Outer Space Yoga and Books (+ Free Printable)
Learn about outer space through books and yoga!
My daughter came home from school, talking about what they were learning about the solar system in her classroom. This sparked a discussion about the mysteries of outer space. We went outside to watch the night sky together and to point out the stars, moon, and constellations.
The next day, we went to the library to check out outer space books for kids. We worked on an outer space puzzle to learn the order of the planets. Then we made up space yoga poses for kids to learn about various astrological phenomenons.
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7 Outer Space Books for Kids
Here are seven of our favorite outer space books for kids:
The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
If you’re a Magic School Bus fan, don’t miss Ms. Frizzle and her class’s adventures to space in these titles: Lost in the Solar System, Hello Out There (Sticker Book About the Solar System), and Take a Moonwalk.
On the Moon
by Anna Milbourne and Benji Davies
This is a straightforward, easy-to-understand picture book with a simple explanation of what it would be like to travel to the moon. It’s perfect for young readers learning about the moon.
Me and My Place in Space
by Joan Sweeney and Annette Cable
This is an oldie, but a goodie. I used this book as a primary school teacher. The book presents the solar system in an engaging, informative, and colorful way.
Life on Mars
by Jon Agee
This is a fun, silly book of a kid astronaut who goes on adventure to look for life on Mars. Young readers will love the friendly looking alien who pops up in the book, unseen by the kid.
Our Stars
by Anne Rockwell
Anne Rockwell always does a great job of explaining science in an engaging way with bright, colorful illustrations suitable for young children. This book features stars, planets, comets, and meteors.
There’s No Place Like Space! All About Our Solar System
by Tish Rabe and Aristides Ruiz
This is another fun early reader book in the Cat in the Hat Learning Library series. Cat in the Hat visits the planets, stars, and the sun through engaging and rhyming text.
First Space Encyclopedia
by DK
If you’re looking for further space research or if your child is looking to learn more about our galaxy and beyond, definitely check out this comprehensive reference guide. We love all the kid-friendly encyclopedias in this series.
Check Out this Space Book List from our Friends at Growing Book by Book
5 Outer Space Yoga Poses for Kids
After reading about the solar system, make a list of things you might be able to mimic through yoga postures. These yoga poses for kids below are specifically sequenced to invite flow from one pose to the next. Five yoga poses that we made up to pretend that we were different astrological phenomenon.
1. Extended Mountain Pose: pretend to be the sun
How to practice Extended Mountain Pose: Stand tall in Mountain Pose, look up, take your arms straight up to the sky, and touch your palms together. Pretend to look up to the sun.
2. Crescent Moon Pose: pretend to be the Moon
How to practice Crescent Moon Pose: Stand tall with legs hip-width apart, feet facing forward, and straighten your arms alongside your body. Reach your arms up high over your head, bringing your palms together. Tilt your upper body to one side, pretending to be the moon. Come back to center. Tilt your body to the other side.
3. Warrior 3 Pose: Pretend to be a Shooting Star
How to practice Warrior 3 Pose: Stand on one leg. Extend the other leg behind you, flexing your foot. Bend your torso forward and take your arms back alongside your body. Pretend you are falling through the sky like a shooting star. Switch sides and repeat the steps.
4. Extended Child’s Pose: Pretend to be a Comet
How to practice Extended Child’s Pose: Sit on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest in front of your knees, place the palms of your hands flat out in front of you, and take a few deep breaths. Imagine your arms being the “tail” of gas and dust particles coming out of a comet.
5. Child’s Pose: Pretend to be an Asteroid
How to practice Child’s Pose: Sit on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest on the floor in front of your knees, rest your arms down alongside your body, and take a few deep breaths. Pretend to be an asteroid in the dark sky.
You could finish your Outer Space Yoga session in Resting Pose, pretending to gaze at the stars in the sky. Imagine the constellations that you might see in the night sky. What did you learn about the solar system? Tell us in the comments below!
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Other Outer Space Resources
Here are some more fun resources to learn about space:
Melissa and Doug Outer Space Puzzle
Yoga for Kids Outer Space Blastoff DVD
Space Yoga for Kids, Sugar Spice and Glitter
Ideas for Outer Space Kids Yoga Class, OMazing Kids