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SPACE EXPLORATION
At a Challenger Learning Center, students don't just plot a course to Mars. They fly it. They intercept a comet and launch a probe into its mysterious depths. They make preparations for a permanent lunar base. They repair satellites. And, most importantly, they develop teamwork and problem-solving skills that will last long after the mission simulation is over. These lessons will help you to prepare your students for their exciting mission to space.
These lessons will help you to prepare your students for their exciting mission to space. All free downloadable lessons are in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) or zip format.
Design Challenge: What Will Keep My Lunchbox Cool? (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards E2, E3, D5, AAAS Benchmarks 8B, 1B, 4E, 1C
Students often have creative ideas for solving common problems. Their solutions are often limited to ideas rather than to reality and a product. The goal of this activity is to develop the young learner from a creative thinker to a problem solver. In this activity, students will take an everyday problem and design a practical solution. Students will consider how to keep a lunch box cool during a trip to the beach.
Exploration Yesterday & Today (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A2, E2, G1
Students will investigate the nature of explorations, past and present, and identify common traits of two very different explorations.
Explore Bigger Neighborhoods (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A1, A2, B1, D1, E3, F3, G1
In this activity, students will go beyond identifying where to find the resources to meet their essential needs within their own neighborhood. They will research the actual source of these resources. They will determine if essential resources can be found locally or beyond their neighborhood, they’ll research where the resources come from.
Food Detectives (510 KB)
National Science Education Standard C1
In this activity your students will have the opportunity to analyze some foods for nutrient content. These activities are much simpler than the research that food scientists undertake, but they will give your students an understanding of the abilities needed to analyze and isolate certain food types.
How Do We Explore Strange Environments? (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A1, A2, B1, E1, G1
In this activity, student teams will design, sketch, and build a model of a robot to explore a new place. Their robot will have a specific mission, and they must design the model in a way that supports the goals of their mission. When completed, the team will present their model to the class.
My Hometown (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A1, A2, B1, D1, E3, F3, G1
In this activity, students critically think about what is needed for survival, and more importantly where it can be found. Students will explore how they would meet essential needs in an unknown environment and also in their neighborhood. Through this process they begin to identify local resources for air, shelter, food, and water. They will build a three-dimensional model of their neighborhood based on these local resources, so that they can see what is necessary in their own environment for them to survive.
Pattern Play (510 KB)
Students will explore the logic of AB, ABB, and AAB patterns using hands-on materials and a teacher-made Kidspiration template.
Solar Arrays for the Space Station (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A1, E1, E2
In this activity, students will use models of solar arrays and the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle to determine a safe, effective way of packaging solar arrays to go into space.
There's More to Light than Meets the Eye (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A1, B3, D2
Students will explore the concept that not all light is visible to the human eye. Although UV light is not visible, it can still be harmful, causing sunburns or skin cancer. Students will use special beads to detect UV light around the school. They will then conduct an experiment to determine what types of materials are best for blocking UV light, on Earth as well as in space.
Plants in Space (510 KB)
A series of activities in support of the NASA Engineering Design Challenge, for use in teacher workshops and with students.
Design Challenge: How do you prevent things from getting too hot? (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards E (all), AAAS Benchmarks 3B, 11B
This challenge provides a motivating experience for children to use a scientific approach, problem solving and cooperative teamwork. They are challenged to work as a team to design and build an effective sunshade for a model of the MESSENGER spacecraft.
Be a Reporter (510 KB)
You are the ace news reporter and you're on the job. You have been given the job of interviewing and writing a newspaper article about someone involved in getting rockets into space. This is your big chance to write an out-of-this-universe article, which could propel, thrust, and rocket you into writing stardom.
Timeline: History of Space Exploration (510 KB)
Science
Students compile a timeline of the history of spaceflight.
Water Supply (510 KB)
In this activity, students will examine sources and uses of water on Earth and keep a log of their water usage. Afterwards, they will brainstorm ways to conserve water. They will write and post a list of rules for water usage.
