Life in orbit: what it's like and how we keep people alive in space

This lesson for students aged 7-11 is about what it's like to live in space, and what needs to be done to keep people alive in space. They are based on video clips of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution, the UK's iconic science series on TV.

To use the resource, you'll need the PowerPoint presentation to show to your class, alongside the video clips, and the Teachers Guide to help you prepare.

Lesson outline
Step 1: Scene setter
A discussion exercise focusing on the human essentials for life, linked to the concept of a vehicle that delivers to the International Space Station (ISS).

Step 2: Explore through mime the effect of weightlessness
Pupils work in teams on developing mimes that explore the effect that microgravity has on everyday activities.

Step 3: Compare and contrast grid
Pupils consider the similarities and differences between emergency health care in 2 distinctly different settings – on Earth and on the ISS.

Step 4: Plenary runner game
A quick-fire true or false game looking at the how healthcare is delivered on the ISS.

Video links
Weightless experiments https://youtu.be/W8XmnWNminY
Astronaut medical kit https://youtu.be/mcqPzBKFNRg

Objectives
Children will be able to work scientifically by:
- Comparing and contrasting two settings and the implications of these differences on humans.
- Children will learn:

The essentials for life and how living on Earth provides for all human needs
- Cross-curricular opportunities:
- Medical emergency response, who, when and how.

This resource is part of Tim Peake's Principia mission education programme, supported by the UK Space Agency and ESA.