Galaxy Jar

Create your own miniature galaxy in a jar.

You will Need

  • Jar

  • Baby oil

  • Glitter

  • Star sequins (optional)

  • Food colouring (blue and red)

  • Water

  • Container and spoon

What to do

  1. 1. Fill your jar halfway with baby oil.

  2. 2. Add glitter and stars.

  3. 3. Combine water with food dye (about four drops of blue and one to two drops of red).

  4. 4. Add water to jar.

  5. 5. Screw on lid*.

  6. 6. Shake to see the galaxy.

*You may want to glue the lid on.

Further Learning

  • Stars are actually very large, but they are very far away so they look small. In fact, stars are so far away from Earth that the only reason that we see stars at all is that they are exceptionally bright.

  • What are stars? Watch this video to find out

  • What does it mean when you see a falling star? They are not really stars, they are small dust particles floating in space. They are moving so fast that they burn, leaving behind a glow. Watch this video to learn more.

Questions to Discuss

  • What would you do with a collection of stars?

  • What would a world without light look like?

  • What is a galaxy?

  • Do you prefer daytime or night time – why?

Guringai Emu in the Sky – Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2014/2, published by AIATSIS

Further Activities

  • There are Dreamtime stories to explain stars in the sky. For example, emus were creator spirits that used to fly and look over the land. Read more about the stories here

    • Draw a picture of one of these stories

  • Here is a famous poem ‘Wishing Star’
    Star Light, Star Bright
    First star I see tonight
    I wish I may, I wish I might
    Have this wish I feel tonight

    • Write your own poem about a star, or a wish you can make on a star.

    • Draw a picture to go with your poem

  • Imagine what would happen if the stars in the sky disappeared. Write a story or draw a picture to show what would happen.

  • Brainstorm a list of songs that are about stars? e.g. “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, “Catch a Falling Star”

    • Write your own song about a star – write new words to a familiar melody, or make up your own melody

  • Read Twinkle by Nick Bland

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Colour Chromatography Activity In this simple STEM activity, children learn about colour mixing and separation in a hands-on way. Using a coffee filter and black marker, discover the different colours that make up black ink.
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