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World Space Week takes place every year from 4th – 10th October and is celebrated globally to highlight the incredible achievements and future possibilities in space exploration.
This year, the focus is on Space and Sustainability, exploring the future of space exploration and how we can ensure it benefits all of humanity without harming our planet.
It's the perfect opportunity to engage children in exciting space-themed activities while encouraging them to think about the role of space in creating a better, more sustainable future.
Space and Sustainability: Fun and Inspiring Activities!
You will likely already have some exciting ideas, but here are a few more activities that you could add to your list:
1. Why These Dates?
To help children understand the significance of these dates, you could have a class discussion, or children could carry out some research to explore the following:
• October 4th, 1957: What was Sputnik 1? Why was it so important?
- • October 10th, 1967: What is the Outer Space Treaty? How does it protect space?
After learning about these two key events, children could create their own timeline of important space-related dates or draw and label Sputnik 1 to see how the space journey began.
2. Design a Sustainable Space Station
Ask children to draw or build their own space station using simple materials like paper, cardboard, and recycled items. Encourage them to think about how astronauts could live in space while being environmentally friendly. You could ask questions like:
• How will they get food?
- • What will they do with waste?
- • How will they get power (solar panels, for example)?
3.Recycled Rockets
Set up a fun activity where children work in pairs or small groups to build rockets using recycled materials. They can then talk about why it’s important to reuse and recycle materials both on Earth and in space.
4. Rocket Trip with a Green Twist
Take an imaginary rocket trip together (visiting the Moon or another planet) and ask the children to think about how they would take care of the environment there.
5. Astronaut Research
Find out about real-life astronauts, including those who have shown a deep concern for Earth’s protection and environmental sustainability, such as: Chris Hadfield, Mae Jemison, Nicole Stott, Luca Parmitano.
You could provide children with pictures of these astronauts and include simple facts about their experiences and messages.
pH Primary Science: Earth and Space
Try the new Earth and Space unit from pH Primary Science, available
for FREE until the end of October.
