Category: Classroom Resources

ISS Commander’s Log with Andreas Mogensen

ISS Commander’s Log with Andreas Mogensen The ISS is a laboratory, where we can conduct scientific research and technology development. The scientific research broadens our understanding of our world, providing deeper insights into physics, chemistry, biology and more. It expands our knowledge, which in turns helps us all on Earth. The ISS is also an […]

Spacecraft Materials Kit

Brief description:  Pupils can use the ESA Spacecraft Materials Kit to experimentally investigate a variety of different materials. A set of five activities enables pupils to get acquainted with the properties of different materials, comparing and grouping everyday materials based on: electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, mass, magnetism, and resistance to impact. Pupils will consider which materials are best […]

Tell-tale signs of a shooting star – Comets, meteors and craters in the Solar System

Brief description: To many ancient civilisations, the tale of a shooting star was an omen of things to come. In this series of activities, pupils will learn that a shooting star or meteor is actually a piece of rock that lights up as it travels through the Earth’s atmosphere. They will also learn why this […]

Up up up! Build and launch your own rocket

Brief description: In this set of four group activities pupils build three different rockets. The first is a simple paper rocket powered by blowing into a straw, the second is a more complex paper rocket powered by squeezing a water bottle, and the third is a chemical rocket. Pupils will launch their rockets to investigate […]

Astronaut Logbook: A week in the life of an astronaut with Samantha Cristoforetti

Astronaut Logbook: A week in the life of an astronaut with Samantha Cristoforetti Your Mission: Follow Samantha’s routine at the ISS for one week and compare her daily tasks to yours. Observe your everyday routine and keep a record of it. Brief description:   In this logbook activity set, students will learn about a typical […]

Teach with the Moon

ESA’s Teach with the Moon webpage. A collection of lunar resources for teachers and educators.

Extracting Water from Lunar Soil – Learning about filtration and distillation

Brief description: In this resource, students will learn about changes of state of matter using water on the Moon as an example. They will interpret data from a pressure vs. temperature graph for water to enable a discussion about how changes of state are different on the Moon compared to what we are used to […]

Power from Water – How to produce oxygen and hydrogen on the Moon

Brief description: In this set of three activities, students will learn about electrochemistry. In the first activity, they will build a voltaic pile – a simple battery. This invention marked the beginning of electrochemistry. Students will then study electrolysis. Electrolysis uses electric current to split water into its components: hydrogen and oxygen. These products can […]

Landing on the moon – Planning and designing a lunar lander

Brief description: In this set of activities, students will plan, design and build a landing module to secure the survival of the crew (in the form of an egg-naut) landing on the Moon. They will explore which factors should be considered when landing on the Moon, in comparison to landing on Earth. In the design […]

3… 2…1… Lift off! – Building your own paper rocket

Brief description: In this set of 3 activities, students will design and build their own paper rockets and launch them. They will learn what it takes in order for a rocket to be stable and they will calculate the rocket’s trajectory and velocity. They will learn about the velocity required to leave Earth in a […]