It’s 10 years since astronaut Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station launched…
To celebrate, kids across the UK are invited to join in a lesson with Tim. Broadcast live from the Science Museum at 10:20 am on the 15th of December, it will feature a mass paper rocket launch to mark the exact moment (at 11:03) that Tim blasted off into space a decade ago! Ask your teacher or parent to sign up here.
or read the information and instructions here, then download the templates only afterwards.
Overview for adults
There’s an old saying: what goes up must come down. This activity is a perfect chance to challenge that idea, shooting a rocket high into the air by rapidly squashing a plastic bottle launcher. You’ll never get this rocket into space – but some real rockets do go fast enough to prove the saying wrong.
What’s the science?
The bottle used as the rocket launcher is not really empty: there is air inside it. Air is elastic (squashy), and when you compress it, it pushes back and the pressure inside increases. In the activity, the sudden increase in air pressure inside the bottle pushes hard on the bottom of the rocket, sending it flying high into the air. There are also two other forces acting on the rocket: air resistance and gravity. Air resistance always pushes in the opposite direction to the rocket’s movement, and its strength depends on the rocket’s shape and its speed. Gravity always pulls downwards, slowing the rocket’s climb but speeding up its descent.
Science in your world
Just as increasing the air pressure in the bottle sends the rocket flying, you use air pressure when you squeeze shampoo or ketchup from a plastic bottle. It’s not usually as exciting as watching the rocket shoot into the air in the activity… unless you’re having a food fight!
Did you know…?
In order to keep going straight upwards and never fall down again, a rocket must reach a speed called escape velocity, which is 11.2 kilometres per second.
Think and talk about…
• What makes your rocket fly? • What makes it come down again? • How do you think a real rocket works?
Investigate…
• How could you make your rocket travel higher? • How could you make your rocket go more slowly? • Can you make your rocket spin as it falls?
Science in your world
Just as increasing the air pressure in the bottle sends the rocket flying, you use air pressure when you squeeze shampoo or ketchup from a plastic bottle.
Ready for a roarsome adventure? Our friends at Build Your Own have given us FIVE incredible Tyrannosaurus Rex cardboard model kits for Whizz Pop Bang fans to win!
This stunningly designed 38cm-long T-Rex model is full of character and detail – from gnashing jaws to a swishing tail. Kids will love constructing it themselves using cleverly engineered slot-together pieces. No glue, no mess, just satisfying, hands-on building fun.
Made from sustainable cardboard with plastic-free packaging, this eco-friendly STEM toy is a brilliant way to explore engineering, dinosaurs and creativity all in one.
With 46 press-out parts and simple instructions, this kit is perfect for curious dino fans.
Simply answer the question in the comments below:
What does the name Tyrannosaurus Rex mean? A) Three-horned king B) Tyrant lizard king C) Fast-footed hunter
Whizz Pop Bang magazine is turning ✨TEN✨ – and we’re celebrating with an epic science party giveaway!
To mark a whole decade of science fun, facts, and fizzing experiments, we’ve teamed up with the award-winning team at Sublime Science to offer one lucky reader a chance to WIN a Gold Sublime Science Party – right in your own home!
Packed with hands-on activities, ‘magic’ tricks, bubbles, smoke and flying things, a Sublime Science Party is the ultimate way to inspire a love of science in children aged 5–12. Expect plenty of WOW moments, giggles and unforgettable memories!
The Prize
The winner will receive:
A Gold Sublime Science Party, hosted by one of Sublime Science’s brilliant presenters at your home (or a venue you book), on a weekend date of your choice
If you live outside of the coverage area, you’ll receive a Gold Science Party in a Box, packed with everything you need to host your own unforgettable science party!
Loved by over one million kids (and even featured on Dragons’ Den!), Sublime Science Parties are:
Bursting with hands-on science experiments
Perfect for curious kids aged 5 to 12
Full of spectacular fun – with slime, smoke rings, flying fizz, and more!
These award-winning parties make science unforgettable, exciting and mess-free for parents!
Thank you for being part of the Whizz Pop Bang community – here’s to the next 10 years of science-fuelled fun!
