Activity set: Rockets
I would introduce the pupils to Sheila, the Hippo main character from the David Walliams bestseller, ‘The First Hippo on the Moon’. In this book, Sheila and the other animals create a rocket for her to fly to the moon, powered by dung.
This book has great humour and fun, and Sheila is a strong and creative female character -a positive model for girls in STEM learning.
I would then select on of the following activities, depending on the age and learning stage of the pupils:
1. Rocket Balloon Race
Materials Needed:
Balloons
String
Straws
Tape
Instructions:
Thread a piece of string through a straw.
Tape the string between two points in the room (e.g., between two chairs).
Blow up a balloon but don’t tie it. Tape the balloon to the straw.
Let the balloon go and watch it zip along the string like a rocket!
Discussion:
Talk about how rockets use fuel to create thrust, which pushes them into space.
2. Astronaut Training Course
Materials Needed:
Hula hoops
Cones
Pillows
Jump ropes
Instructions:
Set up an obstacle course using the materials. For example, children can jump through hula hoops, weave around cones, crawl under a string of jump ropes, and balance on pillows.
Explain that astronauts need to be physically fit and train hard to prepare for space missions.
Discussion:
Discuss the different exercises astronauts do to stay healthy in space.
3. Moon Sand Play
Materials Needed:
8 cups of flour
1 cup of baby oil (or cooking oil)
A large container
Instructions:
Mix the flour and oil in a large container to create “moon sand.”
Let children mold and shape the moon sand, simulating the surface of the moon.
Discussion:
Talk about the moon’s surface and how it’s different from Earth.
4. Design a Space Suit
Materials Needed:
Paper
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Stickers (optional)
Instructions:
Give each child a piece of paper and drawing materials.
Ask them to design their own space suit. What colors would it be? What features would it have to help them in space?
Discussion:
Discuss the purpose of space suits and what they need to include (like oxygen supply, temperature control, etc.).