The postcards themselves offer material that will stretch students’ vocabulary and scientific literacy. Especially:




PostcardsFromDeepSpace
Follow Iguda, under the watchful eye of Tanno obviously, on their intergalactic explorations. This time they travel outside of the solar system. Find out what your friends discover as they visit stars, galaxies, exoplanets, dark matter, and even a black hole!
Learn MoreSchools PackagePostcardsFromDeepSpace Educational Benefits
KS3 Programme of Study:
- gravity force, weight = mass x gravitational field strength (g), on Earth g=10 N/kg, different on other planets and stars; gravity forces between Earth and Moon, and between Earth and sun (qualitative only)
- our sun as a star, other stars in our galaxy, other galaxies
- the light year as a unit of astronomical distance
- the turning effect of a force
- forces being needed to cause objects to stop or start moving, or to change their speed or direction of motion (qualitative only)
- change depending on direction of force and its size
- non-contact forces: gravity forces acting at a distance on Earth and in space
- light waves travelling through a vacuum; speed of light
- the transmission of light through materials: absorption, diffuse scattering and specular reflection at a surface
- colours and the different frequencies of light
- conservation of material and of mass
- changes with temperature in motion and spacing of particles
KS4 Programme of Study:
- Many of the Working Scientifically concepts, such as historical development of ideas and interconverting units
- electromagnetic waves, velocity in vacuum; waves transferring energy; wavelengths and frequencies from radio to gamma-rays
- the main features of the solar system.
PostcardsFromDeepSpace Content
Each card features a different location with fun facts and the next instalment of Tanno and Iguda’s story. A QR code printed on the card links to a “secret” web page detailing fun activities and further learning.
Location
Activity
Skills & Learning
Equipment needed
Deep Space
Universe Timeline
Research; history of science; drawing; scale calculations; modelling;
1.5 metres of string, paper/bulldog clips, 8 pieces of card, tape measure, pens and paper
Black Hole
Black hole Q&A
Research; internet searching; space objects; gravity; writing to a certain audience;
pens and paper
Dark Matter
Pillow marble run experiment
Video datalogging; planning; experiments; data analysis; experiment reporting
pillow case, old socks and T-shirts, small ball, pens and paper
Galaxy
Galaxy names and types / Galaxy mobile
Research; history of science; space objects; circular motion; gravity / Space objects; model making/sculpture
pens and paper
Supernova
Space detective story & space forensics animated game
Research; extracting information from text; writing to a certain audience;
pens and paper
Crab Nebula
Video precis exercise
Research; extracting information from video; writing to a certain audience;
pens and paper
Blue Ring Nebula
Make a juggling diablo**
Circular motion; angular momentum; creative artwork; craftwork; juggling
2 round plastic tubs (must be the same size & weight), string, 4 small screws, gardening secateurs, carving knife/penknife, screwdriver
Betelgeuse
Stellar life cycles poster
Research; extracting information from video; space objects; poster making
poster making materials, pens and paper
Exoplanets
Transit method experiment** / Exoplanet poster colouring
Research; datalogging; planning; experiments; data analysis / Creative artwork
lamp, sphere (eg tennis ball) smartphone; Bonus activity: drawing pens and paper
Alpha Centauri
Ruler balancing experiment
Research; circular motion; planning; turning forces; experiments
ruler, pointy object like a door wedge, various objects of different weights
Arrokoth
Make models from junk**
Research; internet searching; space objects; model making/sculpture
– junk materials (examples could include old card, paper, polystyrene, tennis balls, plastic bags, etc) pens and paper
Comet K2
Make a poster about the space missions to comets.
Research; internet searching; space objects; space missions; poster making
poster making materials, pens and paper,
**adult supervision/help required