Three, two, one, blast off!
How excited would your students be if you started a day with a countdown like this? We guess that most of our students would be beyond excited about what was going to happen next. With our ready to teach Mars Lessons for Kids your students will be thrilled about what happens next. Moreover, you as the teacher will be thrilled that everything is already planned and ready to go!
Mission to Mars Activity Plan
Yes, you read that right. This Mission to Mars Activity Plan is ready to teach! With just a little bit of organization, it can be easily ready to implement as soon as tomorrow. Even better, once you have prepared these different activities they are ready to go for future years.
Before we show you everything that’s included in this Mars activity resource, let us share a little bit about the why behind what you will find.
This activity plan is designed to be taught in one day. That’s right, one day! However, while it may seem like this would only be a science unit it covers ALL core content. This includes reading, writing, and math. We have even included some additional fun activities, like a craft.
The intention behind having all core content covered in one day, with one theme, is to make it easy for you to teach during those weeks that can feel anything but easy. Think about those short school weeks, such as the week leading up to the end of the school year or the week leading up to winter break.
These short weeks are often filled with lots of fun activities, but the learning can sometimes take a back seat. However, as a teacher, you know that it is important to keep the learning going – even amidst the fun. How do you do that though?
With a one day themed unit, like our Mission to Mars Activity Pack!
This one day themed unit is designed using the elements of Project Based Learning. This means that throughout the lessons you will see opportunities for kids to engage in hands on learning and collaborate with their peers – all while exploring a real world topic.
Ready to see how this is done? Let’s go to Mars!
Through a series of carefully crafted activities, your 1st or 2nd grade students will explore Mars over one day. The activities include reading about Mars, writing about Mars, tackling a Mars-themed math task, and engaging in a hands-on STEM project.
Mars Lessons for Kids
Mars Reading Activity
In this reading activity for first and second-graders, students read an informational text about Mars. This text can be printed or projected, depending on how you would like to read it with your students. While reading, kids use the note-taking sheet to gather evidence about Mars
Writing About Mars Activity
After reading about Mars, young learners get to share what they know by creating an All About Mars Brochure. This activity can be completed independently, with a partner, or in small groups.
Math Activity About Mars
Once students read and write about Mars, it’s onto math! During math time, students use their math skills to prepare a meal plan for the trip to Mars. This is a wonderful way for kids to see how math can be used in the real world.
Mars Science Project for Kids
Now onto the science portion, because we can’t explore Mars without a science activity. During this time, students collaborate in small groups to build a rover. While a real rover would be exciting, we created a grade appropriate task that can be completed with materials you probably already have in your classroom. If you have never explored STEM with your first or second graders, don’t worry! This STEM lesson plan comes with step by step directions.
Mars Craft Activity
Once students have explored Mars in the core content areas, there is still time to have some fun. With this art activity, kids watch a video that walks them through how to draw Mars!
More Mars Learning Activities
At the end of the school day, you may have time to explore Mars even further. Therefore, we have provided additional Mars lesson plans. These can be used to extend learning in any way that works with your teaching needs.
- Crack the Code
- Man from Mars Game
- Mars Maze
- Mars Coloring Sheet
- Mars Crossword Puzzle
Space Exploration Activities for Kids
Space is a favorite topic to explore for many young learners! Therefore, one day of exploring Mars may not be enough for your students.
If you find your students excited to learn more about space exploration then we have several additional resources. While these will not extend an entire day like the mini-unit above, these are also Project Based Learning activities. Therefore, your students will get the same opportunities to engage with the real world through hands on activities and collaborative learning.
These activities can be used in addition to the Mars unit or to explore space at another time of the school year. Choose one, two, or all of them!
Solar System Independent Work Lesson Plan
Digital or Printable Moon Lesson Plan
Sun and Stars Independent Work Lesson Plans
Digital or Printable Space Exploration Lesson Plans
Space Activities Bundle: Moon, Solar System, Exploring Space, Sun Lesson Plans
Project Based Learning for Early Education
While the Mars unit above will support learning in the classroom during one short week of the school year, we know there are MANY short school weeks! Therefore, we created additional one day themed units. We love project based learning!
Save the Monarchs: Project Based Learning Themed Lesson Plans grades 1 or 2
American Symbols: Project Based Learning Themed Lesson Plans grades 1 or 2
Several of these can be used at any time of the year which makes them perfect for weeks with testing, assemblies, or other activities. In addition, our holiday themed units are perfect for those times of year that are consistently tricky to plan for (hello, winter break)!
5 Day Classroom Countdown to Winter Break
12 Days of Christmas Countdown
Countdown to Summer Survival Kit
Whether you stick to exploring Mars or decide to take trips to several other fun topics, we hope these ready to teach resources will make your school year even better!