Countdown (510 KB)
Science
A variety of activities to do in conjunction with the novel Countdown.
Design Challenge: How to Keep Gelatin from Melting? (510 KB)
How can the scientific method be used to keep a structure that protects an item exposed to high temperature?
Design, Build and Fly Straw Rockets (510 KB)
Science, Mathematics, Technology
Students will learn the basic components that make up a rocket, as well as investigate the factors relating to determining a rocket's range (distance it can travel) and altitude (height it can attain).
Exploring Gravity (510 KB)
There is gravity in space. In fact, it is gravity that keeps a space shuttle in orbit around the Earth. In this lesson, students will build a model that will allow them to investigate this phenomenon.
History of Human Spaceflight Timeline (510 KB)
Science
In this lesson, students will be given specific historical space events. Students will then research the event and write a one-page paper on the event. When presenting events in chronological order, students will put them on a timeline in the classroom. Students may also be asked to create a visual aid for their presentation that can be displayed in the class.
How High is Space? (510 KB)
Science
Using a globe and string, students physically create the distance between Earth and the Moon, then they take pictures of other things, like satellites, the International Space Station and tape them on the string according to where they are in space.
John Glenn Cryptograph (510 KB)
Science
Cryptographs are word puzzles. Each letter in the puzzle represents another letter of the alphabet. Once certain letters are determined, then words can be deciphered and finally the entire puzzle.
My Angle on Cooling: Effect of Distance and Inclination (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards D3, AAAS Benchmarks 12C
After discussing what heat is and how it travels, students discover that two ways to cool an object in the presence of a heat source are to increase the distance from it or change the angle at which it is faced. The students learn to distinguish which effect is more important for determining the seasons on Earth. They also discuss how the MESSENGER mission to Mercury takes advantage of similar cooling methods to keep the spacecraft comfortable in a high-temperature environment.
Payload Rocket (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A1, A2, B2, B3, E1, E2, G1, G2
In this activity, students will investigate rocket design by constructing a rocket out of a balloon and using it to carry a paper clip payload.
Playing with Food (252 KB)
Science
This lesson provides background in the beginnings of the scientific method -- predictions and observations -- as well as providing a motivational way to introduce the concept of microgravity in relation to messes in general.
Saturn V Coordinates (510 KB)
Mathematics, Science
Students draw a picture of a Saturn V rocket using graph coordinates.
Snow Goggles and Limiting Sunlight (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A1, A2, AAAS Benchmarks 4F, 11B, 12C
By studying ancient solutions to the problem of excessive sunlight on human vision, students understand that too much of a good thing can be dangerous! We need some sunlight to see, but too much may be harmful to our eyes. In a similar way, the MESSENGER spacecraft needs some sunlight to operate and observe Mercury, but too much of it can heat up the spacecraft and cause serious damage.
Solar Cooker (510 KB)
In this activity, students will build solar cookers and will use energy from the Sun to cook apple slices in them. They will measure and compare temperatures and cooking times for each of the solar cookers.
Space Shuttle Coordinates (821 KB)
Mathematics, Science
Students will draw space shuttles on graph paper using x- and y-coordinates.
To the Moon, Mars & Beyond (510 KB)
Science, Mathematics
This compilation of activities was designed to give teachers a group of high quality space-related activities which will emphasize hands-on involvement, data collection, observation, exploration, prediction, interpretation, problem solving, and development of language skills.
Weightlessness (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards B2, D3
There is no lack of gravity in space. In fact, it’s gravity that keeps the Space Shuttle in orbit around the Earth. In essence, the Space Shuttle is falling around the Earth. Why then do astronauts have the feeling, and appearance, of weightlessness? In this lesson, students will create models of an astronaut and Space Shuttle to investigate why a falling astronaut feels like he or she is floating.
What Effect Does Gravity have on Plants? (510 KB)
Science
Students will grow plants from seeds and observe and record the effect that a change in position of the jar has on the plant's growth. They will apply this knowledge to plant growth in microgravity.
