Activity

Part A: Introduction

Step 1.

This activity could be done indoors or outdoors. If you have a little activity or action that you use with your kid/s to focus their attention (such as three claps, three big breaths, or a mantra/statement), you could do this now.

Ask your kid/s to sit down. Once you have their attention, explain to them that they are going to explore space; not the space they are sitting in, but the space up in the sky, the place where they can find the stars, the moon, and the planets.

You could get your kid/s thinking about space by singing a song or reading a poem or book. For example:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Jane Taylor
Star Light, Star Bright
The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me by Eric Carle

More poems about space can be found here.

Step 2.

Ask your kid/s to share what they already know about space. You could pose some of the following I wonder statements:

I wonder where space is.
I wonder what we might find in space.
I wonder what it might be like to be in space.
I wonder what words we could use to describe space/stars/the moon/planets.
I wonder what things about space you are most interested in.
.

‘I wonder' statements - using statements that begin with 'I wonder … ' is a great way to get children to share their ideas. 'I wonder' statements don’t necessarily have a correct response, so they leave children open to explore and share their ideas without fear of being wrong. Find out more open-ended questioning tips here.

Step 3.

Finally, ask your kid/s to think about a time they looked up at the night sky:

I wonder if you saw the stars or the moon.
I wonder how it made you feel to look at space. What feelings did you have? Did you feel calm, excited, or even a little bit afraid?

The aim here is to connect your child's experiences of observing space to their bodies and their emotions. This can help kids recognise and communicate their feelings and emotions, and support them in working towards social and emotional regulation.

Part B: Breathing activity

Step 1.

Explain to your kid/s that they will watch a clip that will help them connect to space, and make them feel calm and relaxed. Throughout this clip, children will be asked to move their bodies gently, focus on their breath, and listen to the instructions.

Share the following clip with your kid/s:

Breath Circle - Space (with captions) (https://vimeo.com/677549035)

Step 2.

Once you have watched the clip, spend some time talking with your kid/s about their experience of the breathing activity:

I wonder what you liked about this activity.
I wonder if you feel different in your body now.
I wonder if you feel different in your mind.
I wonder if you would like to do this again.

Part C: Take it further

Your kid/s may have developed their own ideas about how to extend upon the themes presented in this activity. If not, choose one of the following ideas to explore with them:

Build a spaceship and take a trip to space! Work with your kid/s to build a spaceship (with plenty of buttons and dials for little fingers). Create a map of where to go and take a trip together.
Make a space scene out of playdough. Create some astronauts and aliens! Who can make the weirdest alien, and what planet would they live on?
What other odd things might you find in space?
Listen to songs about space and do some space dancing! For example, this Spotify playlist has heaps of space-themed music, especially for children.
Space crafts! Kids could create and colour stars, planets, and moons to hang around the house or in your windows.
Spend some time exploring the Zones of Emotional Regulation Chart with children. Social and emotional learning strategies seek to equip children with knowledge and skills that positively impact their ability to manage emotions and behaviours, as well as improve their interactions with peers, parents, or other adults. The chart can help children visualise their feelings and build their emotional vocabulary, shifting them away from rote responses like 'good' to more nuanced responses like 'curious', 'excited', or 'worried'. Find out more here.

Want more breathing activities? You can find some more here, or register to see if Beata can visit your childcare, kindy, or school in person.

Something for parents and carers!

You could use the breathing exercise from this activity throughout the day when you want to calm your kid/s down, or focus their attention. This activity could be helpful in transition moments at home, such as before and after meal times, or before nap time. And if you’re still having a daily ‘witching hour’, this activity could help both you and your kid/s get through it. If you need a shorter exercise, try taking just three or five breaths, keeping one hand on your heart, and the other on your belly.

This clip has some great suggestions to help you—as a parent or carer—get back to a calm place if you're feeling stressed, anxious, frustrated, or are just having a moment:

Breath Circle - Calm (with captions) (https://vimeo.com/677968977)

Breath Circle - Space (home learning)

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