Space mission party

What it is

Children are recruited to a space agency. They build and launch rockets, train like astronauts and recover moon rocks before a countdown to cake. Finish with the lights off and a glow-in-the-dark star show.

Plan ahead

• Two weeks before: send boarding-pass invitations (“Flight 007 to the Moon”).
• One week before: buy a stomp rocket set or straws and card for paper rockets, glow-in-the-dark stars, glow sticks and silver balloons.
• The day before: paint stones grey or wrap chocolates in foil for moon rocks; print mission badges.

Set the scene

Cover windows with black paper and stick glow stars on them. Hang inflatable planets or painted paper lanterns as planets. Make a rocket from a big cardboard box for photos. Use a silver foil curtain as the “airlock” door.

Activities

Rocket workshop

Each child rolls a strip of paper around a pencil, tapes it, folds the top closed and adds fins. Slide it over a straw and blow to launch. Measure distances with a tape measure and record on a “launch board”. Or use a stomp rocket outside.

Astronaut training

• Moonwalk relay: walk in slow motion to the finish (anyone who runs goes back).
• Zero gravity: keep a balloon in the air without catching it.
• Crater course: hop between hoops “craters” without touching the ground.

Moon rock hunt

Hide rocks around the garden or room and give each astronaut a “sample bag”.

Food and drink

• Star-shaped sandwiches and cheese
• “Planet” meatballs or cherry tomatoes on sticks
• Freeze-dried astronaut ice cream (a big hit)
• Galaxy cake: dark blue and purple icing with edible glitter and a silver rocket

Tips

• Have a grown-up as “Mission Control” with a clipboard and headset - kids love the role play.
• Glow sticks: give them out at the very end so they last for the trip home.