Terms and conditions: The winner will receive a voucher for a Sublime Science Gold Party, valid for one year. A Sublime Science presenter will come to your home – or a venue that you book – on a weekend date of your choice, subject to availability. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Winners living outside areas covered will instead receive a Science Party in a Box, containing everything you need to host your own science party. See https://www.sublimescience.com for more information. This competition closes at midnight on 8th September 2025. For full terms and conditions, please see https://www.whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions/
The dinosaurs are coming to the Utilita Arena on Saturday 31st May 2025, and YOU could be going to meet them there! Our friends at Sublime Science will also be there, demonstrating incredible prehistoric science. Keep reading to find out how you could win tickets to Jurassic Take-over Day…
This incredible immersive experience is packed with dinos of all shapes and sizes! Travel back millions of years as these almighty creatures are brought to life through realistic animatronics, talented actors and interactive props.
Meet T. rex, brachiosaurus, cute hatchlings and more at this walkthrough and theatre event. Dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages will love a trip to this immersive dinosaur experience for kids – Jurassic Take-over Day! If you’re looking for things to do with kids in May half term in the North East, look no further…
Our friends at Sublime Science will also be at Jurassic Take-over, showing off spectacular prehistoric science activities including dino egg hatching, an excavation station, a chance to build your own flying pterosaur and so much more. Get ready for a day packed with all awesome, unforgettable science!
Want to win tickets? We’ve got four tickets to Jurassic Take-over Day in Newcastle to give away to one lucky family!*
Simply tell us your favourite type of dinosaur in the comments to be in with a chance of winning!
Competition Rules
Terms and conditions: The prize is four tickets to Jurassic Take-over Day at Utilita Arena, Newcastle on Saturday 31st May 2025. No travel, accommodation or additional expenses are included. The competition closes at midnight on 22.05.25. The winner will be selected at random from all valid entries and contacted via email or direct message within 24 hours of the competition closing. The winner must respond within 24 hours to claim their prize. If no response is received within that time, a new winner will be chosen. The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or over. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram or Facebook. By entering, you agree to your details being passed to the event organiser solely for the purpose of issuing your tickets. No cash alternative is available. Full general terms and conditions apply – https://www.whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions/.
Cheltenham Science Festival returns from 3rd to 8th June 2025, promising a week filled with interactive exhibits, inspiring talks, and hands-on activities tailored for young science enthusiasts. Whether you’re a parent, teacher or home educator, there’s something for every budding scientist.
For more details on the Cheltenham Science Festival and to book tickets, visit the official website.
Looking for brilliant budget-friendly activities? You’ll find loads of totally free events happening throughout the Cheltenham Science Festival – perfect for curious kids of all ages!
Science Trail (No booking required)
Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th June 2025, all day, Imperial Gardens. All ages Pick up a trail sheet from the Information Point and follow the fun across the Festival Village! This self-guided trail is packed with fascinating STEM discoveries hidden around every corner. A brilliant way to explore the festival while learning about the world around us.
Free Shows at The Jetstream (No booking required)
Saturday 7th June 2025
10.00–10.30am: Science Extravaganza (Age 5+) Demos, experiments and lots of laughs with science presenter Mark Langtry.
10.45–11.15am & 1.15–1.45pm: Buzz (Age 4+) A puppetry adventure with Billy Bumble, shrinking to bee-size and saving the hive!
11.30am–12.00pm: Bubble Superstars (All ages) Bubble magic meets Makaton signing with Sarah Bearchell – a gentle, inclusive show.
12.30–1.00pm: Frog: A Story of Life on Earth (Age 5+) Science storyteller Isabel Thomas reads her beautiful book – and you’ll make a hopping frog!
Sunday 8th June 2025
10.30–11.00am: How to Make a Forest (Age 7+) Discover trees that travel and seeds that soar with Robin Hayward.
11.30am–12.00pm: Stories in the Stars (Age 5+) Storyteller Fiona Eadie shares ancient tales inspired by constellations – then kids can draw their own!
12.30–1.00pm: Dinosaurs Down Under (Age 5+) Music, storytelling and stomping with Professor Flint and his Aussie dinosaurs!
Tuesday 3rd June 2025, 5.30pm, Cheltenham Town Hall. Age 7+
On your marks, get set, go… with Paralympic champion Grace Harvey and performance scientist Steve Ingham. Discover the physical and mental challenges of being an athlete and the science of how to become a champion. Find out what it feels like to win gold and learn how everyone can enjoy sport. Chaired by TV presenter Maddie Moate.
Saturday 7th June 2025, 10am, Cheltenham Town Hall. Age 7+
Join TV scientist and food physicist Chris Clarke on a colourful, zingy and messy journey through the science behind our favourite sweet treats. Explosive sugar, suspicious smells, the world’s sourest sweet and plenty more sensory experiences to tickle your tastebuds. Get ready for hands on demonstrations and plenty of tasters as Dr Chris whips, rolls, smashes and blows up his travelling confectionary kitchen.
