Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
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Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Learning Objectives
Identify stars and planets as objects in the night sky.
Practice fine motor skills through sensory play and crafting.
Listen to a story and recall simple details.
Engage in imaginative, hands-on learning about space.
Materials
Starky Star Soars Through the Solar System Book or Read-aloud video (Q&A section is optional but recommended! Not included in timing)
Procedure (40 minutes)
(5 mins) Introduction: Gather students in a circle and ask what they see in the sky at night. Talk about stars and how they twinkle, just like Starky Star.
(10 mins) Story Time: Watch the read-aloud video of Starky Star's adventure, asking children to point whenever they see a star or planet.
(15 mins) Starry Night Craft: Give each child a piece of black construction paper and various star stickers. Encourage them to create their own night sky, like the one Starky saw from the North Pole.
(10 mins) Space Sensory Exploration: Introduce a sensory bin filled with 'space' (black beans) and hidden glow-in-the-dark planets and stars for children to discover.
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Learning Objectives
Identify that planets are part of our solar system.
Recall at least one fact about a planet from the story.
Practice communicating ideas in a group discussion.
Develop critical thinking by formulating questions for an author.
Materials
Starky Star Soars Through the Solar System Book or Read-aloud video
Procedure (50 minutes + 20 mins optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Warm-up: Sing a song about space, like 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,' and ask students to imagine they are stars.
(10 mins) Story Time: Watch the read-aloud video of Starky Star.
(15 mins) Planet Fact Chart: As a group, list the planets Starky met. Use the easel paper to write down one simple fact about each planet mentioned (e.g., Jupiter - Red Spot, Saturn - many moons). Draw a simple picture next to each fact.
(20 mins) Planet Art: Students choose a planet coloring page to color, trying to remember its special feature discussed in the story. Or students draw their own planet, and what they would like to have on the planet.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author about writing the story or about Starky's next adventure.
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Learning Objectives
Sequence the main events of a story.
Identify and name the 8 planets in our solar system.
Understand basic concepts like 'orbit' and 'black hole' as presented in the story.
Collaborate with peers on a creative project.
Materials
Starky Star Soars Through the Solar System Book or Read-aloud video
Procedure (60 minutes + 20 mins optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Introduction: Ask students to imagine they are going on a trip to space. What would they pack and what would they want to see?
(10 mins) Story Time: Watch the read-aloud video of Starky Star.
(20 mins) Solar System Map: On a long sheet of butcher paper, draw a simple solar system outline. Have students cut out circles from construction paper to represent the planets and glue them in the correct order.
(15 mins) Trace Starky's Path: Use yarn to trace Starky's journey from the North Pole, past the planets, into the black hole, and back to Earth on the class map. Discuss key events along the way.
(10 mins) Wrap-up: Students share their favorite part of Starky's journey and why.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author about the story's inspiration or the scientific facts included.
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between fictional story elements and scientific facts.
Write a short, coherent summary of a story's main events.
Research and present one additional fact about a planet using provided resources.
Practice critical thinking by creating insightful questions for an author.
Materials
Starky Star Soars Through the Solar System Book or Read-aloud video
Procedure (60 minutes + 25 mins optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Discussion Starter: Ask the class: 'Can a star really fly through space and talk to planets?' Discuss the difference between fiction (make-believe) and non-fiction (facts).
(10 mins) Story Time: Watch the read-aloud video of Starky Star or read the book aloud.
(15 mins) Story vs. Fact T-Chart: Create a T-chart on the board labeled 'Story Magic' and 'Real Science.' As a class, sort details from the book (e.g., Story Magic: a star gets lost. Real Science: Jupiter has a Great Red Spot).
(15 mins) Planet Research: Each student or small group chooses a planet from the story, uses a pre-approved website to find one new fact not mentioned in the story, and writes it on an index card.
(15 mins) Fact Sharing: Students take turns sharing their newly found planet facts with the class.
(25 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new, deeper questions for the author. Encourage questions about the research process for the book or why certain planets were chosen.
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Learning Objectives
Express understanding of a story through creative movement and drama.
Develop gross motor skills by mimicking actions from the narrative.
Participate cooperatively in a group music and movement activity.
Practice listening skills and following directions.
Materials
Starky Star Soars Through the Solar System Book or Read-aloud video
Open space for movement
Procedure (45 minutes)
(5 mins) Gathering and Warm-up: Sit in a circle and pass around a foam star. When a child holds the star, they share their name and their favorite color.
(10 mins) Story Time: Watch the read-aloud video of Starky Star, encouraging children to make small movements as they watch (e.g., twinkling fingers, looking up in wonder).
(15 mins) Planetary Dance: Play space-themed music. Call out actions from the story for the children to act out: 'Spiral upwards like Starky!', 'Soar through space past the planets!', 'Spin slowly like you're in a Black Hole!', 'Race fast back to Earth!'
(10 mins) Star Gazing Cool Down: Dim the lights. Have children lie on their backs with their foam star on their tummy, pretending they are stars twinkling in the night sky while listening to calm, quiet music.
(5 mins) Closing Circle: Go around the circle and have each child share their favorite 'space move' from the Planetary Dance.