WEEK 5 SPACE
Activity 1: Journey through the Solar System
Activity 2: Make a Solar System in a Box
Activity 3: Moon Phases Biscuits
Activity 4: Space Rocks – Make a Comet
Activity 5: Be a Rock Detective
Activity 6: A Mission to Mars (KS2)
Activity 7: Make a Rocket
Activity 8: What have I learnt?
JOURNEY THROUGH THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Go to this Greenwich Royal Observatory website by clicking the video link below. Join him on an adventure through the Solar System.
Once you’ve watched the video, try this quiz to see how much you remember about the story and the different planets!
After you’ve finished, talk about the story:
- How do you think Ted felt about going into space?
- How would you feel if you were travelling around the universe?
- Would you like to be an astronaut?
MAKE A SOLAR SYSTEM IN A BOX
MATERIALS REQUIRED.
Watch the video tutorial abovemade by the Greenwich Royal Observatory to find out how to make the Solar System in a box!
If you don’t have all the materials listed in the video, here are some ideas for substitutes:
- you could use blue-tak instead of plasticine
- you could use a scrunched-up ball of baking paper instead of the ball in the middle
- you could substitute the torch for a lamp if you cut a hole in the bottom of your box and hold the box above your lamp
As you are making the Solar System, talk about the different planets:
- Is this a rocky planet or a gas giant?
- Is this planet made of gas or rocks?
- Can you remember how many moons each planet has?
- How hot or cold do you think this planet is compared to Earth?
- How do you think Earth days compare to a day on another planet?
- What do you think shadows are like on each planet?
Check your answers by scrolling down to the bottom of this Royal Museums Greenwich webpage where you can find a Fact File for each planet.
Read the fact files to check your answers and see how much you know about the planets in our Solar System (and in your Solar System box).
Make Top Trump cards for each planet!
MOON PHASES BISCUITS
MATERIALS REQUIRED
Watch the above video to learn about why we see the moon in different phases.
Now it’s time to make the phases of the moon in biscuits! Go to this Science Bob webpage to find out how.
After you’ve got all of the main stages of the moon in biscuit form, go to this ‘StarDate’ webpage and find out what the moon will be like on different days.
You could find out what phase the moon was in, or will be in,…
- on the day you were born.
- on you your next birthday.
- for Eid this year.
- on Christmas Day 2020.
- when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon on 20th July 1969.
Point to the biscuit that represents the moon phase for each day you look up, and try to remember what we call that phase. For example, “My birthday will be a waxing crescent moon”.
Listen to this episode of the ‘Homeschool History’ podcast, hosted by Greg Jenna of the Horrible Histories television series.
SPACE ROCKS – MAKE A COMET
Go to the above Royal Museum of Greenwich website and watch the video to learn all about comets and meteors.
After watching, have a look at this online worksheet. Can you name the different types of space rocks? If you can’t remember, go back and watch the video again to see if you can find the answers.
Now it’s time to make your own comet by following this guide from the NASA Space Place website – but read the extra challenge below before you go there.
*If you don’t have ribbon, cut long strips of paper and tape them together to make your tails*
Extra Challenge
The instructions say to cut your ribbons in the following way – “Cut five pieces of ribbon: two long pieces, two medium pieces, and one short piece.”
Add an extra challenge to your project by trying the following:
1. First cut your short ribbon
2. Make your medium ribbon three times as long as your short ribbon
3. Make your long ribbon twice as long as your medium ribbon
You can fold your ribbons over to help you!
BE A ROCK DETECTIVE
MATERIALS REQUIRED
Go out to the garden or to the local park and collect some rocks. You’re going to do some experiments using water, vinegar or lemon, and your finger nail to see if you can work out what kinds of rocks you have collected.
Now it’s time to be a rock detective! Go to this website from We the Curious to learn all about rocks. It takes you through a few activities including:
- Learn about the three main types of rocks
- Learn about rocks in the ground in Bristol
- Do an experiment with the rocks that you’ve collected and use a flow chart to work out what types of rock you have found!
Once you have worked out what rocks you have, make labels for your rocks and create a mini museum in your house. Show people around and pretend that you are a guide in the museum!
A MISSION TO MARS (KS2)
Watch this video below from the Royal Observatory Greenwich about what it would be like to go on a mission to Mars.
Then watch the videos of astronauts in space and really imagine what it would be like to be an astronaut on the first mission to Mars.
- How do you feel being in Space?
- What do you miss from Earth?
- What food have you been eating?
- How have you been spending your days?
- Have you been doing any experiments?
- How does it feel on Mars?
- How is it not having any gravity when you’re in your spaceship?
- Have you climbed Valles Marineris or Olympus Mons yet?
- What is it like looking at Phobos and Deimos – Mars’ two moons?
- How long are you going to stay on Mars?
- Are you looking forward to coming home?
Afterwards, write a diary entry all about your time in space.
MAKE A ROCKET
MATERIALS REQUIRED
Watch this online guide and make your own rocket that flies up into the air!
WHAT HAVE I LEARNT?
Draw 3 shapes (stars, circles, blobs) on a piece of paper. Write the following headings in each one for your child:
- Things I’ve learnt this week
- My favourite activity and why
- What do I want to learn next?
Help your child to write some thing in each one, or let them fill them in.
