World Space Week Schools Special

Full description

Key Stage 2 school classes are invited to join The Common Room and The Sill this World Space Week for a carousel of space and STEM activities!

About this event

To mark World Space Week, The Common Room and The Sill will be running two activities in a carousel format: Engineering for Space with The Common Room and Dark Skies Assembly with The Sill.

This event is for school groups only and is ideally suited to classes studying in Key Stage 2.

Engineering for Space with The Common Room

60-minute carousel session

Space is an unforgiving, massive environment full of dangers. Even getting there in the first place is a near-impossible challenge, let alone surviving once we get there, or then exploring the vast expanse above us. Engineering is all about using our skills and ideas to overcome those challenges. Each of the session’s activities is a chance for you to think like one of those engineers:

– Space Materials Challenge: Many objects in our lives today only exist because engineers worked to overcome challenges to life in space. Which of these do you think were invented for space travel? Why? Why not?

– LEGO Martian Explorers: NASA’s Perseverance rover has been exploring the surface of Mars in new ways. For the very first time, engineers designed a machine that could fly across the Martian surface, the Ingenuity drone. You are going to build that drone, out of LEGO.

– James Webb Origami: The James Webb telescope is going to unfold itself, at a distance far further than any human has ever travelled, and look into deeper parts of space than we have ever seen. You are going to make its mirrors.

Dark Skies Assembly with The Sill

45-minute assembly

How many of us have truly seen a dark sky? In this interactive school assembly, pupils will learn how and why the National Park protects the darkness of the night sky, including how darkness is measured, the issues around light pollution, nocturnal animals, and the different constellations that can be seen at different times of year. The assembly will also include information on where to go to get the best view of the night sky, and some tips for any budding astronomers who would like to get outside for some stargazing!

Event timings

Date: Friday 8^th October 2021

Times: 10am – 12pm, 1pm – 3pm

Booking information

This event is for school groups only and is ideally suited to classes studying in Key Stage 2. Schools are invited to book their class on either the morning or the afternoon timeslot, which will include both activities. Teachers are asked to book a place for each student attending.

If you have any queries or issues with booking, please contact lucy.stockdale@thecommonroom.org.uk

Additional information

Location: The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE

Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.

Our building is fully accessible – if you have any queries about accessibility, please contact lucy.stockdale@thecommonroom.org.uk

In line with updated government advice, all visitors over the age of 16 will be asked to scan the NHS QR code or provide their name and contact details on arrival at The Common Room. Smartphone users can download the NHS COVID-19 app before arrival.

The Common Room is taking a number of precautions to mitigate the risk to the public regarding COVID-19. Visitors will be required to wear a face-covering (unless they have a medical exemption) and to practice social distancing. For further information on our COVID-19 protocol please visit our home page: thecommonroom.org.uk

About The Sill

The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre is a hub for the rural economy; a laboratory; centre and base for education from primary to tertiary level; a driver for the Northumberland economy; a celebration and a reminder of the importance of landscape in understanding who we are as a nation, and a place to emphasise the importance of its care. Their vision is to transform how people connect with landscape and to inspire a new generation and generations to come.