Space at Primary Level
A list to inspire and help teachers introduce and teach space at primary level.Use these resources to inspire investigative work linked to the topic of space and ask the big question 'Does life exist on other planets?'
Lesson plans and activities for the QCA unit Earth, Sun and Moon. Develop thinking skills and practical work helping an 'eggnaut' re-enter the earth's atmosphere or making alka-seltzer rockets.
Try some experiments from Is There Anyone Out There?, which focuses on a Mars landing. Learn what it means to train to be an astronaut, look at life inside a space station or use these fantastic images from the Mars Rover with these activities which link space with science, literacy, art and PE.
Is There Anyone Out There?
This is a great resource for Primary, with fun experiments 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.
This would be an ideal resource to use this year (2012) to link in with the landing of the Mars Curiosity Rover on 6 August 2012. You can keep track of the journey of the Mars Science Laboratory here http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/WhereIsCuriosity.html
Eggnaut
Build a re-entry capsule to allow your eggnaut to safely return to earth. A lovely group activity that devlops thinking skills and allows children to consider Newton's Laws of Motion whilst designing their capsules.
Earth and space: space presenters
Produced by the Hamilton Trust, these resources give details of six lessons on space based on QCA scheme of work. This includes lesson plans, practical activities and all student materials.
The lessons are:
• Earth, Moon and Sun
• Day and night
• Eclipses and seasons
• Moon phases
• Star constellations
• Planets
Mission X: train like an astronaut *suitable for home teaching*
An education programme developed by NASA scientists and fitness professionals. Mission X uses the excitement of space exploration to inspire students to learn more about nutrition, exercise, science and space exploration.
The activities in this resource are designed for students aged 8 -14 but can be adapted to older and younger age groups. They can also be used enrich learning in afterschool clubs and extra projects.
They are organised into Science and PE challenges however they could also be used to inspire in other curruculum areas.
ESERO
The ESERO website which contains news and events on all space related themes. Links to ideas and resources to promote education of STEM subjects in a context of space. Also includes the names of 'space ambassadors' who may support the teaching and learning of space education.
Fruit Solar System
Build a Solar System using mostly fruit. Encourage children to take an educated guess as to which planet each item represents to develop their thinking skills. A great way of showing the relative sizes of planets in the solar system.
Phases of the Moon
A short video demonstrating the phases of the moon.
ESAkids
The European Space Agency website specially designed for children with all you need to know about space.
It has animations, facts, games, puzzles and quizzes to stimulate and enrich learning about earth and space.
International Space Station (ISS) Education Kit - Primary
A great resource with lots of ideas for planning lessons across the curricuum using space as a stimulus.
Looks at life in space and what is it like to live and work on board the International Space Station.
It includes: background information, worksheets, colour posters and a teachers' guide.
Lunar and meteorite samples loan scheme
Engage and excite children with real moon rocks in your lessons. The STFC loan scheme will provide the moon rocks and the website contains facts about the rocks, teaching resource ideas and links to other websites.