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Outer Space Activities and Resources for Children
- Chaneil James
- Aug 31, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 21, 2023
It's been a strange year so far, doing (or not doing in most cases) things that we didn't imagine for 2020. We know for many people right now, that includes homeschooling.
We can imagine that a lot of parents are at their wits' end, trying to gather resources to ensure their children are not skipping any classes. Like maths, science may also not be a lot of people's strong suit, but that should not matter.
In this article, we will provide you with some resources, that will aid in delivering great science lessons at home. So - no matter what September brings - your child can learn about the universe around us.
Resources and activities
Curved House Kids - Discovery Diaries
Visit discoverydiaries.org to access the Discovery Diaries resource portal, where you can
download over 60 Free creative, cross-curricular science lessons in various teaching styles.
Brought to you by a collaboration between the ASDC and the UK Space Agency, this program provides a variety of modules you can follow and many other tools. The modules are very interactive, including various fun activities that will no doubt grab the attention of your students. Different people learn in different ways but being able to have an active attempt at something you've learned, can really help to retain the knowledge...and extend your attention span.
Escape the ISS
Solve science, math, and English puzzles to be awarded the code to the escape pod at the ISS, created by the University of Leeds and the Centre for Satellite Data in Environmental Science (SENSE). More here.
ESERO-UK
You can find various free resources, support, and information for leaders, parents, and teachers to further enhance your knowledge of STEM in the context of space.
Expedition: Home
Expedition: Home was created by ESA for children and parents to have access to space-based activities and continue to learn from home.
International Space Station photos and radio communication
In this instructional video prepared by the ESA Educational team, some of the ESERO offices, and other international partners, you will learn how to receive pictures directly from the International Space Station (ISS) and how to use a software-defined radio receiver accessible from a web browser.
Oak National Academy
There have been a number of resources launched on the Oak National Academy website on various subjects such as seasons for Year 1, day and night for Year 2 (where in Week 7 they speak about space and Week 8 the Solar System). They also have assemblies such as ‘Assembly 3: Discovery’ which includes an interview with Helen Sharman the first British Astronaut.
Space Challenges @ home
The European Space Agency (ESA) and The European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO-UK) have worked together to produce five key educational programs. For ages 4 to 18. These will be available until 4 September.
Train like an Astronaut and help Mission X mascots, Luna and Leo, walk to the Moon.
Monitor our planet using remote sensing, and describe a climate problem within an Earth Observation image.
Help astronauts make a 3D model of a research base to live and work on the lunar surface.
Make a 3D design of a mini satellite the size of a soda can.
Write a simple python program (age up to 14) or design an experiment and write the python code to carry it out with (age up to 19).
The Astro Science Challenge
Download the astrosciencechallenge.com app to be involved in an interactive space science adventure designed by the Unlimited Space Agency (UNSA) for children ages 7 to 11, with Tim Peake featuring in some of the accompanying videos.
The National Space Academy
Starting in Leicester in 2008, the National Space Academy has engaged with more than 50,000 students and nearly 6000 teachers. They have worked with many organizations, scientists, and teachers to produce resources and activities for the subjects: biology, chemistry, physics, and maths. You can find them here.
The Scout Association
The scouts have released a number of activities to do at home. In the Mission to Mars activity, you learn how to become an astronaut. Find more details here.
ESA Astronaut Tim Peake
Tim Peake: Principia
An educational program created by the UK Space Agency in support of British ESA astronaut Tim Peake’s 2015/16 Principia Mission to the International Space Station.
A number of lessons for Key Stages 1 and 2, and the Space to Earth Challenge with a set of resources and training in space.
Astro Tim Augmented Reality adventure app
Join the astronaut on the ISS. Exercise in space, and listen to fun facts, videos, and get involved with challenges.
Tim Talks Space
Watch Tim Peake talk with guests about space on the UK Space Agency’s YouTube channel.
This article was based on the "Space-related educational resources" document provided by the UK Space Agency on the UK Gov website. The original document can be found here.
This blog post will continue to be edited as we become aware of more resources.
This article was written by Chaneil James and Asante Boyce.
It was later edited by Jasper Anstey, a copywriter based in Barcelona.
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