Planet Suncatchers Craft

Looking for fun space crafts to make with your child? These planet suncatchers are an easy way for your kid to make planets, since watercolor soaks into the coffee filters.

In almost every homeschool unit we do, I usually add a suncatchers craft! Coffee filter suncatchers, contact paper suncatchers, tissue paper suncatchers, you name it – we’ve tried it.

For our space unit study, I followed the coffee filter idea, and used Mombrite‘s planet suncatchers as inspiration for hanging them up in our living room window.

They turned out beautiful! I was actually really surprised at just how engaging this activity was for my son. He enjoys crafting, but these brought joy daily for the entirety of this unit (which ended up dragging on for almost a month altogether).

He adored pointing to each planet and telling me all about them, and it helped him naturally learn the order of the planets unprompted. I didn’t set out to make sure he knew the order at such a young age, but he showed an interest in memorizing it, and the way we hung our suncatchers was a great reminder for him!

WHILE YOU’RE PLANNING YOUR SPACE THEME:

• Check out my Space Unit here. (Use code SPACE25 for 25% off) If you join my Preschool Program Membership, you’ll get a major discount on all past Unit Studies, and 2 brand new units included each month!
• Here are 25 Space Activities for your Preschooler’s Space theme!
• Here’s a list of Space Books for Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Here are 25 Space Crafts for your Preschooler
• Here’s a list of 16 Fun & Delicious Space-Themed Snacks for your Kids
• Here are some fun Space Facts for Kids
• Solar System in Motion Song for Preschoolers

Space Activities & Crafts We’ve Done at the Moore Homestead:

• Planet Puppets Printable
• Fizzing Planets
• Moon Rock Exploration (with Printable Worksheet)
• Asteroid Toss Activity for Toddlers & Preschoolers
• I-Spy Space Busy Bag (with Printable)
• Rocket Name Building Activity 
• Edible Constellations Activity
• Space Playdough Invitation to Play
• Space Sensory Bin
• Solar System Match Worksheet Set
• Paper Plate Planets Craft
• What Makes Night Science Exploration
• Moon Observation Journal Astronomy Study for Kids
• Telescope Craft for Preschoolers
• Moon Phases Oreo Worksheet for Preschoolers
• Smash the Moon Rocks Activity
• Space Coloring Book for Preschoolers
• Astronaut Dramatic Play Station (+ Printable Bundle)

Planet Suncatchers Craft for Kids

Cut the coffee filters out into various sizes, generally matching the size comparisons of the planets. Provide your child with watercolor paints and a paintbrush, and talk about each planet as you paint them.

As always, with children this young, I recommend painting yours ahead of time if you’re able, and displaying them for your child along with their materials.

This was engaging for my son, and was less stressful for everyone. He was drawn in by my planets, and genuinely curious and eager to learn about each one. Instead of trying to paint each one together, he had an easy reference, and I was free to assist him.

This activity took a surprisingly long time. In fact, for a preschooler, I would say this sucked up all of our designated structured school time for the day. It was likely upwards of 45 minutes if I had to guess.

Another option would be to focus on a different planet every day for a week and a day, and paint that specific planet daily, though I found it very helpful to have the planets completed and displayed for the entirety of the unit.

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