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The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest manmade object in space.
It took the combined effort of 16 countries to build. including Russia, USA, Canada, Japan and members of ESA (the European Space Agency).
The first part of the station was sent into space in 1998, and the first people to stay on the station arrived in 2000.
The station is like a laboratory in space. Many different experiments take place inside and outside the station.
The station flies at a speed of 27,700 km/h and orbits the Earth 16 times a day. It orbits at an approximate height of 350 km and when skies are clear it can be seen from Earth.
Tim Peake spent an eventful and busy six months in space. Can the children imagine that they are Tim on board the International Space Station writing a letter home, explaining what it is like on board and what they miss about home?
Astronauts eat three meals a day on the International Space Station, just as they do on Earth, but there are some difficulties with eating in space.
Print and fold this useful little booklet then use to record what you learn about the International Space Station, or for any space project. You can find our booklet folding instructions here.
What do your children know about the International Space Station? Test them with this fun cloze worksheet. Read the text and fill in the missing words from the word bank.
Here's a colouring page that will appeal to kids who love everything to do with space! Can they carefully colour in this picture of the International Space Station?
This International Space Station colouring page is perfect for older kids - there's a fantastic view of the earth down below to colour in too!
Here's a space-themed activity with a difference! Can the children colour in this postcard of the International Space Station and then write it pretending they've been there? Or you could send it to someone after a visit to a space exhibition?
Perhaps the kids can use this International Space Station newspaper writing prompt to write about a space walk like the one astronaut Tim Peake completed, or write a creative story set on board the ISS?
Use our International Space Station notebooking page for your space-themed writing projects. We have two different page designs, one with space for a diagram or drawing,
Here's a fun writing project if you're learning about space as a topic. Can the kids write a postcard pretending that they have just visited the International Space Station?
This poster of the International Space Station is perfect for a space-themed display! Print using the borderless settings on your printer for the best results.
This International Space Station poster is perfect to print and display as part of a space topic, or to put up in a space-themed bedroom!
What do you know about the International Space Station? Can you imagine visiting it and looking back at the earth? We have two printable story paper pages each with a picture of the International Space Station to colour in - one with handwriting lines and one lined.
You've probably picked up tourist leaflets when you've been on holiday and in tourist information centres, and here's a chance for the kids to design their own tourist leaflet for the International Space Station! Can they write about what there is to see and do there?
Do your own research to write a factfile on the International Space Station or perhaps you could use our writing page to write a story?
Here's a worksheet that's lots of fun but gets the kids thinking too. Can they imagine they have to pack this suitcase for a 3-month stay on the International Space Station or in a spacecraft? They'll need to really think carefully about each item!
"Life in orbit is spectacular." Tim Peake is lucky enough to speak from experience after his space travels! Print this quote poster using the borderless settings on your printer for the best results.