What is an Explorer? (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A2, E2
Say the word “explorer” and ask yourself what comes to mind. Likely, you will conjure up visions of noble, courageous men or women battling nature to achieve some challenging goal. But is that really the nature of exploration? In this lesson, students examine the characteristics of explorers. They then create an exploration log to determine if they too posses these qualities and are also explorers.
How to Launch 375 Elephants into Space (510 KB)
Science
How to Launch 375 Elephants into Space is a whimsical approach to Newton's three laws of motion and the forces of gravity, lift and drag as they apply to space shuttles and other kinds of rockets.
LOST (510 KB)
Science, Mathematics
Students apply the principle of triangulation by using GPS receivers in the field. This is accomplished by participating in a simulation similar to the TV series, LOST! The students will engage in a GPS scavenger hunt at a nearby park. Teams will attempt to locate a first aid kit to assist an "injured" teammate by locating waypoint flags with their GPS receivers.
Space Science Jeopardy (510 KB)
Science
Space Science Jeopardy is pre-visit activity that will create an exciting game environment that will familiarize students with space exploration and vocabulary, and facts. Students can play the game as a classroom, group or on an individual level.
How were the greatest achievement and worst atrocity of the 20th century related? (348 KB)
Science
Through the use of an Anticipatory Set or Hook ("Do Now") students will be introduced to the nuance and complexity of the issue of whether or not the ends can be justified by the means. The students will then read the short biographies of the two scientists, Mr. X and Mr. Y, and make a judgment as to whether the scientists should be regarded as heroes or villains.
Sunday Afternoon in Space (510 KB)
Science
This lesson gives students a chance to practice a brief emotional analysis of paintings from different time periods, cultures, and artists. Then, focusing on the painting, Sunday Afternoon by Georges Seurat, students will try to imagine what an afternoon in the park would look like in a futuristic space colony or on a futuristic Mars base. Finally, students will create their own futuristic version of Sunday Afternoon (in space or on Mars), taking their analysis into consideration.
Building the International Space Station (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards A2, E1
The International Space Station (ISS) is arguably the greatest engineering undertaking of our time. Many limitations and requirements had to be considered in designing the ISS and its individual components, such as size, mass, location, and intended use of each component. This activity will give students a chance to understand the background behind basic design considerations for the ISS or any space station, by designing and building a model of a space station.
Cooling with Sunshades (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards B5, AAAS Benchmarks 4E, 8B
After discussing basic properties of temperature and heat, and different ways in which heat can affect substances, students will design a simple protective device (sunshade) against excessive sunlight. They also will discuss how MESSENGER uses a sunshade to keep comfortable at Mercury’s distance from the Sun.
Dangers of Radiation Exposure (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards F5, AAAS Benchmarks 10G, 1C
Radiation can affect living and mechanical things on Earth, as well as in space. By estimating their yearly exposure rate to harmful high-energy radiation and cumulative effects over time, students can evaluate the various sources of radiation that are of greatest concern. Since MESSENGER will be subjected to much more intense radiation near Mercury than what a spacecraft near Earth experiences, students will also discuss how solar radiation can be an important cause of damage and destruction.
Ethics of Exploration (510 KB)
National Science Education Standard F6
Space exploration is currently dominated by government agencies like the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Should space exploration be open to private industry or does it need the regulation of the federal government? These questions are currently being asked by private companies who would like to conduct their own, privately-funded missions. Is the pristine space environment at risk? These are issues students will tackle in this lesson.
Radiation Exposure (510 KB)
National Science Education Standards B6, F5
Radiation can be especially harmful to astronauts working in space. Students begin this lesson by calculating how much radiation they were exposed to last year. They then compare this to the amount of radiation astronauts receive aboard the International Space Station. Students must synthesize this information with knowledge of the solar cycle and NASA’s maximum lifetime radiation exposure limits, in order to ensure the safety of astronauts.
