Teaching Primary Science: Exploring Space from FutureLearn

In this course, you’ll discuss with other teachers and draw upon a range of resources to develop your approach to teaching primary science with the context of space exploration. You will look at how to: Completion of this course can be used as evidence for the Space Education Quality Mark in the UK. Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for primary teachers of children aged 5-11 years. The course is aligned to the English National Curriculum, but teachers of other curricula will be able to explore how the topic of space exploration supports your pupil’s learning. You can use the hashtag #FLSTEMPrimarySpace to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

engage children in working scientifically
learn about current and future space missions and how they can be linked to the curriculum
investigate forces and mechanisms in robotics
explore practical activities based upon the search for exoplanets
explore careers in space research and industry
find out about how we can explore space using telescopes

Reviews summary

Engaging space science for primary teachers

According to students, this course is a highly practical and engaging resource for primary teachers looking to teach science through the context of space exploration. Learners appreciate the abundance of actionable strategies and hands-on activities that are directly applicable in the classroom, making it easier to integrate complex topics. The course is praised for its well-structured content, covering current and exciting space missions, robotics, and careers, which helps to build confidence, especially for new educators. While the forum discussions are a significant positive, some experienced learners found the scientific depth to be too basic, suggesting it's best suited for those new to teaching primary science.

Some video content may appear older, but doesn't detract.

"Some of the videos felt a bit dated, but the overall content quality was high."

"I agree with other comments that some videos could be updated, but it doesn't detract significantly from the overall value."

Explores current space topics and career opportunities.

"I particularly enjoyed the focus on current missions and the career aspects, which really captivated my students."

"The exploration of exoplanets and space missions felt very current and exciting."

"The information on careers was a nice touch."

Builds confidence and provides a strong foundation for beginners.

"As a new primary teacher, this course was a godsend. It provided me with so many creative ways to teach complex science concepts..."

"I feel much more confident now in planning and delivering science lessons on space."

"It's probably best suited for teachers who are completely new to teaching science or need a quick refresh."

Discussions with peers enhance the learning experience.

"The discussions with other teachers were incredibly insightful."

"The forum discussions were active and provided good opportunities to share ideas."

"The collaborative aspect, discussing with other teachers, was a huge plus."

"The forum discussions added a lot of value, allowing for peer learning."

Offers many directly applicable ideas for teaching.

"The activities are practical and engaging, making it easy to bring space into the classroom."

"It provided me with so many creative ways to teach complex science concepts to young children. The focus on hands-on activities... was excellent."

"The content is highly relevant for primary educators and the examples provided are directly applicable in the classroom."

"I found the practical activities useful... It's full of creative ideas and helps integrate space into the curriculum seamlessly."

May lack advanced scientific detail for those with prior knowledge.

"I found some of the material to be a bit basic for my level of experience. While it offers practical activities, I was hoping for more in-depth scientific explanations."

"I felt this course was too simplistic. As someone with a strong science background, I was looking for something that would challenge me more..."

"The scientific content itself was quite superficial. It felt more like an introduction to teaching rather than a deep dive into space."

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