Teaching Primary Science: Human Spaceflight
Learn how to use the topic of human spaceflight to excite and engage your pupils across the primary science curriculum.
- Duration3 weeks
- Weekly study3 hours
- 100% onlineTry this course for free
Teaching Primary Science: Human Spaceflight
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Take your pupils into orbit by using space for primary science learning
From knowing the properties and uses of the materials required for an astronaut’s spacesuit to having an understanding of diet and exercise in order to keep an astronaut healthy–human spaceflight is a rich context for learning.
On this course, you will learn how keeping humans alive in space and how our view of the Earth from space can be linked to the primary curriculum.
You will discover a variety of topics in the primary science curriculum where you can use the theme of space to engage pupils, including the STEM subjects and cross-curricular links to numeracy and literacy.
Syllabus
Week 1
The human body in space
Life on the International Space Station
By the end of this activity, you will have learnt about what it's like for astronauts on the ISS and discover some of the activities that they perform.
Gravity and orbits
In this activity, we'll explore ideas and misconceptions around the effects of gravity in space.
The effects of space on the human body
In this activity, you will learn about how astronauts train for space and the effects of space on their bodies.
Training to prepare for life in space
This activity will give you some examples of the training that astronauts must complete to train for life in space.
Food and nutrition in space
In this activity, you will learn about the types of food astronauts eat in space, and the importance of them maintaining a healthy diet.
Week 2
Materials in space
Space suits
This week we will be focusing on materials through the context of space. Why are materials and their properties so important for humans in space?
Protection against UV light
In this activity, you will learn about the electromagnetic spectrum of light and investigate how we can protect astronauts from harmful ultraviolet light.
Week 3
Looking back at the Earth
The Earth from space
In this activity, we'll be looking focusing on images taken of the Earth from space and how we can use them in the classroom.
How do we use Earth observation data?
In this activity, we will look at the many ways that the data from Earth observation satellites can be used across the globe
Reviewing your professional development
Review your professional development and plan your next steps to sustain and develop the way you plan for learning.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify opportunities across the curriculum to use space as a context for learning.
- Engage children in practical activities using the context of human spaceflight.
- Design lessons that show science in an applied context.
- Identify careers that link in to the space industry.
- Contribute to shared resources that use space as a context.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for primary school teachers of pupils aged 7-11 years old.
Who will you learn with?
ESERO-UK Teacher Fellow, working for STEM Learning, York. Using the context of space to inspire STEM teaching and learning. Teacher of physics, satellite engineer, father of two.
I spent 10 years working as a primary classroom teacher, 7 as a science subject leader. I've also supported schools as a leading science teacher before joining STEM learning as a primary specialist.
Who developed the course?
National STEM Learning Centre
The National STEM Learning Centre provides world-class professional development activities and resources to support the teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
ESERO
ESERO-UK, also known as the UK space education office, provides free resources, support and information for teachers to enhance the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) using space as a context.
Learner reviews
Join this course
Start this course for free, upgrade for extra benefits, or buy Unlimited to access this course and hundreds of other short courses for a year.
Free
$0
Join free and you will get:
Upgrade
$59
Upgrade this course and you will get:
Unlimited
(New!)
$279.99
for one year
Buy Unlimited and you will get:
Do you know someone who’d love this course? Tell them about it...
You can use the hashtag #FLSTEMPrimarySpace to talk about this course on social media.
More courses you might like
Learners who joined this course have also enjoyed these courses.
Browse more in Teaching and Science, Engineering & Maths