Free teacher web sites for Science topic ‘Physics - Earth and beyond’
Keep your feet on the ground for this topic, it's hard to when there's planet facts, virtual solar systems and stars and planets waiting to be explored! Includes space and space travel, 3,2,1 Blast off!
A simulation of the earth sun and moon
A simple simulation which demonstrates movements of the earth sun and moon very well.
External link: A simulation of the earth sun and moon
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Challenging space activity
Challenge your brightest to match the evidence to the facts. Questions such as; Why do we get summer and winter? This is a Word document.
External link: Challenging space activity
- suitable for class use
Differences between light and dark
Name the differences in this picture. Great for infants.
External link: Differences between light and dark
- suitable for class use
Earth and space activities
The solar system, our moon, the earth in a day and a year are includes in this HyperStaffs site. Lovely use of a notebook to record your ideas. Make sure you are using Internet Explorer, not Firefox for this one. This site requires the use of Flash so make sure you have the correct plug-in from Adobe.
External link: Earth and space activities
- suitable for class use
Earth, moon and sun movements
A great simulation from BBC clips.
External link: Earth, moon and sun movements
- suitable for class use
Eclipse pictures
Click on the text links lower down the page to see eclipse pictures. There's also a great idea for viewing n eclipse - in safety!
External link: Eclipse pictures
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Images from Space
A wonderful collection of images from Space, lots to look at and talk about.
External link: Images from Space
- suitable for class use
Images of spacecrafts and rockets
A delightful collection of superior quality images of science and technology inventions linked to Space.
External link: Images of spacecrafts and rockets
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Light and Dark around the globe - LIVE!
Light and dark. Click on the "make interactive" button then you'll see the earth - clickable to find your location - showing light and dark - updated every 5 mins. You will need Java for this to work.
External link: Light and Dark around the globe - LIVE!
- suitable for class use
NEM gallery - Space Exploration
Lunar modules and probe images can be accessed here.
External link: NEM gallery - Space Exploration
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Pattern of the shape of the moon through lunar month
Science net links presents a lunar challenge. This supports a tricky concept by using pictures of stages of the moon through te lunar month.
External link: Pattern of the shape of the moon through lunar month
- suitable for class use
Planet simulation
Watch the planets orbit the sun and see a very simple and effective demonstration of why we get night and day. Very good Toftwood site.
External link: Planet simulation
- suitable for class use
Planet size comparison
Science net links allows you to compare with images. For an out-of-this-world for wow factor!
External link: Planet size comparison
- suitable for class use
Planets activities
Lovely e-chalk sequence planets, name planets, planet size and database are all here for you to enjoy. Works like a dream.
External link: Planets activities
- suitable for class use
Space adventure
More of a focus on the game than learning. But when you get to the learning bits it's top notch. Lots of animations and bits to read. Great for KS2.
This activity requires the free Adobe Flash player plug-in for your web browser. Click here to get the plug-in (you may need to be logged in to your computer as an administrator to continue).
External link: Space adventure
- suitable for class use
Space information
Simple glossary to help children and teachers with space related vocab.
External link: Space information
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Space powerpoint presentation
A pleasing NWN powerpoint, ideal for upper KS2. Please ensure you have powerpoint or powerpoint viewer installed before using this resource.
External link: Space powerpoint presentation
- suitable for class use
Space quiz
Great end of unit quiz which most upper KS2 pupils should find a breeze!
External link: Space quiz
- suitable for class use
Studying the stars
Look to the stars! The Jodrell bank observatory - pictures of the stars and telescopes.
External link: Studying the stars
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Virtual solar system
Take a tour of the planets and build your own world - for when our sun dies. And you thought year 6 marking was a big job! You will need the Shockwave player - available for download here.
External link: Virtual solar system
- suitable for class use
Where is it night now?
Go for the map of the earth link in the text part of the page (first one) to see a map of the world as it can be seen now! This very minute! Wow, great for teaching night and day.
External link: Where is it night now?
- suitable for class use