School students sent into space

A school has sent two of its classes into outer space - but only in a photograph.
A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.
A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.

A school has sent two of its classes into outer space - but only in a photograph.

Kingsfold Primary School in Penwortham went out of this world as they videoed their picture soar above the earth on a weather balloon.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sitting at more than 118,000 feet in minus 60 degrees, the photo shows 48 Year 6 students floating around in space.

Kingsfold Primary School before the balloon was launched into space.Kingsfold Primary School before the balloon was launched into space.
Kingsfold Primary School before the balloon was launched into space.

Helping with their topic on space, company Sent Into Space helped the students as they sent a latex weather balloon out of the earth’s atmosphere.

Year 6 teacher Jack Thackway, who organised the out of world experience, said: “We had been researching 
everything about space and I was thinking of what we could do to make things really interesting for the children.

“I remembered 
seeing a pie being sent into space in Wigan so I got in touch with the people who organised that and asked them if we could do something similar.

A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.
A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We made the box ourselves and the children made little things to attach to it like lego men and the school sticker.

“The photo is attached to an arm coming out the box and a camera inside the box records the whole journey up.”

The school were sent a video a few days later which showed the balloon leaving the school playground and flying high into the sky before swirling around above the earth.

And Jack says the project has been a huge success for more than one reason.

A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.
A picture of Kingsfold Primary School students as they float in space using a weather balloon.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The children absolutely loved it,” he said. “They knew we were going to do it for a few weeks before the launch and that made them even more engaged with the space topic. The video is brilliant and the children couldn’t believe it.”

Related topics: