple cups of flour into a large, flat pan, like a 13×9. Drop marbles into the flour to demonstrate how craters are made. Again, simple, but such a fun activity!
5, L: Study Like an Astronaut
Make an astronaut glove box! I got this idea from giftofcuriosity.com. Grab a large cardboard box. We used a large priority mail box for free from the post office. Cut two holes in the side of the box. Duct tape rubber gloves to the holes with the finger-part inside the box. Place a variety of rocks, a magnifying glass (optional), a ruler, and other tools inside the box.
Have the kids take turns studying the rocks by sticking their hands in the gloves and looking down over the top. Ask them to organize the rocks according to size or shape. It’s difficult, but a close representation of how the astronauts have to study in their spacesuits when they’re on the moon!
6, A: Moon Phases
Use teachbesideme.com’s Moon Phases Slider to talk through the phases of the moon.
7, R: Moon Phases Game
Play Phases of the Moon Yahtzee-type game from deceptivelyeducational.
ANSWER: ONE DOLLAR
(four quarters 😉 )
If you’d like to do a lead-up or follow-up activity, I recommend recording the moon phases with your kids by filling out this observation sheet over the course of the month (found at the same place as the bookmarks we used to mark each activity).
Did you learn anything new about the moon or astronauts? Let us know in the comments! Happy Questing!
