A GROUP of primary school pupils had the “once in a lifetime opportunity” to meet a man who builds space robots last week.

As part of the Tim Peake Primary Project, children at Woodford Green Primary School in Sunset Avenue had the chance to meet Dr Simon Sheridan from the Open University’s Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research on Friday (May 13).

Dr Sheridan treated 30 Year 5 students to a crater making workshop, where they learned about the velocity and impact of meteorites and got to handle a chunk of Mars.

Science leader and Year 5 class teacher Mrs Jones said: “It was real once in a lifetime opportunity for the children to speak to someone like Dr Sheridan who makes space robots and can show them what Mars looks like.

“It’s really got them thinking seriously about science – I had one Year 4 pupil come up to me afterwards and say ‘I’m going to work really hard in maths so I can be an astronaut when I’m older.”

The Tim Peake Primary Project aims to spark school children’s interest in space by following the British astronaut’s six-month journey to the International Space Station (ISS).

Woodford Green pupils have also planted seeds from outer space as part of the project, and have been keeping a close eye on their progress since they were planted last Monday (May 9).

Tweeting earlier this month, Mr Peake said: “I love the rocket seeds updates – it’s wonderful to see them growing on Earth after I had them in space.

“They're in safe hands!”

To find out more about the project, see the website.

https://www.stem.org.uk/esero/tim-peake-primary-project