This video shows ESA Astronaut Tim Peake spinning a ball on a string, on the International Space Station.

In this classroom activity pupils design and build a tentacle-like robotic arm that captures debris, represented by Lego pieces. Pupils then compare different sticky surfaces that will help to trap the debris and are given the opportunity to improve their designs based upon what they have learned.

ESA Climate Detectives is a school project that is open for students from the ages of 8 to 19. Teams of students, supported by their teacher, are called to make a difference by identifying a climate...

Pupils can explore the characteristics of the surface of planet Mars and will learn how to navigate a planetary robotic vehicle on to it. The resource focuses on coding and uses Open Roberta Lab which is an online simulation tool. Pupils will become familiar with the main characteristics of the Martian surface and...

In these activities, pupils are introduced to the idea of controlled or uncontrolled re-entry for satellites. They are challenged to devise a way of reducing space debris by designing alterations to satellites so that they bring themselves back to Earth. In the first activity, the students pretend to be satellites...

This resource, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explores magnetism and how it is used in a compass. It is aimed at key stage 2, but the activities would also be suitable for introducing magnetism to key stage 3.

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In this activity, pupils compare Earth and Mars in the context of geography and science. They will begin by comparing the positions of both planets in the solar system, and end by designing their own life forms that could potentially survive on Mars.

Astronauts are required to put many objects and devices together as part of their missions. Some of those are small objects that astronauts must manipulate during their stay at the International Space Station (ISS).

In this activity, teams of students will assemble a puzzle as quickly and correctly as...

Perform multi-joint weight-bearing exercises such as body-weight squats for lower body strength, and push-ups to develop upper and lower body strength. Push-ups should be done with arms extended (but not locked), and level with the chest. Students who cannot do standard push-ups should begin with bent-knee push-ups...

In August 2012, an unmanned rover touched down on the surface of Mars. NASA's Curiosity Rover was sent to take measurements of the atmosphere and martian terrain in an effort to understand more about the history of Mars and whether the planet ever...

The Deep Space Diary resources are a comprehensive series aimed at helping KS2 students find out more about our Solar System, light, colour, infrared and much more. There are six chapters that make up the Deep Space Diary; together they provide over 60 hours learning, but individual activities can also be...

‘Your telescope has captured intriguing data that we need you to analyse’

In this chapter students think about the unique signatures that come back from different objects in space, including:

• analysing infrared images and comparing them to visible light
• looking through datasets that...

‘Plan your telescope’s launch carefully, so that it reaches its destination’

In this chapter students think about the programming challenges involved in deploying a space telescope, including:

• coding a series of commands to navigate it
• encrypting and decrypting messages
• ...

‘Get started by learning about the pioneering astronomers of the past’

In this introduction chapter students describe what they would like to be to discover in the universe, and then do a series of related activities including:

• plotting a constellation,
• creating a map our Solar System...

‘Share your amazing discoveries with your fellow Earthlings, through words and images’

In this concluding chapter students are encouraged to summarise their findings from the other five chapters, by writing and illustrating a newspaper article and by creating a visual dictionary of the new scientific...