Space: 9 to 11 year olds

Rosetta - primary resource book

Quality AssuredCategory:SciencePublisher:ESERO-UK

The Rosetta spacecraft was sent on a mission to comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Part of its mission was to deploy a lander, Philae, on the surface of the comet. The resource contains seven activities themed around the mission:

The Planets
Using interactive games, children will learn to recognise the names of the eight planets in the Solar System and they will learn that planets revolve around the Sun.

Falling Stars
Children will learn the difference between a star and a ‘falling star’, and how friction can cause heating effects.

Meteorites
In this activity, students learn about craters that can be created by impacts from space.

Soft Landing
This activity uses the context of Philae's landing to: explain why unsupported objects fall towards Earth.

Weight on other Celestial Bodies
The series of activities in this resource helps children to understand the difference between mass and weight.

Distances in the Solar System
In this resource, children are guided through activities which will help them to use models to understand the scale of the solar system.

What use is Solar Power?
Solar power is vital to the operation of satellites and to the Rosetta spacecraft. This activity requires children to make a solar powered vehicle, using solar panels, a motor and gear and other simple materials.

Is There Anyone Out There?

Quality AssuredCategory:SciencePublisher:ESERO-UK

This is a brilliant resource for Primary, with fun experiements that are easy (and cheap!) to do.  It was produced with help from scientists working on Mars projects at Imperial College and written by experienced primary teachers.  It includes many activities that promote working scientifically.

Recycling on the International Space Station

Quality AssuredCategory:Design and technologyPublisher:NASA

This video discusses the importance of recycling of water on the ISS - including that from human waste.

Look to the Future: the Future Needs STEM

Quality AssuredCategory:CareersPublisher:Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

This careers pack, for primary schools, uses space as a context to highlight the importance of STEM subjects. The resource has been written to highlight some of the STEM career opportunities available so that students, teachers and school communities can discuss and explore, from an earlier age, the breadth of jobs opportunities available.

Primary School Activity Booklet

Quality AssuredCategory:SciencePublisher:Mullard Space Science Laboratory

This booklet, produced by Dr. Lucie Green contains four simple activities to enrich the teaching of Solar system science and beyond.

The activities are: Keeping Safe in the Sun – learning about UV and sun cream; Landing on Mars – making a “Mars lander”; Cassini-Huygens – learning about the Cassini-Huygens mission and distances in the solar system; the Hubble Space Telescope – learning about Hubble and making a star chart to find constellations.

Eggnaut

Quality AssuredCategory:MathematicsPublisher:ESERO-UK

A practical exercise where students try to build something to stop their egg breaking on impact.  Encourages creativity, hands-on skills and teamwork.

Earth and space: space presenters

Quality AssuredCategory:SciencePublisher:Hamilton Trust

Produced by the Hamilton Trust, these resources give details of six lessons on space. This includes lesson plans, practical activities and all student materials. Students find facts about the Sun, Moon and Earth. They develop an understanding of day and night, the four seasons and the Moon’s phases. The Sun and planets making up our Solar System are investigated, along with the other stars in their constellations.