Schools

Bring astronomy to life in the classroom with these engaging resources from BBC Learning, including an exclusive lesson with Professor Brian Cox.

Interactive

• Big Bang schools lesson (KS2-4)

  Professor Brian Cox presents a lesson about the Universe and answers pupils' questions in this hour-long classroom special.

• Stargazing space music

  Listen to music inspired by the 'sounds' of planets, pulsars, and even matter falling into a black hole.

Jobs with the stars (KS3)

• Tim Peake - UK astronaut

  Astronaut is the dream job for many children, but what do you need to do to be one, and what exactly do they get up to? UK astronaut Tim Peake reveals all.

• Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock - space scientist

  Some people find reading and writing more of a challenge than others. Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock tells us how she overcame her difficulties and discovered a passion for science.

• Marek Kukula - public astronomer

  Here at Stargazing we're keen to encourage people to look up at the stars, and as Public Astronomer at Greenwich Royal Observatory that's Marek Kukula's job too.

• Lewis Dartnell - astrobiologist

  Every week more exoplanets - planets that orbit distant stars - are discovered, and some could be capable of supporting life. Lewis hopes to find out what it might be like.

• Ben Boyes - Mars Rover systems engineer

  We talk to Ben Boyes, at satellite maker Astrium, who's working on the ExoMars 2018 Rover project which will one day make its way across the surface of Mars!

Blue Peter challenges

• Fruity scale model of the Solar System

  How big is space? Helen Czerski helps a group of children see the scale of the Solar System using some unusual ingredients.

• Earth, Sun and Moon orbits

  Jem Stansfield sends a group of children rotating around to figure out the orbits of our planet, our star and our nearest neighbour, the Moon.

• Phases of the Moon

  Helen Czerski helps one boy find out the about the phases of the Moon, and how you can recreate them at home or in the classroom.

• The seasons

  Why do we have seasons? Helen Czerski and two curious children investigate, with the help of a torch and a globe.

• Making rockets

  Three, two, one... blastoff! Jem Stansfield helps a group of children fire their own rockets to learn about space flight.

• Telescopes

  What is a telescope? Jem Stansfield helps a group of children make their own and use it to look to the skies.

Early years

• Little Stargazing 1: The Moon and the sea

  Where does the Moon go during the day? How come it changes shape? Why does it cause tides? Experts help the children use telescopes and answer questions.

• Little Stargazing 2: The Sun and the stars

  Two children travel to one of the darkest places in Britain to find out about the stars, planets and constellations in our galaxy.

• Little Stargazing 3: Rockets and astronauts

  We've heard of the man on the Moon, but how did he get there? Two children meet five-time shuttle astronaut Jeff Hoffman.

• Little Stargazing 4: Hunting the Northern Lights

  Where are they, what do they look like, and what causes them? The children embark on an adventure of a lifetime in Finnish Lapland.

Animated questions answered

• Can stars be different shapes and sizes?

• Will the Sun really burn out?

• How far is the Sun from Earth?

• Why are some stars different colours?

• How big is the biggest star?