Put white paint and water into a spray bottle and mix well. Give the children black construction paper and tell them to spray the diluted paint onto the paper. Explain that the construction paper resembles space. After sharing several pictures of the solar system, let the children create a solar system on the black paper using colored chalk. A variation of this activity is to provide markers or paint that glow in the dark. Let the children create solar systems on black or blue construction paper.
Let the children help make space helmets, oxygen tanks and moon boots for dramatic play. To make the helmets, cut a square hole in the sides and front of a large paper bag. Trim the bag's bottom so that it covers the child's ears. The children can use silver glitter, pieces of aluminum foil, markers and stickers to decorate the helmets. Make oxygen tanks with plastic two-liter soda bottles. Tape two bottles together and add lengths of one-inch-wide ribbon to make straps. The children can wear the tanks on their backs. To make a pair of moon boots, cut out just enough sponge from two large sponges to allow the sponges to fit securely around the child's shoes.
Read a space story during story time. Let the children help prepare "Astronaut Pudding." Place 1/8 cup of instant pudding and 1/4 cup of milk into a zippered plastic bag for each child. Ask the children to knead the pudding-milk mixture until it thickens. Cut off a corner and show the children how to gently squeeze the bags to eat the pudding.
Make tic-tac-toe boards from poster board. Copy and laminate pictures of astronauts and space ships. The children can use the pictures to play tic-tac-toe. Make flying saucers with paper plates for more space play fun. Tape two paper plates together for each child and let them children decorate the saucers with crayons, markers and stickers. The children can throw their saucers into the air outside.