The Cosmic Explorer Worksheets (1–5) are designed especially for primary school learners, offering a step-by-step journey through astronomy, culture, and hands-on discovery. Each worksheet combines science, stories, and activities, helping children connect with the universe in ways that are meaningful, creative, and fun.
Worksheet 1 introduces children to our place in the Milky Way and shows how people connect to the sky through karakia. Learners are encouraged to start their own “Sky Thoughts” journal and even write their own karakia as they prepare for their visit to Stonehenge Aotearoa.
Worksheet 2 is all about building and observing. Children create a model of the planets, learn about the Moon’s phases with a cut-and-stick activity, and begin their own “Sky Tracker” journal to record what they see in the sky at sunrise, sunset, or night.
Worksheet 3 takes learners deeper into the knowledge of ancient people, who used the Sun, Moon, and stars to understand their world. Children explore how Stonehenge Aotearoa follows the sky’s movements and take part in real science experiments with shadows, sunlight, and
stargazing.
Worksheet 4 brings Māori astronomy to life, showing how ancestors looked to the stars to guide voyages, mark time, and plan seasonal activities. This worksheet helps children understand how knowledge of the stars connects culture, survival, and identity.
Worksheet 5 celebrates Matariki — the Māori New Year, a time for remembrance, reflection, and dreams for the future. Children discover the meaning of each star in the cluster and create their own star maps, build personal constellations, honour loved ones with memory stars, and share
wishes with Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the star of hope.
Together, these worksheets invite children to see themselves as explorers of the cosmos, connecting science and culture in ways that spark imagination, curiosity, and a lifelong love for the sky.