Mission to Mars is ideal for children aged from 7 to 11 years.
particularly Years 5 and 6   (Primary 6 and 7 in Scotland)

The space theme is used to investigate Gases, Forces and Chemical Reactions - as well as our Solar System. Activities include:

Martian Air - make some air which is just like the air on Mars - and see what effect it has on a candle.

Space Food - the children can sample some Space Strawberries and Space Ice Cream, and compare the taste and texture with that of ordinary strawberries and ice cream. (They also get to find out how what proportion of a normal strawberry is just water.)

Exploding Rockets - these small rockets will make sure your lesson goes with a bang. We also use them to explore how changing quantities, temperature, etc affects the chemical reaction which powers the rocket.

Rocket Balloons - another fantsatic fun activity. The rocket balloons can travel right across the classroom, guided by a length of thread. We use them to explore the forces on a real rocket - and compare the difference in the way that gases are used to power the Exploding Rocket and the Rocket Balloon.

Solar System - comparing the sizes and distances between the planets - from models which fit on a classroom wall to ones which need a whole playground!

Space Cornflakes - exploring the relationship between mass and weight by taking our breakfast cereals to different planets.

The pack includes the following:

Worksheets - in a spiral bound book so that they can be easily photocopied. There is a worksheet to accompany most of the experiments - and in some cases there are different worksheets so that the same activty can be use with pupils of different age or ability.

Teacher Notes also in a spiral bound book. Detailed notes describe how to perform the experiment and how to use the worksheets. They also provide an in-depth discussion of the science behind the activity - and in many cases suggest further extensions to the activity.

CD ROM contains printable pdf versions of all the Worksheets and Teacher Notes.

Space Food - inlcudes 1 packet of Space Strawberries and 2 packets of Space Ice Cream - enough for a class of 30-35 children.

High Pressure Film Canisters to make sure your Exploding Rockets really go off with a POP!

Rockets Balloons, Balloon Pump and Kite String - in fact everything you need to perform the Rocket Balloon experiment.

Tealight Candle - ideal for the Martian Air experiment.

Samples of Worksheets and Teacher Notes

Note on CE Marking - whilst many of the items included in this Instant Science pack carry a CE Marking, under current CE Marking regulations, 'Products intended for use for educational purposes in schools and other padagogical contexts under the surveillance of an adult instructor, such as science equipment' are not considered as toys, and therefore do not require a CE Marking.