Marble-ous ellipses: speed and time of orbiting bodies

This activity puts speed-time graphs in a space context by looking at the elliptical orbits. 

In order to understand the orbits of planets, comets and other celestial bodies, it is necessary to examine the principles of how gravity, and the velocity of an object, interact to produce an orbit. It is a common...

Cloud chamber: radioactivity in a cosmic setting

Cloud chambers are boxes specially made to detect charged particles and radiation. In this activity, a cloud chamber, made from a plastic fish tank or terrarium, is used to observe alpha and beta particles.  The suggested source used in the cloud chamber is a thoriated welding rod.  Dry ice is used ...

Tell-tale signs of a shooting star: comets, meteors and craters in the solar system

In this activity, children learn that a shooting star or meteor is a piece of rock that lights up as it travels through the Earth’s atmosphere. They also work scientifically to investigate how craters are formed when a meteor...

Meet the EO Detectives

Earth Observation (EO) scientists collect information about the Earth – the land, the sea and the atmosphere – using sensors carried on satellites, aircraft, ships, buoys floating on the ocean and thousands of weather stations around the world. There is now a great deal of data available and scientists are finding...

Inspired by space: engaging girls in STEM

This guide supports educators in inspiring all children to enjoy activities relating to STEM subjects, in particular girls. It looks at statistics of women in STEM roles and introduces many female...

Principia Space Diary: robots in space

Robots are really useful in space as they can do lots of different jobs, some of which are too difficult or dangerous for humans. This activity looks at the different uses of robots in space exploration, with children...

Principia Space Diary: making history

In this activity children explore timelines, identifying dates relevant to themselves and their families and then significant events in the history of space exploration. They could then interview family and friends about their...

Principia Space Diary: space gardening

Growing plants on the International Space Station (ISS) is an important research area as it has the potential to help future exploration. In this activity, children consider the different factors that impact the growth of plants...

Principia Space Diary: the solar system

In this activity children read and extract key facts about the different planets in our Solar System: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Using this information they write a planetary report...

Principia Space Diary: looking at Earth from space

This creative writing exercise asks your space apprentices to choose a place on Earth that they have never been to, and imagine what it might be like to visit. They will use a selection of images that Tim Peake took while on...