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The School of Physics and Astronomy has produced a number of resources in collaboration with science made simple, Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO), STFC and others. Here are a few which are particularly designed for use in the classroom.
You can jump to Astronomy, Gravitational waves or Physics resources.
Astronomy
Lifecycle of stars
Explore the lifecycle of stars in an interactive Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
Online activity; Printable activity
14-16 16-18 >18
Life cycle of stars; Digital Literacy; Numeracy
Chromoscope
Chromoscope lets you explore our Galaxy (the Milky Way) and the distant Universe in a range of wavelengths from gamma-rays to the longest radio waves.
Web-tool
11-14 14-16 16-18 >18
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Space Telescope Designer: Online Activity
Design your own space telescope, based on a range of “mission scenarios”. You need to select the size of the mirror, the instruments, from where it will be launched, where it will orbit, and even the rocket you’ll use.
Online activity
14-16 16-18 >18
Electromagnetic Spectrum; Satellite; Literacy ; Digital Literacy
Satellite Builder
The UK Space Agency is planning its next satellite mission. They’ve asked you to help design it! Your role is to design and launch a satellite that can perform a specific role related to communications, navigation or earth observation. You’ll need to select the size of your satellite along with its instruments and power supply. Once it’s completed, you’ll need to design a rocket capable of launching your satellite into orbit – will you succeed? This app provides a range of difficulty levels depending on the age and/or ability of the students.
Online activity
7-9 9-11 11-14
Astronomy; Space; Satellites; Digital Literacy
CMB Simulator
Adjust the parameters of your simulated Universe and see their effects on the Cosmic Microwave Background. Can you recreate our real Universe, as measured by the Planck Satellite?
Web-tool
14-16 16-18 >18
Cosmic Microwave Background; Dark Energy; Dark Matter
Multiwavelength Universe: Online Activity
What do different astronomical objects look like when seen in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum? Match them up and explore the differences using this online activity.
Online activity
7-9 9-11 11-14 14-16 16-18
Electromagnetic Spectrum; Literacy; Digital Competancy
Multiwavelength Universe (printable)
What do different astronomical objects look like when seen in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum? Match them up and explore the differences using these printed resources.
Printable activity
7-9 9-11 11-14 14-16 16-18
Electromagnetic Spectrum; Literacy; Digital Competancy
Agent ExoPlanet
Find and investigate exoplanets using data from the LCO’s network of telescopes.
Online activity
14-16 16-18
Exoplanets; Numeracy; Digital Literacy
Gravity and Cosmology
Ranging from scales in the Universe, to how we measure the masses of stars and planets from observations, to Dark Matter and the Cosmic Microwave Background, this group of resources encompasses a large range of topics.
Computer-based activity
14-16 16-18 >18
Gravity; Scales of the Universe; Numeracy; Redshift; Dark Matter
Teapots From Space
Video podcasts detailing the reports created by alien life when Earth is attacked by Teapots from Space.
Podcast/Video
11-14 14-16 16-18
Astronomy; Fun learning
Messier Bingo
Play Bingo with astronomical objects. Discover the different appearances of planetary nebula, galaxies, supernovae and star clusters by playing this fun game
Online activity
7-9 9-11 11-14 14-16 16-18
Astronomy; Fun Learning
Space Scoop
News from across the cosmos for kids all around the world! (Suitable for ages 8+)
News service
7-9 9-11 11-14 14-16
Topical Science
Mysteries of the Cold Universe
Find out why we need to view stars from space and what scientists hope to discover in this interactive show created by science made simple.
School Show
11-14 14-16 16-18
Electromagnetic Spectrum; Satellite
Pythagorean Astronomy
A monthly astronomy podcast covering astronomy news from around the world
Podcast/Video
11-14 14-16 16-18
Topical Science
Cosmic Infographics
A series of interactive infographics exploring a wide range of space topics, from interplanetary missions to the planetary atmospheres.
Web-tool
9-11 11-14 14-16 16-18 >18
Astronomy; Digital Literacy; Topical Science
Cosmos in your Pocket
A little activity book that includes all sorts of creative, artsy activities related to our night sky; design your own constellations, write an ode to your favourite planet or draw a portrait of the Moon. Alternately, just learn some fun facts about the Universe that will impress your friends!
