You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that so many kids are fascinated by outer space. While these craft ideas don’t exactly pass the ‘cutting-edge of technology’ barrier, here’s three fun activities to suit a range of age groups that will create new frontiers of fun in education.

Paper Roll Rocket

It’s a simple project that you can take outside and make with the kids in just a few minutes. Plus, it’s fun to take outside and pretend to fly. Just hand one to your little one and watch them zoom around pretending to take off into space!

YOU'LL NEED:

• Coloured cardstock
• Paper towel roll
• Washable paint
• A Mason jar or cup
• Scissors (child-safe ones if children are helping)
• Paintbrush
• Hot glue gun and sticks (not for little people to use)

HERE'S HOW:

1. Cut the paper towel roll into two pieces, one slightly longer than the other. This will make two rockets out of the one roll.
2. Paint each piece of the paper towel roll. Yellow paint is shown here, but any colour will be fine.
3. Let the paint dry completely.
4. Trace the lid of the jar or cup twice onto a piece of the cardstock. This makes one cone-shaped top for each rocket.
5. Use the scissors to cut out a circle, then cut one slit to the centre on each one.
6. Form each circle into a cone by pulling two ends together. Use the hot glue gun to seal each one closed.
7. Cut four triangles three to four inches (7.62 x 10.16cm) from the cardstock. You’ll make two for each rocket.
8. Cut a slit from the point of each triangle to just before the bottom of each triangle.
9. Carefully cut four slits onto the bottom of each painted tube. Make sure that each cut is directly across from the cut on the opposite side.
10. Slide one triangle up through two bottom slits. The triangle should be placed into two slits that are diagonal.
11. Slide the second triangle through the two other slits. This should crisscross the other, forming an X at the bottom of the rocket.
12. Cut six quarter-sized circles from the cardstock.
13. Use the glue gun to affix three circles onto each roll.

Aluminium Foil Moon

This aluminium foil moon craft will be fun for children of all age groups. Foil ‘printing’ makes this moon craft a great sensory experience with its unique texture, reflective, shiny surface, and crinkling sound. You can also use the options supplied for painting around the foil moon to make it more realistic.
​

YOU'LL NEED:

• Aluminium foil
• Black cardstock
• Various sized coins
• Scissors
• Glue
• Optional – acrylic paint and brushes

​

HERE'S HOW:

1. Draw a circle on the foil and cut it out
2. Slightly crinkle up the circle, then open and flatten it out
3. Place a coin underneath the foil and press around the edges of the coin
4. Repeat with as many coins as you like
5. Flip the foil circle over and see the moon craters!  

To Paint:
If you choose not to paint, simply glue the foil moon onto the black cardstock. Draw stars or the Earth if you wish.

If you decide to paint the moon glow:
For a warm glow, use white and blue acrylic paints. For a ‘colder’ glow, use white and black. The steps are the same for both.

• Paint a ring with the white paint the size of the moon
• Lightly blend the blue or black with the white to create a ring outside the white ring
• Continue to add more blue or black and blend as you work outward from the moon
• Glue the aluminium foil moon in the middle of the white ring

You could also paint stars or use stickers to create a starry sky.

Paper Plate Flying Saucer

This is another super simple but good fun idea. Here’s how to make one – easy to multiply. Best of all, it will fly‼!

YOU'LL NEED:

• 2 paper plates
• 1 Styrofoam coffee cup
• Silver acrylic pain
• Craft jewels
• Hot glue gun and glue or glue dots
• Newspaper
• String for hanging (optional)

HERE'S HOW:​

1. Paint the back side of both paper plates and the Styrofoam cup with the silver paint
2. Turn the plates over. Twist the newspaper and glue it to the inside of one of the plates. This is to give them some cushioning and filler to stop them collapsing
3. Glue the plates together, silver sides facing out
4. Cut the Styrofoam cup in half, keep the top half and discard the excess.
5. Glue small craft jewels around the cup
6. Glue a large craft jewel to the top of the cup
7. Glue more craft jewels around the outside of the saucer, leaving about an inch of space between each one