Outreach Activities
Below is a list of the hands-on activities we use at space grant -
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Edible Rockets
Using carrots, celery, bread, and peanut butter to build an edible rocket, Pre-K students learn about the different parts of a space transportation system, the space shuttle and they learn about the launch sequence.
Presentation: Edible Rockets 3.07MB
Checklist: Edible Rockets 22KB
Lego Capsule Challenge (LC2)
Students build a light weight Lego structure around a light bulb so that the light bulb can survive a drop off of a balcony. The goal is to make the lightest structure, to recover an unbroken bulb, and to have their recovered bulb work.
Presentation: Lego Capsule Challenge 7.5MB
Module: Lego Capsule Challenge 1.28MB Spanish Version 1.31MB
Checklist: Lego Capsule Challenge 11KB
Handout: Lego Drop Building Techniques 4.5MB Spanish Version 4.53MB
Handout: Team Worksheet 10KB Spanish Version 10KB
Handout: Team Results 6KB Spanish Version 12KB
Handout: Volunteer Preparation 7KB
Lunar Observations: Craters and Core Samples
Students create craters in a flour and cocoa powder mixture using small spheres (bouncy balls, marbles), then students take a core sample of an unidentified candy bar. This module teaches students about the Moon and how its distinctive craters were formed. Students will also learn how surface core samples provide information about the history of a planet and its makeup. Students use basic measuring tools, graphing, and math as well as scientific inquiry by comparison. Students are introduced to the concepts of gravity and velocity by seeing the relationship between the height and the size of a crater and are introduced to the geological study of planets up close and from afar.
Presentation: Craters and Core Samples 8.99MB
Module: Craters 43KB
Module: Core Samples 34KB
Checklist: Craters and Core Samples 12KB
Handout: Student Worksheet 87KB
Operation: Communication
In this module students are introduced to satellites and how they communicate. They learn about radio waves and how satellites send photo images to ground control. Students will use the idea of sharing information via radio waves by sending bits of information at a time to complete an image. This activity demonstrates how ground control sends a message to a satellite and how data, such as pictures, can be sent back from the satellite to ground control.
Presentation: Operation Communication 3.96MB
Module: Operation Communication 355KB Spanish Version 378KB
Checklist: Operation Communication 12KB Spanish Version 36KB
Handout: Mission Control Worksheet 20KB Spanish Version 32KB
Handout: Volunteer Preparation 16KB Spanish Version 41KB
Space Hardware Challenge
This module encourages students to practice their observation and communication skills. One student at a time looks at an unknown piece of Space Hardware made out of Lego pieces. The student must then give verbal directions to their teammates to recreate the artifact without using their hands or any other physical cues.
Presentation: Space Hardware 25.37MB
Module: Space Hardware 436 KB
Checklist: Space Hardware 9KB
Space Suits
This module teaches students about space suits, their design, and about solar radiation. Students will use scientific inquiry to make and test predictions. They will also be introduce to the use of thermometers, the concept of a control, and forming a hypothesis. This will lead to conclusions about solar radiation that explain space suit design as well as physical observations on Earth.
Presentation: Space Suits 3.07MB
Module: Space Suits 34KB
Checklist: Space Suits 12KB
Handout: Student Worksheet in Fahrenheit 48KB
Handout: Student Worksheet in Celsius48KB
Spectroscopy
Students learn the about spectroscopy and how it is used to explore the universe. They then build their own spectroscope and use their knowledge to identify elements real-time.
Presentation: Spectroscopy 24.24MB Spanish Version 8.67MB
Module: Spectroscopy 935KB Spanish Version 958KB
Checklist: Spectroscopy 11KB Spanish Version 22KB
Handout: Spectroscope Build Directions 32KB Spanish Version 46KB
Handout: Spectrum Coloring Worksheet 13KB Spanish Version 10KB
Handout: Volunteer Preparation 16KB Spanish Version 41KB