Activity booklet (print)
7-99-11
Science, Space, English, Literacy
Telescope in your Pocket
This activity book includes all range of fun astronomy activities based on the exciting topics of robotic telescopes and exotic astronomical objects. Students are invited to learn how telescopes work, design a comic that takes them on a trip to outer space and play a game of galactic spot-the-difference.
Activity booklet (print)
7-99-11
Science, Space, English, Literacy, Robotics, Geography
Hubble’s Expansion of the Universe
This activity involves using observations of Type Ia supernovae to calculate how quickly the Universe is expanding and how old it is using Hubble’s Law. Students are able to analyse pre-packaged data sets of can even open their own telescope account with us to perform their own observations.
Computer-based activity
14-16 16-18
Space, Physics, Redshift, Universe Expansion, IT, Numeracy, Graph Plotting
Hands On Universe
An activity booklet freely available for schools, produced by STFC in collaboration with many others. To order free booklets visit the STFC Public Engagement Publications page.
Activity booklet (print)
7-99-11
Space, Science
Universe in the Classroom Activities
To help you inspire and educate young students with the wonders of the cosmos, Universe in the classroom offers a series of educational activities. The teacher guides include a step-by-step walk through and all necessary scientific information so that you can implement the activities without carrying out any background research.
Activity guide
7-99-11
Space, Science, Literacy, Numeracy, Geography, Technology, ICT
Universe in the Classroom Welsh Activities
To help you inspire and educate young students with the wonders of the cosmos, Universe in the classroom offers a series of welsh language educational activities. The teacher guides include a step-by-step walk through and all necessary scientific information so that you can implement the activities without carrying out any background research.
Activity guide
7-99-11
Space, Science, Literacy, Numeracy, Geography, Technology, ICT
Statistics of Galaxies
A collection of resources to help students improve their skills in certain statistics topics via application, as well as hoping to inspire an interest in astronomy in the process. Students classify galaxies according to their shape and/or colour and then to investigate certain statistical properties, to draw conclusions about the nature of galaxies, as well as the relationship between sample size and the accuracy of results
Printable Activities
11-14 14-16
Maths, Statistics, Astronomy, Galaxies.
Hubble’s Law
A collection of resources to help students improve their lab skills (particularly graphical analysis) via application, as well as hoping to inspire an interest in astronomy in the process. Students investigate Hubble’s Law using Type Ia supernovae data, to draw conclusions about the expanding Universe, as well as the inaccuracy of Hubble’s Law and the relationship between sample size and the accuracy of results.
Printable Activities
16-18
Physics, Lab, Astronomy, Cosmology, Supernovae, Graphical Analysis
Gravitational Waves
Black Hole Hunter
Can you detect a gravitational wave? In Black Hole Hunter, your objective is to listen to gravitational wave detector data and determine whether or not you can hear the given gravitational wave signal in the sound file, or whether it is just noise.
Online activity
11-14 14-16 16-18 >18
Black Holes; Gravitational Waves; Fun Learning
Black Hole Bubble Plot
LIGO is by no means the first experiment to detect black holes, with x-ray measurements suggesting their presence. This simple web-tool compares the sizes and masses of known black holes.
Web-tool
14-16 16-18 >18
Black Holes; Gravitational Waves; Scientific Data
LIGO Compact Binary Catalogue
The LIGO measurements reveal an awful lot about the black holes in the detected systems. This web-tool allows you to explore what we know in the form of an interactive graph.
Web-tool
14-16 16-18 >18
Gravitational Waves; Topical Science
Gravoscope
Based on Chromoscope, Gravoscope shows the locations on the sky that detected gravitational waves originated.
Web-tool
14-16 16-18 >18
Gravitational Waves
LIGO Classroom Activities
A range of classroom activities created by the LIGO community
Various
14-16 16-18 >18
Gravitational Waves; Digital Literacy
LIGO Science Summaries
Summaries of the LIGO science and technology explained for a general audience
News service
14-16 16-18 >18
Topical Science
Physics
Pitch Perfect Physics
Investigate the relationship between frequency and wavelength leading to the equation c = frequency x wavelength using fun demonstrations based on sound.
Printable activity
14-16
Sound; Waves; Practical Physics
There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question comic
This comic aims to empower kids to see themselves as scientists, and the key to making that happen is to encourage them to ask questions. The idea behind this comic is to show children that questions which seem like they might be ‘stupid’ can lead to real scientific discoveries, and are not stupid at all!
Comic
7-99-1111-1414-18
Science, Equality & Diversity, Literacy
