Reading & literacy activity
Research Report
Pick a favorite space topic — like the moon or stars — look at picture books about it, and share 3 fun facts you learned by drawing and telling.
Materials and setup
- books
- paper
- pencils
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Pick a favorite space topic — like the moon or stars — look at picture books about it, and share 3 fun facts you learned by drawing and telling.
Steps
- Choose a topic your child is curious about: the moon, planets, astronauts, or rockets.
- Look through 1-2 picture books about the topic together.
- Help your child pick 3 fun facts they learned.
- Draw a picture of each fact on a separate piece of paper.
- Present the facts to a family member: hold up each picture and tell the fact.
Learning objectives
- Select a topic of personal interest for exploration
- Identify and remember key facts from an informational text
- Present learned information to others through drawing and speaking
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Research a space topic using books and create an All About poster with facts, pictures, and labels. Present your poster to your family.
Steps
- Choose a space topic: a planet, the sun, an astronaut, or a space vehicle.
- Look through 2-3 books or kid-friendly sources and find 5 facts about your topic.
- Write each fact on a sticky note in your own words.
- Create an All About poster: draw your topic in the center, arrange facts around it, and add labels.
- Present your poster to your family, sharing each fact and answering questions.
Learning objectives
- Gather information from multiple sources on a single topic
- Paraphrase facts in your own words rather than copying
- Organize and present information visually on a poster
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Write a structured research report with an introduction, body paragraphs organized by subtopic, and a conclusion. Use at least 2 sources and include a simple bibliography.
Steps
- Choose a space research topic and write 3 research questions you want to answer.
- Find information in at least 2 sources (books, encyclopedias, kid-friendly websites with parent help). Take notes organized by question.
- Write an introduction paragraph that hooks the reader and states your topic.
- Write 2-3 body paragraphs, each covering one subtopic or research question.
- Write a conclusion paragraph summarizing what you learned and why it matters.
- Create a bibliography listing your sources (title, author). Add a diagram or illustration to support your report.
Learning objectives
- Formulate research questions and find answers using multiple sources
- Write a structured report with introduction, body, and conclusion
- Create a simple bibliography citing sources used in research
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Conduct in-depth research on a space science topic: gather evidence from multiple sources, evaluate source reliability, write a strong report, and present findings.
Steps
- Select a focused research topic and write a clear main idea or claim.
- Create a detailed outline with at least 4 sections.
- Research using at least 3 sources. For each source, evaluate its reliability: Who wrote it? When? Is it biased?
- Write a 1-2 page research report with clear paragraph transitions and source notes.
- Include at least one data visualization: a chart, graph, diagram, or timeline that supports your research.
- Create a Works Cited or Sources Used page and present your findings to your family using visual aids.
Learning objectives
- Evaluate source reliability and distinguish credible from unreliable sources
- Write a research report with a clear main idea and a Sources Used page
- Create data visualizations to support written research findings
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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