Years 7-8

Year Group: Years 7-8

Explore Matariki in 3D

This interactive experience allows students to move through the cluster and explore the three-dimensional structure of Matariki from different perspectives, helping develop a deeper understanding of astronomical scale, distance and

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Heliacal Rising

Heliacal rising of stars is a phenomenon used for millennia to mark time. What is it and what are some examples of stars that different cultures, including Māori used to

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Image of Open Cluster of stars

Life Cycle of Stars

The night sky is full of stars, and our own Sun is the nearest star to us. Stars seem to last forever, the patterns they make in the sky don’t

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a picture of the galaxy NGC 1313

Light Speed

The distances in space are enormous, and the time that it takes to travel, even within our Solar System, between celestial objects is huge. Science fiction gives us warp drives

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All Teaching Resources

the mission patch from Mark Rocket's space flight
The First New Zealander in Space: A Conversation with Mark Rocket
What does it feel like to leave Earth, experience weightlessness and see our planet surrounded by the immense...
The Sun
Kepler's Second Law of Planetary Motion
Explore Kepler's Second Law through an interactive orbital simulation. Investigate how a planet's speed changes throughout its elliptical...
Mars and Saturn
Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion
This page demonstrates Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion with an interactive simulation.
The Moon over three days
Phases of The Moon
The Moon is one of the most recognisable celestial objects. Its subtle changes in appearance over the course...
pleiades
Explore Matariki in 3D
This interactive experience allows students to move through the cluster and explore the three-dimensional structure of Matariki from...
Nebra Disk Matariki
Matariki Around the World: Perspectives on the Pleiades
Discover how cultures around the world interpreted the Pleiades star cluster through mythology, astronomy, observation and changing perspectives.

Stories and observations

Old boat on Deception island
What can an Antarctic extremophile teach us about life beyond Earth?
Matariki Dawn Viewing on top of Mount Victoria Wellington
Matariki: The Stars That Became a Nation’s New Year
Traditional Navigation
Navigation & Storytelling
Orakei Korako Spacewardbound Field trip
Astrobiology for Educators
Star Safari skyglow and Paul Malinson telescope 2025-11-1246
Dark Skies & Light Pollution
Star Safari7181 Large
Observing the Night Sky

Want to bring this experience into your classroom?

This activity is part of our live SpacewardBound sessions delivered directly in schools. We run it as a full interactive experience using our mobile planetarium and hands-on activities.

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