selection of space resources for Middle Primary.

For a quick look at what the Hub has to offer, check out the articles to the right:

  • Aotearoa New Zealand in space – an introduction curates a suite of resources created for the middle years.
  • Aotearoa in space – a context for learning provides curriculum information and other pedagogical information to help you get started.
  • Planet Earth and Beyond - the night sky lists the range of resources on the Science Learning Hub for primary teachers related to the night sky.

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For a more in depth look at individual science concepts and Hub resources to support them, read the yellow notes and browse the resources that accompany each note.

ARTICLE 

Aotearoa New Zealand in space – an introduction

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TEACHER PLD 

Aotearoa in space – a context for learning

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TEACHER PLD 

Planet Earth and Beyond – The night sky

This article lists the range of resources on the Science Learning Hub for primary teachers related to the night sky in the Planet Earth and Beyond strand of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Ministry of Education Building Science Concepts Book 28 The Night Sky presents two big ideas in science.

The first is: We order the visible stars of the night sky in the patterns that our cultures have taught us.

The concepts that support this idea and how they might build in sequence from NZC level 3 to level 4 are:

  • We call a group of stars in the sky a constellation.
  • Different cultures have their own names for patterns of stars that they see.
  • The same groupings of stars have a different appearance at different geographic locations.
  • Various cultures use the changing patterns of the night sky to measure time and to assist navigation.
  • Developments in technology now let us see objects in the night sky in more detail. They also let us 'see' things that were previously invisible.

The text is from: https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-resources/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/The-Night-Sky-Patterns-Observations-and-Traditions

The following resources support the big idea about the visible stars, patterns, cultural ideas and navigation.

ARTICLE 

Navigating without instruments – introduction

This introductory article curates many of our resources on traditional astronomical knowledge.

ACTIVITY 

Constellations in the night sky

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ACTIVITY 

Naming the whetū in Te Kāhui o Matariki

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https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-resources/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/The-Night-Sky-Patterns-Observations-and-TraditionsMinistry of Education Building Science Concepts Book 28 The Night Sky presents two big ideas in science.

The second big idea is: Our position is space governs what celestial objects we can see. The concepts that support this idea and how they might build in sequence from NZC level 3 to level 4 are:

  • Objects in the night sky are grouped and named according to their observable features and behaviours.
  • We see the stars most clearly when the night is really dark.
  • We can see some of the nearby planets, the Moon and artificial satellites because light from our star (the Sun) reflects off them.
  • Some constellations are always present in the New Zealand night sky.
  • We see meteors when the enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up.
  • Because of Earth's daily spin, the Sun appears to move across the sky during the day and the constellations appear to change position during the night.
  • We see comets when they come close enough to the Sun for their tails to grow and be lit up more.
  • As they orbit around the Sun, the planets and comets slowly change position among the star patterns.

This text is from https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/What-do-my-students-need-to-learn/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/The-Night-Sky-Patterns-Observations-and-Traditions

Use the next two activities to explore the concept: to people on Earth, the Sun appears to orbit around the Earth.

The shadows activity can be done during the school day to introduce the concept. The natural satellites activity can follow in out of school hours.

ACTIVITY 

Investigating shadows and the position of the Sun

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ACTIVITY 

Observing natural satellites

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ARTICLE 

Natural satellites

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The information in the next few articles support learning about the types of phenomena found in space.

ARTICLE 

The Moon and its misconceptions

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ARTICLE 

Comets

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ARTICLE 

To catch a comet – the Rosetta Mission

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ARTICLE 

How a Solar System is formed

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ARTICLE 

Colliding galaxies

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ARTICLE 

The mystery of black holes

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ARTICLE 

The Sun and white dwarfs

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ACTIVITY 

Red giants in the night sky

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Ministry of Education Building Science Concepts Book 27 Exploring Space presents three big ideas.

The first big idea is: Our theories about the universe and Earth's place in it have changed and developed over time.

The concepts that support this idea and how they might build in sequence from NZC level 3 to level 4 are:

  • In many cultures in the past, people commonly believed Earth to be the centre of the universe.
  • Some early scientists thought that the solar system was at the centre of the universe.
  • Scientists now believe that the solar system is only a tiny part of the universe.

The text is from https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-resources/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/Exploring-Space-Discovering-Our-Place-in-the-Universe

ARTICLE 

Our Solar System – revolutionary ideas

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https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-resources/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/Exploring-Space-Discovering-Our-Place-in-the-Universe Ministry of Education Building Science Concepts Book 27 Exploring Space presents three big ideas.

The second big idea is: Our theories about the universe and Earth's place in it are limited by what we are able to observe and think about.

The concepts that support this idea and how they might build in sequence from NZC level 3 to level 4 are:

  • To people on Earth, the Sun appears to orbit around the Earth.
  • As people were able to observe space objects and their patterns of movement more closely, they developed new ideas about Earth's place in space.
  • Scientists can test some of their theories about the universe by observing from Earth and by sending probes into space.

Text is from: https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/What-do-my-students-need-to-learn/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/Exploring-Space-Discovering-Our-Place-in-the-Universe

Ministry of Education Building Science Concepts Book 27 Exploring Space presents three big ideas.

The third big idea is: The development of new kinds of technology has expanded the ways in which people can make observations of space.

The concepts that support this idea and how they might build in sequence from NZC level 3 to level 4 are:

  • Until the telescope was invented, people could use only their unaided eyesight and existing measuring devices to observe space.
  • Telescopes enabled people to observe previously unseen space objects and their movements.
  • Space exploration technology has enabled people to find out more about the universe and Earth's place within it.

Text is from: https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-resources/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/Exploring-Space-Discovering-Our-Place-in-the-Universe

ARTICLE 

Space revealed – introduction

This article introduces our collection of resources on how New Zealand astronomers use new technologies to learn about stars and galaxies and to find new planets. Learn about our Solar System at the same time.

ACTIVITY 

Shrink the Solar System

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INTERACTIVE 

Space observatory

This interactive provides background information about 4 kinds of telescopes - 2 that operate from the surface of the Earth and 2 that operate in space - along with the type of image it is likely to show.

This information about the electromagnetic spectrum is useful for extension.

QUIZ 

Which telescope? – Quiz

This quiz uses information from the Space observatory interactive.

The online quiz provides feedback on answers. There is a paper-based version in the activity Exploring with telescopes.

Some of the science concepts are advanced, but the quiz is a fun way to extend keen learners.

ACTIVITY 

Exploring with telescopes

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ARTICLE 

Hunting galaxies far far away – here’s how anyone can ...

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ACTIVITY 

Is anything out there?

The student handout in this activity is in Word, so edit it to better meet student needs. The planet information cards are very handy and can be used as a stand-alone resource.

ACTIVITY 

Introduction to rockets and space

This activity can be used to get student to start thinking about the role of rockets and some of the things they have been used for. It is also a good opportunity for students to think about distances in space.

ARTICLE 

Fascinating astronomy

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