Does your child dream of exploring galaxies or launching their own rocket? After watching Space Explorers – Cosmic Wonders, you can take that excitement one step further by bringing science to life right in your backyard.

This guide is packed with fun, simple, hands-on science experiments designed to nurture curiosity and spark discovery. No lab coat required — just common materials, a spark of creativity, and a sense of wonder.

Perfect for ages 5 to 10, these activities turn your home into a mini space lab where learning feels like play.

1. Make Your Own Constellation Projector

Objective: Help children understand how constellations are patterns in the sky.

You’ll Need:

• Empty paper towel roll

• Black construction paper or foil

• Push pin or thumbtack

• Rubber band

• Flashlight or phone light

Instructions:

1. Cut a circle from the black paper to cover one end of the tube.

2. Poke holes into the paper in the shape of a constellation (like Orion or the Big Dipper).

3. Attach the paper to the top of the tube and hold it in place with a rubber band.

4. Turn off the lights and shine the flashlight through the other end — the constellation appears on the wall.

Science Skill: Understanding light projection and the way we interpret stars in the night sky.

2. Crater Impact Simulation

Objective: Explore how meteorites create craters on planetary surfaces.

You’ll Need:

• Baking tray or box

• Flour

• Cocoa powder

• Marbles or small rocks

• Ruler (optional)

Instructions:

1. Fill your tray with a few inches of flour, then lightly dust the top with cocoa powder.

2. Drop marbles or rocks from different heights.

3. Take note of the craters’ shape, size, and pattern.

Bonus: Try dropping objects at different angles or using different weights.

Science Skill: Understanding force, impact energy, and surface patterns — just like scientists studying the moon or Mars.

3. Solar System Mobile

Objective: Visually demonstrate the order and scale of the planets in the solar system.

You’ll Need:

• Paper or cardstock

• String or yarn

• Tape or glue

• Scissors

• Markers or crayons

Instructions:

1. Cut out circles to represent the planets (and the Sun).

2. Color and label each one.

3. Use string to hang the planets from a coat hanger, stick, or cardboard base.

4. Arrange them in order from the Sun.

Science Skill: Learning about planet names, relative sizes, and the solar system’s layout.

4. Balloon Rocket Launch

Objective: Explore propulsion and motion.

You’ll Need:

• Long piece of string (6–10 feet)

• Straw

• Balloon

• Tape

Instructions:

1. Slide the string through the straw, then tie each end to opposite supports, such as two chairs.

2. Inflate a balloon without tying it, and tape it securely to the straw.

3. Release the balloon and observe as it races along the string.

Science Skill: Illustrates Newton’s Third Law — every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

5. Shadow Tracking: Build a Solar Clock

Objective: Observe how shadows change as Earth rotates.

You’ll Need:

• A stick or wooden skewer

• Flat surface (sidewalk or paper taped to the ground)

• Rocks or chalk

• Timer or watch

Instructions:

1. Place the stick upright in the ground or center of the paper.

2. Mark the tip of the shadow every hour.

3. Watch how the shadow moves across the surface throughout the day.

Science Skill: Understanding Earth’s rotation and how ancient people tracked time with sundials.

Bonus: Observation Journal for Young Scientists

Encourage your child to record:

• What they did

• What they saw

• What surprised them

• A question they still have

You can use a notebook or download a printable journal template to help them document their backyard experiments like real scientists.

Final Thoughts

Creating a backyard space lab is more than just a fun afternoon — it’s an opportunity to turn curiosity into confidence, play into purpose, and wonder into wisdom.

These easy STEM activities make science tangible and exciting. When paired with an inspiring video like Cosmic Wonders, they help children not only learn about space but experience the thrill of discovery firsthand.