07/10/2023
Blast off into world space week: 10 fun space facts for kids!
Are you ready to embark on an out-of-this-world adventure?
World Space Week is celebrated for the 4th-10th October, it's the perfect time to ignite the curiosity of young minds about the vast and fascinating cosmos that surrounds us. From twinkling stars to mysterious planets, the universe is filled with amazing wonders waiting to be discovered.
In this blog, we're launching into a cosmic journey that will captivate kids and ignite their passion for all things space-related. Get ready to explore, learn, and celebrate World Space Week with these fun and engaging space facts tailored just for kids!
10 Fun Space Facts for kids...
The sun is a star
The Sun may look like a big, bright circle in the sky, but it's actually a giant star. It's the closest star to Earth and provides us with light and warmth.
The moon changes shape
The Moon doesn't always look the same. It goes through different shapes, called phases, like a crescent, half-moon, and full moon. This happens because of how the Sun's light shines on it.
A year on mercury is shorter than a day
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, and it spins really fast. A day on Mercury is only about 59 Earth days long, but a year (the time it takes to go around the Sun) is about 88 Earth days.
Mars has dust storms
Mars, often called the "Red Planet," sometimes has huge dust storms that can cover the entire planet. These storms can last for months and make it hard to see the surface.
Saturn's beautiful rings
Saturn is famous for its beautiful rings made of ice and rocks. These rings can be seen from Earth with a telescope, and they make Saturn look like a giant cosmic hula hoop!
Astronauts float in space
When astronauts go to space, they can float around inside their spacecraft. This happens because there's very little gravity in space, so everything becomes weightless.
The milky way galaxy
Our solar system is part of a giant galaxy called the Milky Way. It's so big that it would take over 1,000 years to fly across it in a spaceship!
Shooting stars aren't stars
When you see a shooting star, it's not a star at all. It's actually a tiny piece of rock or dust from space that burns up in Earth's atmosphere, creating a streak of light.
Pluto used to be a planet
Pluto used to be known as the ninth planet in our solar system, but scientists decided it was too small to be considered a planet. Now, it's called a "dwarf planet."
The International Space Station (ISS)
The ISS is like a space home for astronauts. It orbits Earth and is a place where scientists from different countries live and work together in space.
These space facts for kids are a great way to introduce young minds to the wonders of the universe and inspire their curiosity about space exploration. Remember, there's a whole universe out there waiting to be explored!
Rocketeers
Barracudas launched our new rocket science Skills Builder course at selected camps this Easter and summer.
We partnered with Water Rokit to design a fun and engaging course, ideal for children aged 7 - 14 years old.
With 5 progressive sessions throughout the week, they learnt about the same principles that NASA and Space X used when they launched their space rockets. Group sizes were limited to 12 children, so they got maximum opportunities for learning and development.
Supported by Barracudas staff, kids loved developing their knowledge and have fun launching their own Water Rokits.
Throughout the course they discovered how to launch a rocket into space, using their very own Water Rokit kit. They experimented and explored the elements of launch, including their crucial mission to return their astronaut safely to earth.
This course stretched their curiosity about space and expand their knowledge.
At they end they were all qualified Rocketeers. Not only that, but they got to take a Water Rokit kit home at the end!
We can't wait to run this Skills Builder course in 2024!