You won’t believe how easy it is to turn your dramatic play center into ground control for a space theme! All it takes is one piece of foam board and some materials you probably already have on hand. I made a free space theme printable for you too, keep reading to get your copy!

Space Station Dramatic Play

I found foam board at my local craft store for $1.99 next to the regular poster board. When I measured the board I discovered that it was the same width as the stove and sink combo in my dramatic play center.

Here are the supplies I used to transform my kitchen set into ground control

• Tin Foil
• Clear Packing Tape
• Foam Board {found next to the poster board in your local craft store}
• Plastic Bottle Caps
• Glue Gun
• Circle Punch
• Permanent Marker
• Dashboard Instrument Printables

How to Assemble the Ground Control Panel

First, cover the foam board with tin foil and secure it with packing tape. Next, print out the instruments and screen from the Dramatic Play Space Theme Kit, cut them out, and attach them to the front of the board with clear packing tape. Then, hot glue bottle caps to the board to represent buttons for the crew to push. The circle punch can be used to cut out circles to be glued on top of the buttons. Use your permanent marker to write numbers on some circles. You can also write the words “stop” and “go” or even “blast off” for extra literacy exposure and motivation. If you use bottle caps that do not have text on top then there is no need for the circle punch, just write directly on the bottle top.

Cover the bottom of your furniture with tin foil and secure with packing tape. I also covered the top of the hutch where the flowers are located in the “before” picture. After the furniture is covered then attach your foam board to the furniture with packing tape. You are now ready for lift off!

Free Meet the Crew Printable Poster

I also created this free, printable poster below you can use to identify the flight crew members. First, take a picture of each child in your class if you haven’t already done so. Next, print out the pictures on cardstock, laminate, and cut. Attach one piece of adhesive, hard-sided Velcro to the back of each space on the poster and one piece of soft-sided adhesive Velcro to the back of each picture. When children visit the center they can place their picture on the chart to indicate their position on the flight crew.

Click on the picture below to get your copy of the Meet the Crew poster!

And how stinkin’ cute would it be if you used the photo prop below when you took their pictures for the crew poster?

See more pictures of the Dramatic Play Space Center or purchase the printable kit HERE.

More Activities You Can Add To Your Space Dramatic Play

• Space Theme Sensory Bin – Do your kids like learning about rockets, solar system and outer space? Try this space themed sensory bin at home or in the classroom. It’s super easy to make and will provide plenty of opportunities for developing oral language, vocabulary, communication skills and more! When paired with a good book, this fun space themed sensory bin is a great way to introduce your kiddos to the wonders of space travel.
• Making Craters Science Exploration (Pre-K Pages) – For this science experiment, we were very interested in learning all about the moon.Space and Astronaut Sensory Play (Pre-K Pages) – Do your kids like learning about rockets and outer space? Try this sensory bin at home or in the classroom. It’s super easy to make and will provide plenty of opportunities for developing oral language, vocabulary, communication skills and more!Nighttime Sky Process Art (Pre-K Pages) – his simple nighttime process art activity not only allows them to freely explore their creativity, it helps them think about this science question, too.

  Moon Math Activities (Pre-K Pages) – These moon math activities can be fun for a nighttime or space theme.

  Moon Crater Gross Motor Activity (Pre-K Pages) – This gross motor space activity will get students involved in creating craters of their own!

  Planet Sun Catchers (Pre-K Pages) – Making this sun catcher is a great way to help preschoolers visualize the planets and our solar system on a smaller scale. It can lead into discussions on comparing and contrasting the planets while kids get a hands-on opportunity to make the planets themselves.

  Smashing Moon Rocks (Pre-K Pages) – Today’s activity uses homemade moon rocks, and children will love this activity because they get to smash them!