Fernhurst pupils discuss space seed expectations

Year-six pupils at Fernhurst Primary School are enjoying being space biologists and growing seeds that have been into space.
Keeping on top of measurements at Fernhurst Primary SchoolKeeping on top of measurements at Fernhurst Primary School
Keeping on top of measurements at Fernhurst Primary School

As reported in the Observer last week, Fernhurst Primary School is one of around 10,000 schools to receive a packet of 100 seeds from space.

The pupils are growing these alongside seeds that have not been to space and measuring the differences over the coming weeks.

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Teachers Mrs Libby Isaac and Mrs Nicola Mackey are working with the children on the project.

They said: “We are very excited to be taking part in Rocket Science, particularly as it links to the mission of Chichester astronaut Tim Peake.

“This experiment is a fantastic way of teaching our pupils to think more scientifically and share their findings with the whole school.”

The children have various theories as to what might happen with the seeds and have been working hard, looking after the seeds, taking the measurements, writing journals about the experiment, taking photos and keeping a log book of quotes and theories.

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Aidan Hewitt, a pupil in year six, thinks that the seeds from space will grow more slowly than the earth seeds, as he believes that the space seeds will still be recovering from the zero gravity that they experienced.

In September, 2kg of rocket seeds were flown to the International Space Station on Soyuz 44S to spend several months in microgravity before returning to Earth in March.

The seeds were sent as part of Rocket Science, an educational project launched by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and the UK Space Agency.

The children will not know which seed packet contained which seeds until all results have been collected and analysed by professional biostatisticians.

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Tim Peake has sent the children a special message from space, where he has been since December, wishing them good luck with their investigations.

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