Saturday 7th June 2025, various times, The Queens Hotel, Cheltenham. Age 5+
It’s time for a check up! Bring along your favourite stuffed toy to the teddy bear vet clinic, where you will learn what it’s like to be a vet and how you can keep your teddies happy and healthy. Get hands-on experience at working in a veterinary surgery from bandaging to taking x-rays, and learn what it’s really like to care for animals from real-life vet Jess French.
Saturday 7th June 2025, 10.30am, Pillar Room, Cheltenham Town Hall. Age 7+
Has a slug ever been to space? Can you unboil an egg? Bestselling science writer Isabel Thomas provides even more answers to the weird and wonderful questions that buzz around children’s brains at bedtime. Explore the answers with interactive experiments and bring your own bamboozling brainteasers for a chance to star in Isabel’s next book!
Saturday 7th June 2025, 12pm, Cheltenham Town Hall. Age 8+
Alright BOOM, TikTok star Big Manny is back with more amazing experiments that he’ll perform on stage and that you can try at home. This time we’re gonna be learning all about physics tings – from sound waves to circuits and mad magnetism to sparky electricity. Chaired by Greg Foot.
Saturday 7th June 2025, 12pm, The Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Age 7+
Prepare for a storm chasing adventure as you explore the extremes of our planet with climate scientist and TV presenter, Mark Langtry. Harness hurricanes and twist tornados as you investigate our changing climate. This high energy show will make you feel powerful about your future and inspire you to make a positive impact on our world.
Sunday 8th June 2025, 10am, The Queens Hotel, Cheltenham. Age 7+
Can you build a robot with paper? Join origami engineer and roboticist Chenying Liu to explore the potential of origami in advanced robotics. Get hands-on and transform flat sheets of paper into impressive structures for robotics, sustainable home decoration and even space exploration.
Sunday 8th June 2025, 10.30am, The Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Age 8+
Join the Guinness World Records for a science themed hour of jaw-dropping records, remarkable feats and fascinating facts – it’s fun for all the family. Discover how record breaking has changed over the years and what incredible records might be broken in 2025. Plus, take part and maybe set your own Guinness World Records title.
Sunday 8th June 2025, 11am, Pillar Room, Cheltenham Town Hall. Age 5+
Would an elephant eat your cereal? Could a hippo wallow in your bath? Join author and vet Jess French as you draw along with Shoo Rayner to transform your house into a zoo. Chaired by Becci Smith.
Can’t make it to Cheltenham? Here are other science festivals across the UK that offer family-friendly activities:
The Big Bang Fair – 17th – 19th June 2025, Birmingham. This event showcases STEM careers and interactive exhibits for young people.
Manchester Science Festival – Features a range of events, from hands-on workshops to science-themed art installations. Check their site for dates of their next festival.
Edinburgh Science Festival – Offers a diverse programme of activities, including experiments, shows, and discussions suitable for all ages. Check their site for dates of their next festival.
Oxford Science and Ideas Festival – Combines science with arts and culture, providing a unique experience for families. Next festival is in October 2025 – check their site for specific dates, to be announced in August 2025.
Note: Please check each festival’s official website for the latest information on dates and programmes.
Are you looking for fun and simple British Science Week activities to celebrate this year’s theme, “Change and Adapt”? We’ve got you covered with a FREE science resource pack filled with hands-on experiments that your class will love!
Why ‘Change and Adapt’ is a Brilliant Theme
This year’s British Science Week theme encourages children to explore how things change in the world around them—whether through chemical reactions, forces, materials, or biological adaptation. It’s a fantastic opportunity to tie science into your curriculum in a way that’s engaging and memorable.
Free School Resources Pack – Throw A Science Party In Your Classroom!
To help you plan a curiousity-awakening, exciting (and most importantly, stress-free) British Science Week, we’ve got an amazing science freebie for you: a FREE ‘Science Party’ pack packed with six exciting experiments designed for KS1 and KS2. These hands-on activities will spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and bring science to life!
Each experiment explores the “Change and Adapt” theme through fun, interactive investigations that are easy to set up:
🟢 Making Chromatography Decorations – Explore how colours separate and create beautiful patterns! A perfect mix of art and science.
🔵 Bed of Pins Balloon Experiment – Discover how forces work by testing whether a balloon can survive being pressed against a bed of pins!
