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Make space for adventure this summer
To celebrate the release of Disney and Pixar’s Elio, in cinemas June 20, we’ve created a free resource that’ll take young people’s imaginations to intergalactic heights.
Universe Explorer is a free learning sequence for primary learners aged 6-11, making links to English/literacy, science, citizenship and PSHE, and offering a launchpad for self-discovery. This series of interactive activities summons pupils on a space odyssey that’ll skyrocket their oracy and leadership skills.
Space travel comes of age in Elio
Young Elio is a dreamer starstruck by the skies above him, convinced that there's life in space. His calls to alien species are unexpectedly answered when he's mistakenly believed to be the representative of planet Earth. Beamed into outer space and the Communiverse, a cross-planetary representatives team, he must quickly forge new friendships, find his voice and represent his home planet among a cosmos in crisis.
Through an exploration of imaginary planets and their representatives, Universe Explorer offers learners opportunities to develop communication, relationship building and leadership skills. By considering techniques for connecting with others and what makes a good leader, each pupil will further their understanding of themself and others.
About the resource
Universe Explorer features discursive and creative activities that reflect Elio’s new experiences, offering pupils a chance to practice persuasion, presentation and leadership skills. The resource includes:
1 x PowerPoint presentation
1 x Lesson plan
Teaching notes
Activity and home learning sheets
Competition sheet
Digital game
Complementary printed packs, including exclusive materials, are only available to the first 200 schools to sign up. Each pack contains:
140 x Your Planet Needs You competition sheets
Sticker sheets
Interactive cut-out activity sheets
Enter your pupils in a creative climate challenge for a chance to win an Earth Kit worth over £350
In the Your Planet Needs You competition, learners will step into the role of Earth’s representative, just like Elio. Their mission? To communicate planet-protecting messages to representatives of other planets. Encourage them to showcase their communication skills by designing an annotated poster featuring environmental tips. This is a fantastic opportunity to inspire critical thinking, creativity, and global responsibility. The winner will receive an Earth Kit for the whole class, including an Oracy Easi-Speaking Kit and an Earth and Space Experiments Kit.
Submit entries ahead of the closing date of July 4, 2025. Terms and conditions apply.
We'd love to see your learners' creations! Share their posters with us on social media and tag us to celebrate their creativity.
Search space to find Elio and friends
This resource also includes an interactive digital game, Locate the Leader, which challenges pupils to find Elio and his fellow interplanetary ambassadors. Players will join Glordon, Elio’s companion, to search the stars and skies for Elio and friends. As they find each ambassador, they’ll learn more about them through pop-up character profiles that support independent reading skills.
About Elio
Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
Director/s
Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Starring
Yonas Kibreab (Elio), Zoe Saldaña (Aunt Olga), Remy Edgerly (Glordon), Brad Garrett (Lord Grigon), Jameela Jamil (Ambassador Questa), Shirley Henderson (OOOOO)
Certificate
Classification
Elio, in cinemas June 20.
This resource has been commissioned by Disney to support the release of Elio.
