Explore Space - Elementary Homeschool Unit Study | Knowledge Crates

If your kid is the type who can spot the Moon before you even find your coffee, this is for them. Explore Space is a hands-on elementary homeschool space unit study that turns big space questions into real projects: planets you can build, constellations you can create, and science you can actually see and feel. It’s designed for elementary learners (recommended ages 7–12) and comes as a complete, open-and-go crate—24 space activities with all materials included, plus books that tie everything together. 

This unit is built for families who want homeschool science to feel exciting instead of like another worksheet packet. Kids explore core space topics like the solar system, planetary distance and scale, stars and constellations, and “why does that happen?” science through a mix of experiments, art, sensory play, and writing. It’s the kind of unit that works beautifully as your main science block for a month, a themed enrichment unit, or a “we need something engaging during a weird season” reset. And because everything is planned and packed for you, you’re not spending your Sunday night hunting for supplies or trying to turn a random Pinterest list into an actual learning plan. 

What makes this space unit study especially strong is the way it uses hands-on projects to teach concepts that are usually hard for kids to picture. For example, “scale” and “distance between planets” can be weirdly abstract until your child measures it out and builds a model. This crate includes a Solar System Model Kit and a Measuring the Distance of Planets activity to help kids visualize planetary spacing in a concrete way. Instead of memorizing a list of planets and moving on, they get to build, compare, and talk through what they’re seeing. That kind of learning sticks.

It also leans into constellations in a very kid-friendly way. Your child will create their own constellation viewer with the included Create Constellations Tube activity, and they’ll get to play with space vocabulary through a Galaxy Word Search. These aren’t “busywork” add-ons—they’re tools that reinforce what kids are reading and exploring, while keeping the theme fun and cohesive.

Science experiments and sensory activities are included too, which is basically homeschool code for: “My kid is going to remember this.” In the crate, you’ll find activities like a Bouncing Ball Laboratory (hands-on chemistry style fun), a Galaxy Oobleck experiment, Galaxy Rice, and Glow in the Dark Foam Dough. This mix gives kids multiple ways to interact with the theme—some days they’re experimenting, some days they’re creating, and some days they’re just happily scooping galaxy rice while you read aloud.

And yes, there’s writing—because space naturally invites imagination. The crate includes Rocket to Imagination writing prompts, which are perfect for kids who love storytelling, and also perfect for kids who “don’t like writing” until the prompt involves astronauts, alien planets, or a mission gone hilariously wrong. 

Books are built in, so you don’t have to plan a library run to make the unit feel complete. The included book set supports both factual learning and story-based engagement: Eyewitness: Planets (DK), Play, Learn and Explore: Space (Yoyo Books), Stink: Solar System Superhero (Megan McDonald), and Where Are the Constellations? (Stephanie Sabol). Together, they give you that “mini library + hands-on activities” combo that makes unit studies work so well—read, discuss, then do something with what you learned.

Time-wise, we include a free 6-week plan that families can use to make this unit feel simple and structured (the “tell me what to do next” version). That plan gives you an easy month-long rhythm for getting through the reading and activities without overthinking it. But it’s also flexible on purpose: you can speed it up if your child is motivated and you’re doing multiple activities per week or stretch it out longer if you want a gentler pace, you’re homeschooling multiple ages, or you’d rather sprinkle space activities into your routine over a longer season. The activities don’t depend on a strict calendar—they connect through the theme, so you can pause and pick up again without feeling like you “ruined the plan.”

If you want to see what the unit looks like in real life before you dive in, there’s also a blog post that walks through how we used the pacing plan, shows several activities in action, and shares practical homeschool tips that work in a real home setting (read: real kids, real mess, real interruptions). It’s especially helpful if you like seeing examples and getting a feel for how to combine books + hands-on projects in a way that feels doable—not overwhelming.

Explore Space is a strong fit for homeschool families who want hands-on space activities for kids that feel educational, exciting, and organized. With 24 planned activities, theme-based books, and supplies included, it takes space science off the screen and onto the table—so your child can explore the solar system with their hands, their eyes, and their curiosity.

Additional Resource: Want to see this unit study in action? See Our Blog Post Here