🟠 Fizz Pop Bang Edible Powder – Experience chemical reactions that you can taste!
🟣 Static Slime – Investigate static electricity while making an ooey-gooey slime that moves with an electric charge!
🟡 Magic Colour-Changing Icing – Learn about acid-base indicators in a fun and edible experiment that will leave your class amazed!
⚪ Incredible Invisible Ink – Uncover secret messages using simple kitchen ingredients—just like a real scientist (or spy)!
Each activity is easy to set up with minimal resources, making it perfect for busy teachers who want maximum impact with minimal prep!
Like all of Whizz Pop Bang’s science teaching resources, the science behind each activity is explained in simple, age-appropriate language, making planning and teaching these fun lessons an absolute breeze.
PLUS Here’s an Amazing Offer on School Subscriptions and Downloadable Resources!
Save 20% on our school subscriptions and downloadable resources for the first year as well as our school bundles. Simply add code SCIWEEK25 at check out.
British Science Week is the perfect opportunity to ignite a love for STEM in your classroom. Whether your pupils are experimenting with chemical changes, forces, or electricity, our Science Party Pack will keep them engaged and excited.
When cornflour is mixed with water, it becomes a goo that flows like a liquid until it is hit or pressed – then it acts like a solid. Watch the video below to find out what happens if cornflour is placed on a speaker that is vibrating and making sound waves.
The cornflour goo is getting continually hit by the vibrating speaker, making these weird and wonderful dancing cornflour figures!
This cornflour and water mixture is sometimes called oobleck, and you should definitely try playing with it at home! Here’s a recipe for how to make this slime-like substance…
You will need: Mixing bowl Spoon Cornflour or custard powder Water Food colouring (optional)
What you do: 1. Place four heaped tablespoons of cornflour or custard powder into a bowl. 2. Add a splash of water and stir the mixture. Keep adding water a little at a time, until the mixture is about the same consistency as honey. 3. If you add too much water, add some more cornflour or custard powder. 4. Add a little food colouring if you like and mix it in.
Watch the video to find out more about the strange properties of this special substance.
Here’s a record you CAN try to beat at home. The farthest flight by a paper aeroplane made from a single sheet of A4 paper is 88.31 metres! Find out how to make another record-breaking plane here:
Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to skydive without a parachute?! Head this way for the answer (and to watch a jaw-dropping video all about it!)
Find out about more amazing record-breaking journeys in Whizz Pop Bang 113: FESTIVE SCIENCE FUN!
Have you heard of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition? It’s a brilliant chance for young nature-lovers like you to show off your photography skills. Best of all? Kids can enter free!
This competition is all about celebrating the beauty and wonder of the natural world. When you take part, you’ll join people from all over the world who love capturing moments in nature, whether it’s animals playing, birds flying or tiny bugs doing their thing.
When you enter, your photos could be chosen to be part of an amazing exhibition at the Natural History Museum that people from all over the world come to see. Imagine your photo on display, inspiring others to care more about wildlife and the environment!
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas won the Young Wildlife Photographer Of The Year – Grand Title 2024 award.
This photo is of fruiting bodies of slime mould and a tiny springtail. It was taken by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas in Germany, and he was awarded Young Wildlife Photographer Of The Year – Grand Title 2024. Find out more about this incredible photograph here.
Taking pictures of our wonderful planet isn’t just fun – it also can also remind everyone of the beauty of nature, and why protecting it is so important.
So, if you love taking pictures and want to share what’s special about the world around you, grab a camera or phone, head outside, and capture something amazing. You might be the next young wildlife photography star!
Here’s your chance to win one of ten copies of The Science Museum Puzzle Book: Journey Into Space. Keep reading to tackle some of the intergalactic puzzles featured inside!
Plan a mission, train to be an astronaut, launch a rocket and discover what it’s like to live in space as you tackle the teasers in this brilliant puzzle book!
As well as over 100 space-themed puzzles, this book is stuffed with essential space facts and profiles of significant people and moments linked to space exploration.
Put your brain to the test with these puzzles, taken from Journey Into Space: A Science Museum Puzzle Book. You’ll find the competition below these puzzles.
We’ve got ten copies of this book to give away! Simply answer the question in the comments to be in with a chance.
Which person has travelled into space?
A Helen Sharman B Galileo Galilei C Arthur C. Clarke
The Science Museum Puzzle Book: Journey Into Space by The Science Museum is published by Seven Dials available in trade paperback and eBook on 7th November 2024. RRP £14.99.
