July 20: First Landing on the Moon (1969)

image from dashboardcitizen.com

---

Planning a Trip to the Moon

Materials:

• children’s books on the moon, find suggestions at astrosociety.org
• paper and writing material or computer
• props as chosen by kids

Directions:

1. Ask kids what they would take on a trip to the moon.
2. How long do they think it will take to get to the moon?
3. What supplies would they need?
4. What do they need most?
5. What won’t work on the moon?
6. What will the kids do when they get to the moon?
7. What do they think they’ll find on the moon?
8. What materials do you have in your program which could be used for a prop box?

---

Check out the full July calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

---

August 5: Neil Armstrong was born (1930).

image from 25.media.tumblr.com

Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. In celebration, why not do some rocket flying?

---

Balloon Rockets

Materials:

• sausage-shaped balloons
• straws
• tape
• string (kite string or other thin twine; yarn does not work well)

Directions:

1. Cut string about 10 feet long.
2. Thread one end of the string through a straw.
3. Pull string tight, taping each end down to different objects.
4. Ideally, one side should be slightly higher than the other.
5. Blow up balloon, but do not tie it. Make sure kids don’t put mouths on balloons if they are going to need someone else to blow up the balloon for them.
6. Tape balloon so that it hangs under straw and so that the sausage shape of the balloon is parallel with the floor. The balloon and straw should start at the higher end of the string with the “nose” end of the balloon (opposite the mouth) pointing toward the lower part of the string.
7. Let go of mouth of balloon and your rocket should shoot from one end of the string to the other.

---

Source(s): 100 Construction Activities for Kids (activity N1).

---

Check out the full August calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

---