I have an idea for large motor and art activities related to space. Maybe you can have the children go on a pretend trip to outer space. They can pretend to pack all necessary items, put on their uniforms and get into a spaceship. After they return from their visit to outer space, have them close their eyes and try to remember what the life forms looked like. When they open their eyes, they can describe them, draw them on paper, and dictate a description for you to write. My kindergarten children do this every year. They make creatures with many heads, eyes on their feet, rainbow colored skin, etc. I hang the creatures on a bulletin board. It stimulates much conversation among the students. also read "Space Case" and "Merry Christmas, Space Case," by James Marshall. * ART: Moon Rocks.......go on a ( pretend) space shuttle to the moon to collect moon rocks(you hide). The kids can then paint them. Make and decorate space peepers(binoculars). Use toilet paper tubes. Build Robots from various boxes and tubes. After they are dry, paint them with gold paint(or silver). You could do this as a group or individual project. SONG; I'm a Little Robot (I'm a Little teapot) I'm a little robot, watch me walk, Push my button, now I can talk. When I get all oiled up I can work. Even if I have to jerk. I'm a little robot, watch me go, Sometimes fast, sometimes slow When I get all worn out you can see, All I need is a new battery. BLOCK AREA; Add little space people(you can find these at department stores) For a fun filled trip into space, use Greg and Steve's An Adventure In Outer Space from their On The Move CD. Or take your class on its own imaginary trip through outer space. Explain lack of gravity and its relationship to movement. Challenge the children to walk, run, skip, hop, gallop, leap, and crawl through space. Go for a long nature walk on the moon and see what kinds of imaginary items children discover. Or play my Moving Star game. Fly to one star, land, and discover that the only way to move on that star is to do jumping jacks. Then step back into your space ship and land on the "crawling" star...the "hopping" star etc. The ideas are endless! * Here's a space web site for those interested Space Exploration Online Kindergarten Teacher/Computer Coordinator Heights School Roslyn Hts, NY email- hariton@li.net Childhood should be a journey, not a race." ******************************************************************** >>