Principia Space Diary Archives

Mental Health Awareness Week

May 18-24 is Mental Health Awareness Week. This is a great opportunity to explore the importance of self-care.

Share a story about the climate

From recycling to renewable energy, Earth’s health is on our agenda for Week Four of National Share-a-Story Month.

Share a story about diversity

For Week Two of National Share-a-Story Month, celebrate how richly diverse our world is.

Primary school science programme starring ESA Astronaut Tim Peake translated to inspire next generation of Welsh astronauts

Children’s publisher Curved House Kids is excited to announce that their hugely popular primary school science programme has been translated into Welsh, with a mission to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and astronauts. 3,000 copies of the Discovery Diaries will be made available to primary schools in Wales […]

Inspired by Space: Engaging Girls in STEM

A guide for educators to empowering girls so they develop a genuine interest in science.

Tim Peake: The Principia Mission

On Tuesday, 15 December 2015, ESA Astronaut Tim Peake launched into space.

Libby Jackson: Human Spaceflight and Microgravity Programme Manager

Read our Q&A with Libby Jackson, Human Spaceflight and Microgravity Programme Engineer at the UK Space Agency. Here she tells us about her career in the space industry and what inspired her as a child.

How do astronauts use the toilet in space?

Everybody wonders it, so we thought we’d answer it … just how exactly do astronauts use the toilet in space?

Star Apprentice Luke: Making great strides

We chose Luke as August’s Star Apprentice after receiving a very heart-warming note from his mother, Laura, when she applied for Luke’s graduation.

An Astronaut Workout auf Deutsch!

You’ve tried the Astronaut Workout, but have you tried it in German?

Star Apprentice Thomas and his love of Lego

Meet July’s Star Apprentice, Thomas! Thomas (11) wowed us with his superb work – especially his map and comment about going to Denmark.

Peter McOwan: Professor of Computer Science

We speak with Peter McOwan, Professor of Computer Science at Queen Mary University London. Here he tells us about his fascination with robotics and how he’s not out to rule the world.

Space Diary Graduation Certificates

Fill out the form before July 31st 2017 and get free Space Diary graduation certificates.

Meet Star Apprentice Annabelle

Meet our June Star Apprentice, Annabelle (8). Annabelle has a passion for science and was awarded a place at Portsmouth Space Conference to meet Tim Peake.

Cindy Forde: Space Communicator

We speak with Cindy Forde, a Space Communicator with a special interest in inspiring children to see their own STEM potential. Here she tells us about her career in the space industry and what she was like as a child.

Helen Sharman: Britain’s first astronaut

Find out more about Britain’s first astronaut, Dr. Helen Sharman.

Star Apprentice Harry ponders planets, pods and pollution

Meet Harry, 2017’s very first Space Diary graduate!

Star Apprentice Chloe interviewed by Levi

Meet our very first Star Apprentice: Chloe!

Astronaut training for kids

Marianne Hopwood – science teacher, STEM expert and home educator – writes about her experience of working through the Space Diary with her two boys.

Press Coverage

Here is a snapshot of the coverage of the Principia Space Diary during and after Tim Peake’s mission.

Chapter One: Richard Garriott on Being an Astronaut

To introduce us to Chapter One of the Space Diary we asked private astronaut Richard Garriott to share his experiences of going to space.

Chapter Two: Helen Sharman on how astronauts communicate in space

We interviewed Britain’s first astronaut, Helen Sharman, and asked her to explain everything about communication in space.

Disrupting Stereotypes

Our showcase of STEM experts will help students challenge their ideas of who a scientist is and what he or she does.

Year of Engineering: 2018

2018 is the UK’s Year of Engineering! Get involved with our Design Your Spacesuit activity.

Chapter Five: Professor Stephen Hawking needs our help

For Chapter Five’s video Professor Stephen Hawking asks some important questions about life on our planet, and life beyond.

Chapter Six: Space Expert Status

Congratulations on completing the Principia Space Diary, you are now officially Space Experts!

Mars Diary at the Library

Download your free Library Pack containing seven activities, perfect for running events with KS1-2 or equivalent.

Tim Peake returning to space

This just in: Tim Peake is to return to space.

Keeping Kids Motivated

Keep your students motivated, whether they’re learning at home or in the classroom.

Using our Curriculum Guides

Every child in your class is unique, so we’ve prepared ideas for differentiation for each Discovery Diary activity.

Collect Your Mission Badges!

Mission Badges are great way to incentivise students as they complete different chapters in our programmes.

Run A Spaced-Themed Event: Astronaut Workout

The first activity in the Principia Space Diary is a 5-station Astronaut Workout.

Using Zap Codes to Strengthen Digital Literacy

What exactly is a Zap code and how do you use it?

How Teacher Feedback Has Improved the Space Diary

Since launching the first edition of the Space Diary in 2015, we have received so many wonderful comments from teachers across the UK.

Teacher Feedback and Testimonials

The second edition of the Principia Space Diary is better than ever, thanks to the feedback and suggestions we have received from teachers over the course of the programme.

Become a Star Apprentice

Each month we’re looking to showcase some Star Apprentices and we want your students to help us find them!

Our Methodology: Create to Learn, Learn to Create

For those interested in pedagogical methodologies, here’s a whistlestop tour of ours.

The Principia Space Diary programme returns in 2017

Principia Space Diary is back, giving thousands of schoolchildren the chance to become space experts as they learn about British European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake’s historic space mission.

The Space Diary is back!

Principia Space Diary is back, giving thousands of schoolchildren the chance to become space experts as they learn about British European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake’s historic space mission.

Principia Schools Conference: Meeting Tim Peake

Imaging meeting Tim Peake! Students from Wellesley did just that at the Principia schools conference.

Meet the ORSAnauts

The Oxford Road Community School’s ORSAnauts watch the live stream of the Principia launch.

Add Space to your Science Week!

British Science Week 2016 has arrived! To help you celebrate, we’ve put together a list of our favourite space-related experiments for your Space Apprentices. We can’t wait to see how you celebrate Science Week. Don’t forget to use #SpaceDiary on Facebook and Twitter!

Veg in Space! Learn about Space Gardening

Growing plants in space is an important area of research – especially as we need to explore how we might be able to grow food on planets such as Mars.

Principia Space Diary to reach 30,000 UK schoolchildren

We are thrilled to announce that the UK Space Agency/ESA have extended funding of the Principia Space Diary project, doubling the number of UK primary school students who will receive copies of the book. That’s twice as many space apprentices, and twice as much fun!

Calling Awesome Teachers: Be Part of a Unique Space Mission

We’re going into space! Well, sort of…

5-Minutes with… Andrew Kuh

We speak with Andrew Kuh, Human Spaceflight and Microgravity Programme Manager at the UK Space Agency. Here he tells us about his career in the space industry and how he got to watch Tim Peake’s launch in Kazakstan.