Stargazers

Journey through space – the final frontier!

This half term Year 5 will take a trip to the stars, planets and suns and discover the amazing wonders of the night sky.

We’ll read information texts to find out about the Solar System and the Sun.

We will investigate the eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, sometimes using mnemonics to help us remember the facts. Year 5 will look at the Moon, a celestial body that orbits Earth and work scientifically to investigate gravity, and what happens when there is none. We will compare the times of day at different places on the Earth and get in a spin making simple models of the Solar System.

We’ll also learn about Galileo, the ‘father’ of modern astronomy and his famous astronomical discoveries. Then it’s 3, 2, 1, blast off. Build and launch a rocket for an important test mission.

Help your child prepare for their project:

• The possibilities are endless when you’re thinking about the vastness of space. Why not work together to make a papier mâché model of your favourite planet?
• You could also watch a science-fiction film or read a book to see how space is presented.
• Alternatively, visit the local library together to find fascinating non-fiction books about space.