Lower Primary
(age 4-8 years)
Primary School Resources
The resources listed on this page were designed for young children. They cover concepts from science- and geography-based topics but extension activities suggest links to other curriculum areas.
You may also find the materials aimed at upper-primary pupils useful.
What do trees do?
The European Space Agency (ESA) Biomass satellite mission the brainchild of science lead Shaun Quegan (NCEO, University of Sheffield) is due to be launchon 29 April 2025 from Kourou in French Guiana. It will orbit the Earth and send down radar pulses that can pass through clouds and the canopy of a forest.
In this classroom activity, students think about ways in which different parts of a tree are useful. They discuss why trees are important for us, other animals and plants. Finally, they use photographs alongside their own experience to consider how difficult it can be to count trees and find out how the Biomass satellite will help.
Pack includes: Tree picture, Ecosystem services cards, and a PowerPoint presentation
Download here: What do trees do – KS1 Information Sheet, What do trees do – KS1 Presentation
Colour in the Earth
Astronaut Tim Peake took many incredible pictures of places on Earth while on the International Space Station. This EO Detective resource uses some of these images to support children in recognising human and natural features from above.
Line drawings based on the photographs form colouring sheets that can be used individually or as a set. Each drawing emphasises and lists several features so children can create a key, effectively beginning the process of changing the photograph into a map. The booklet also includes a series of four satellite images of the British Isles at different times of year to use in discussion of weather and seasons.
Pack includes: worksheets (as a booklet), PowerPoint presentation, high-resolution images to print for display, teacher guide
Download from: STEM Learning | Colour in the Earth
ESA Education resources
Many European Space Agency Education Office resources are related to Earth observation and climate science.
You can search this page for those that best match your requirements. The Paxi videos are particularly useful for children in this age range.
Pack includes: varies
Download from: ESA
What is EO?
Earth observation (EO) scientists collect and analyse information about the Earth’s atmosphere and its surface (oceans, freshwater and ice as well as land). The many different instruments they use to do this may be based on the ground, on vehicles or ships; be carried into the atmosphere on balloons, drones or aircraft; or circle the Earth on satellites.
