These activities make it easy to participate in International Observe the Moon Night from wherever you are. They are suitable for a variety of age groups and adaptable for use with whatever materials you have available. Feel free to adjust the activities to better meet the needs of your participants or audience.
For even more ideas, explore highlighted collections from our supporters.
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Spend the next month getting to know the Moon. Set aside some time each day to look at the Moon, and record your observations in the log provided here.
Time: One month
Recommended age: All ages
Group size: Any
Suggested materials: Printed or digital copy of Moon Observation Journal, writing utensil or editing app
Related resources: NASA's Daily Moon Guide, Moon in Motion: Phases, Moon Phase and Libration, STEMonstrations: Moon Phases
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Make Moon-related art (in any medium). Share your lunar artwork in the International Observe the Moon Night Flickr group and on social media using #ObserveTheMoon.
Time: Varies
Recommended age: All ages
Group size: Any
Suggested materials: Any
Related resources: “Moon As Art” Collection, Get Inspired with Moon-Themed Interactives
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“Our Friend Orion” is the second in a series of children’s books that introduces space enthusiasts ages 3 to 8 to the unique elements needed for the Artemis missions to get to space, the Moon, and beyond.
Time: 5–10 minutes
Recommended age: 3–8 years old
Group size: Any
Suggested materials*: Printout or digital copy of “Our Friend Orion” book
Related resources: Read Aloud of NASA’s Our Friend Orion, Hooray for SLS! Activities, Learn How to Draw Artemis
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Create your own lunar impact craters using simple materials. When astronauts visit the Moon during future Artemis missions, they’ll explore craters that may contain water and ice. Testing and studying these craters may help NASA identify areas on the Moon that are rich in water and other resources and how best to use those materials while on the lunar surface.
Time: 30–60 minutes (this activity can also be done as a brief demonstration)
Recommended age: 9–14 years old
Group size: Individual or teams of 3–4 children
Suggested materials: Marbles or other objects such as ball bearings, golf balls, ping pong balls, or wooden balls; a high-walled pan made out of plastic, aluminum, or cardboard; any dry powdery material that can look like the Moon’s surface (flour, baking powder, sand, glitter); ruler or measuring tape; digital or food scale; newspaper, tarp, or other covering to protect floors (if inside)
Related resources: Tour of the Moon, Kid Moon: Splat!, NASA+ Space Out: Moon Visuals
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We’re going back to the Moon, and this time we’re going to live, learn, and explore. As a member of the Artemis Generation, NASA invites you to be a part of the story. Build your own version of NASA’s deep space rocket, SLS (Space Launch System), and test out your rocket launching skills!
Time: 30–60 minutes
Recommended age: 10+ years old (with adult supervision)
Group size: Small groups of 3–4 children
Suggested materials: 16-20 oz. plastic bottle (empty), bicycle floor pump (with pump needle), cork or rubber stopper, safety glasses, power drill, drill bit (same size as bike pump needle), scissors, cardboard or poster board, duct tape, milk crate or other box, paintbrush, paint
Related resources: Artemis II: Mission Overview, Artemis II to the Moon: Launch to Splashdown, To the Moon and Back: The Journey of Artemis I, Hooray for SLS! Activities
School groups and other educators may wish to incorporate or build on these activities in International-Observe-the-Moon-Night-inspired programming. This is an opportunity to get the whole school involved.
Everyone: We welcome your creative interpretation, adaptation, and implementation!
Looking for more? Try these activity and resource collections:
Observe the Moon Night for Educators and Learners
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Education Resources
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Educational Activities & Lessons
Explore! with the Lunar and Planetary Institute
Night Sky Network Outreach Resources
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory K-12 Educator Resources
