Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Space Painting
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Space Painting is a free printable activity sheet for young children. It gives little ones a space theme to paint, with plenty of room for their own colours and ideas. It needs only paint, brushes and a covered table.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print the sheet, set out some paint and let your child start when they are ready.
What is on the sheet
Space Painting is a hands on activity sheet with a space theme. Children use paint to make their own space picture, so there is no single right way to do it. They choose which colours to use, what to put in their sky and how much paint to add. It suits quiet, focused time, and it gives adults a good reason to chat about stars, planets and the Moon while their child works.
Ideas for your space picture
Start with a dark sky
Paint a dark blue, purple or black background first. Let it dry a little. Bright colours for stars and planets will then stand out much more.
Splatter stars
Dip an old toothbrush or a stiff brush in white or yellow paint and flick it gently over the dry sky. Do this over newspaper, as it can be messy.
Sponge planets
Cut a sponge into a rough circle, dab it in paint and press it onto the paper. Use different colours and sizes to make a whole set of planets.
Add details last
Once the paint is dry, add rings, craters, a rocket or a tiny moon. Waiting for layers to dry stops the colours turning muddy.
Why is space dark, and why paint it?
Space looks black because there is no air out there. On Earth, air scatters sunlight in all directions, which is why our daytime sky looks bright and blue. In space there is nothing to scatter the light, so the sky stays dark even when the Sun is shining. Stars are very far away, so they show up as small points of light. This is why many space paintings start with a dark colour.
Painting suits young children well. Holding a brush builds hand control, and choosing colours helps them make decisions. Mixing paint shows them how colours change, such as blue and yellow making green. In England, painting fits within Expressive Arts and Design in the early years, and Art and Design at Key Stage 1 includes using painting to develop and share ideas. A space theme gives children plenty to imagine.
Space facts to share while you paint
- The Sun is a star. It looks much bigger and brighter than other stars because it is much closer to us.
- Earth is one of eight planets that travel around the Sun.
- The Moon travels around the Earth.
- Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system.
- Saturn is famous for its bright rings, which are made of ice and rock.
Skills and curriculum link
- Painting control
- Colour mixing
- Creative thinking
- Fine motor skills
- Space vocabulary
Helping little painters
- Colour choicesOffer a small set of colours at first. Three or four is plenty. Too many pots can lead to muddy brown paint.
- Brush controlChunky brushes are easier for small hands. Show how to wipe a brush on the pot edge so it does not drip.
- LayeringLet one colour dry before painting over it. Wet on wet paint blends, which can also be fun to explore.
- TalkingAsk open questions, such as "What is happening in your space picture?" Describe what you see rather than judging it.
Key words
- PlanetA large, round world that travels around a star.
- StarA huge ball of hot, glowing gas that gives out light.
- MoonA natural object that travels around a planet.
- OrbitThe path one object takes around another, such as a planet around the Sun.
- GalaxyA giant group of stars, gas and dust. Our Sun is in the Milky Way galaxy.
- RocketA vehicle that carries people or machines up into space.
How to use it
- Print the sheet. Cover the table, and put on aprons or old shirts.
- Set out paint, brushes, a pot of water and a cloth. Check the paper is suitable for the paint you use, as thin paper can wrinkle when wet.
- Talk about space before painting starts. Ask what your child might see there, such as stars, planets, a moon or a rocket.
- Let your child paint in their own way. Join in with comments and questions, but let them make the choices.
- Leave the painting somewhere safe to dry. Then ask your child to tell you about it, and display it.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with one colour and one big shape, such as a round planet. Use a thick brush so it is easy to hold. Let each layer dry a little before adding the next. Talk through each step, and praise the effort rather than how the picture looks.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to paint a space scene that tells a story, such as a rocket visiting a new planet. Then ask them to explain it to you. They could add a title and a sentence, or mix a new colour for each planet.
Make it a game
Play space painting I spy. Each person paints one thing in a shared picture, such as a star, planet or rocket, then passes it on. After a few turns, take turns naming everything in the picture and making up a name for the planet.
Talk about it
- What colours do you think space is? Why did you pick those?
- If you could visit one planet, which would it be?
- What might you see out of a rocket window?
- Which part of your picture is the brightest? Why?
- What is your favourite thing about the night sky?
- What would you call the planet you painted?
Take it off the page
Torch and shadows
In a darkened room, shine a torch on the wall and make shadow shapes with your hands. Talk about how the Moon and planets are lit by the Sun.
Salt dough or clay planets
Mould planets from play dough or clay in different sizes. Line them up around a paper Sun and talk about which is biggest.
Star hunt
On a clear evening, look at the sky with a grown up. Talk about what you can see, and draw it the next day.
Who it is for
Parents
Keep it relaxed and messy in a good way. Sit beside your child, ask about their choices and let them decide when the picture is finished. Take a photo before it dries and gets put away.
Teachers
Use it as an art lesson linked to a space topic, a quiet activity for continuous provision, or a wet play choice. Pair it with a story or a short talk about the solar system to build vocabulary.
Home educators
It fits well into a space themed week. Combine painting with library books, a trip to look at the night sky and some drawing. Keep finished paintings to build a home gallery or topic folder.
Where this fits in learning
Before painting a themed picture, young children enjoy exploring paint freely. They make marks, name colours and learn how a brush and water behave. These early experiences build the control needed for planned pictures.
After this, children can practise mixing colours on purpose, adding more detail and painting from observation. Later in primary school, they study Earth and space in science, so early space play gives them familiar words and ideas to build on.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- Is the Space Painting sheet free?
Yes. It is free to print from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London. You only need to supply your own paint, brushes and something to protect the table.
- What age is it for?
It is aimed at young children who enjoy painting. Adults can adapt it for different ages by offering more help to the youngest and extra challenges, such as mixing colours or telling a story, to older ones.
- What do we need to do the activity?
You need paint, brushes, water and a cloth. Cover the table and use aprons. Sponges, an old toothbrush for splatter stars and a few paper towels are useful extras, but they are not essential.
- How long does it take?
There is no set time. Let your child work at their own pace and stop when their interest fades. Some children paint carefully for a long time, while others prefer a quick picture and a chat.
- Is there a right way to paint space?
No. This is a creative activity, so there is no single correct picture. Children can use any colours they like. Talking about their choices matters more than copying what space really looks like.
- Can I use it in a classroom?
Yes. It works as an art activity, a choice for continuous provision or part of a space topic. Children can work individually or add their paintings to a shared display of the solar system.
- Does it link to the curriculum in England?
Painting links to Expressive Arts and Design in the early years and to Art and Design at Key Stage 1, where children use painting to develop and share ideas. A space theme can also support later science learning.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.