Exhibition Tasks

Space explorers need strong bones to cope with the physical strain their bodies are subjected to when they’re out in space. The longer astronauts spend in space, the weaker their bones become due to the lack of gravitational force acting on them. Bones below the waist are most affected by low-gravity environments, and the bones located in these areas are at greater risk of losing bone density during spaceflight. It is important that astronauts train before, during and after their spaceflight to maintain strong bones throughout their lives. A diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D can also help astronauts to maintain strong and healthy bones.

Think & Try – Train Like an Astronaut is a resource that supports the ESA/ESERO school programme Mission X – Train Like an Astronaut! This is a school resource about what happens to people when they are in space with particular focus on health, diet, exercise and science. The aim of the programme is to inspire children to train like real astronauts.

Using the Think & Try – Train Like an Astronaut card, you can complete around 10 of the different physical activities featured in Mission X during a visit to Tom Tits Experiment. The students complete their cards and you can use a teacher logbook to record everything that you do so that you can then record it on the Mission X website later on (you can submit your reports between January and May each year).

The cards are suitable for primary and lower secondary levels and are relevant to the LGR 22 curricula for science studies, sports and health, and recreation. 

ESERO: MISSION X – Train Like an Astronaut

Year Groups: 1–3

Think & Try: Train Like an Astronaut for Year Groups 1–3

Teacher’s Guide for Year Groups 1–3

Teacher’s Logbook Mission X Year Groups PS–3

Year Groups: 4–6

Think & Try: Train Like an Astronaut for Year Groups 4–6

Teacher’s Guide for Year Groups 4–6

Teacher’s Logbook Mission X Year Groups 4–6

Learn about electricity and energy in different ways in our exhibition! Can you connect a closed circuit? What kinds of energy conversions are there? And what is the difference between an engine and a generator? This resource covers some scientific words and terms such as closed circuit, energy conversion, different forms of energy and much more.

Year Groups: 4–6

Think & Try – Electricity & Energy Year Groups 4–6

Teacher’s Guide for Year Groups 4–6

Use your own body to learn more about invisible technical and physical phenomena such as magnetism, gravity and gyroscopic force. With the help of five simple machines, we will take a closer look at how force is used to perform mechanical work. Lift, cycle, balance and spin – and feel the force!

Year Groups: 1–3 

Think & Try: Force & Motion for Year Groups 1–3

Teacher’s Guide for Year Groups 1–3

Year Groups: 4–6

Think & Try: Force & Motion for Year Groups 4–6

Teacher’s Guide for Year Groups 4–6

Air can be difficult to see with the naked eye, but here you will be able to both see and feel different aerial phenomena. We will experiment with everything from balls that float in air currents to vortices under the water. Air pressure, wind and the chemistry that lies behind it all will be explored with the help of some insightful questions. 

Year Groups: 4–6

Think & Try: Air Year Groups 4–6

Teacher’s Guide for Year Groups 4–6

Scattered across all floors of the building are experiments which challenge how our eyes perceive light and the world around us. Investigate how rays of light are affected by filters and mirrors. Experience light in all its colours and, if you’re brave enough – total darkness!

Year Groups: 4–6

Think & Try: Light & Vision Year Groups 4–6

Teacher’s Guide for Year Groups 4–6

Learn more about your senses of smell, sight, hearing and touch with fun experiments and thought-provoking questions. How does your body react when your bike turns in the wrong direction to what you are used to? What does it feel like to walk in total darkness without your sight to help you?

Year Groups: 1–3

Our Senses Year Groups 1–3

Teacher’s Guide for Year Groups 1–3

Explore our exhibition on the human body, CellSkapt, and use your powers of observation to answer questions about how maths, science and technology are all related and help shape our lives.

Year Groups: 1–6

Click here to download Think & Try: Maths Year Groups 1–6

Year groups: 1-3

Think & Try – Our body Year groups 1-3

Teacher's Guide for Year groups 1–3

Year groups: 4-6

Think & Try – Our body Year groups 4-6

Teacher's Guide for Year groups 4-6