teacher resources – Discovery Diaries

Announcing the Deep Space Diary

To celebrate the launch of the Deep Space Diary, Curved House Kids and the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) are giving away 15,000 free books to UK schools.

It’s a super blue blood moon!

For the first time since 1866, on January 31st 2018 there is a pretty special lunar treat in store for us – a super blue blood moon! Let’s find out what that is.

An Astronaut Workout auf Deutsch!

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

Five ways to celebrate World Space Week 2019

Here’s five fun and easy STEAM activities to help you celebrate World Space Week 2019.

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.

Celebrate World Space Week!

October 4-10 is World Space Week and this year’s theme is ‘Space unites the world’!

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.

Cross-Curricular: STEM & Literacy

The Mars Diary is a primary science programme, but it is also so much more.

Chapter Three: Illustrator Ben Hawkes draws the ISS

Space Diary illustrator, Ben Hawkes, explains how he drew the International Space Station (ISS).

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.

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?

Mars’s missing oceans

Why did Mars change from blue to red? This video by a National Geographic explorer explains what happened.

Developed by primary teacher Claire Loizos, these student reflection sheets encourage students to recap on what they have learnt during a whole chapter of one of our programmes or after a specific activity.

What is the ExoMars rover?

Find out all about ESA’s ExoMars rover, which will travel to Mars in July 2020 to look for signs of life.

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!

Is Mars’s soil really red?

For World Soil Day we wanted to find out if the soil on Mars was really red and what makes it look that way.

Developing the Mars Diary

Just like a space mission needs many people with different skills to make it a success, the Mars Diary is a truly collaborative project involving authors, illustrators, designers, project coordinators, teaching experts and, of course, STEM experts.

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.

British Science Week 2018

To celebrate British Science Week 2018, we created a free Daily STEM Challenge for KS1/2 or equivalent!

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.

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.