Trace the shapes of the various phases of the moon on construction paper and cut out two copies of each shape. Spread the shapes out on a table in the preschool classroom. First, ask students to find matching shapes. Make sure that each student has a pair of cutouts. Ask the students to ball up newspaper. Aiding each student, as needed, place the stuffing inside the two cutouts and staple the "moon" closed by stapling all around its perimeter. Next, ask the students to place the entire moon phase in order, beginning with a new moon (black construction paper) and ending with the full moon.
Foster budding artists by showing preschoolers a copy of Vincent Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night." Talk about the shapes of Van Gogh's stars and encourage students to trace their finger in the pattern followed with his paintbrush. Give each student a black piece of construction paper, yellow and orange paints, and a paintbrush. Ask students to fill their blank black canvas with their own swirly and unique stars.
Follow the phases of the moon each day with preschoolers using a calendar. Cut out the shapes of the moon during its 28 phases into sizes that will fit within the grids of a calendar. On the first day of the first full moon, place the full moon cutout on the calendar. Each day, add another moon phase. Encourage students to also observe the moon each night. They can even keep their own calendars at home, on which they draw the shape of the moon as they see it each night.
Help preschool students practice their counting skills by giving them a sheet with the numbers one through 10 written out in the first column. Shake out yellow and gold star stickers onto the table and ask the children to affix the correct number of sticker stars beside each number.