Solar System Image Making – Classroom resource booklet for 2^nd level Junior Cycle students, on the use of the free software GIMP to process raw images from robotic cameras in the solar system, particularly Perseverance on Mars and JunoCam in orbit around Jupiter.

Use this Space themed discussion toolkit to debate and discuss the future of Space:  Satellites and Space science with your class.Science Week 2021 Secondary-School-Booklet-Space

Other STEM related Toolkits are available at https://www.sfi.ie/engagement/science-week/resources/ 

SpaceWeatherForecast- secondary Space Week resource

Forecast Space Weather and then check your prediction by looking for Aurora. This guide will review how to make space weather predictions from live data collected from spacecraft.

Curricular links
Earth and Space 1 … describe the relationships between various celestial objects including … planets, stars, solar systems…
Earth and Space 8 … examine some of the hazards … of space exploration
Physical World 2 … calculate time (from distance and speed)
Physical World 3 … investigate patterns and relationships between physical observables
Physical World 4 … discuss a technological application of physics in terms of scientific and societal impact

Power from Sunlight – powering space exploration with solar energy NoS7, PW2

In this set of activities, students will learn about two concepts that influence solar panel design for space missions: the inverse square law and the angle of incidence. Students will perform two simple investigations using a photovoltaic cell (solar cell) and a light source. First, they will measure how the power produced by the solar cells varies with distance from the light source and attempt to retrieve the inverse square law for light intensity experimentally. Students will then conduct a second experiment to investigate the dependence of the power output for the solar cell with the angle of incidence. Last, they will apply these concepts to real ESA space missions.

This set of activities supports Junior Cycle Science Specification Learning Outcomes NoS7, PW2

This set of activities supports ESA’s Mooncamp Challenge competition

How to Collect Data from Astro Pi – using the Sense HAT sensors No1,9

The students will program Astro Pi to collect temperature and humidity data from the environment.  Students will simulate the humidity control system on the ISS and will also collect data from their own environment.  Students will take acceleration measurements to detect orientation and to identify the direction of gravity.  The objective is to record, analyse, and display  data using the Sense HAT sensors and basic code instructions.

This resource supports ESA’s Astro Pi competition

This resource supports Junior Cycle Science Specification NoS1,9

Meet the Sense Hat – displaying text and images on the Sense HAT LED matrix. NoS 1,9

Getting Started with Astro Pi – Using Raspberry Pi to understand programming language NoS1, 9

Could Life Survive in Alien Environments – Defining environments suitable for life E&S 8, NoS1 

Barycentric Balls – Orbits and the centre of mass E& 1,Pw3 

Cooking a Comet – Ingredients for Life E&S1, PW6

Landing on the Moon – Planning and designing a lunar lander

In this set of activities, students will plan, design, and build a landing module to secure the survival of the crew (in the form of an egg-naut) landing on the Moon. They will explore which factors should be considered when landing on the Moon, in comparison to landing on Earth.  In the design of the lunar lander, students must take risk factors and budgeting into account.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science E&S3

This activity supports ESA’s Mooncamp Challenge competition

Infrared Webcam Hack – Using infrared light to observet he world in a new way E&S 8, NoS 7

Marvel-ous Ellipses – Speed and time of orbiting bodies

After the Storm – Tracking Hurricane Matthew and analysing its impact

Students will learn how a hurricane develops and the impact that extreme weather can have on the society.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes E&S7, NoS10

This activity supports ESA’s Climate Detectives competition

The Greenhouse Effect and its Consequences – Investigating Global Warming

This set of activities includes hands-on experiments and the interpretation of satellite images for better understanding the overall effects of global warming.

These activities support Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcome E&S7

These activities support ESA/s Climate Detectives competition

Highways of the Oceans – Sea currents and the connection to climate

In this activity students will consider whether life found in extreme environments on Earth could survive elsewhere in the Solar System.

Download: Teacher’s guide and student worksheets

Sea Ice From Space – Investigating Arctic sea ice and its connection to climate