Come fly with me/K-6/Activities 45 - 95

Come Fly With Me! - Exploring science through aviation / aerospace concepts
 * David C. Housel and Doreen K.M. Housel, 1983.
 * Reproduced with permission

= FOURTH GRADE - ”SOMEDAY I’LL WISH UPON A STAR" =

I KNOW OF A SUN THE SIZE OF THE EARTH - AND MADE OF DIAMOND."--CARL SAGAN, SPACE SCIENTIST AND ASTRONOMER

== 45. PLANETS MADE TO SCALE ==

Objectives: to help students understand the relative sizes of the planets; to construct a model of the solar system.

Materials: Colored paper or balls of various sizes. Ruler. Labels. Markers. Tape measure. Paper. Glue. Light wire.

Procedure:

Using the scale measurements below, find common items that measure approximately the same size (ping pong balls, tennis balls, beach balls, etc.) OR use circles of paper cut to scale size instead of the balls.

Label each ball with the name of a planet. Put in order in a display. (The paper circles work really well on the board).

Have the students research in order to find out the distances between the planets and get them to calculate a scale for those distances. When an accurate calculation has been made (and it may surprise them to find how difficult this is to achieve due to the vast distances between the planets) have the class make a set of planets out of paper mache and arrange in a wonderful display. (in the hall outdoors, in the gymnasium)

Extension: Language arts fun. Have students make a sentence out of the first letter of each of the planets in the order they orbit away from the sun. For example: My Very Elderly Mother Jumped Sideways Upsetting Nancy's Panther.(or Upsetting Nobody in Particular)

Extensions: Define the terms: (1) solar system (2) galaxy (3) universe (4) star (5) planet (6) dwarf planet (as in Pluto)

Form groups of students and assign each group a planet. Each group should learn:
 * The color of their planet.
 * Any special features.
 * How many moons it has.

Find books with pictures and descriptions of the planets and give each of the groups styrofoam balls as follows: 12 inch for the sun. . . yellow with black or brown dots

1 inch for Mercury. . . reddish

2 inch for Venus. . . blue with cotton for clouds

2 inch for Earth. . . blue with cotton clouds and brown continents

6 inch for Jupiter. . . banded with red spot

6 inch for Saturn. . . orange with rings from paper

4 inch for Uranus. . . bluish green

2 inch for Mars. . . redish brown with dark markings

Have students paint them and hang them in order in the classroom from strings. Add pins for moons.

== 46. NIGHT AND DAY ==

Objective: to discover the relationship between the rotation of the earth and day and night.



Materials: Flashlight or other strong light source; Globes; Small human figure or flag.

Procedure:

Fasten the figure or flag straight out from the globe with clay or adhesive. Hold the light stationary and shine it at the globe as you rotate it.

Have the students observe what happens as the globe rotates slowly. What happens to the shadow of the figure or flag on the globe? Observe shadows of poles or trees or your own shadow during different times of the day. How are the shadows on the globe like those you observe in real life?

What does the flashlight represent? If Earth is approximately 25,000 miles around, how fast would an airplane have to travel to remain in sunlight for 24 hours? In what direction should the pilot fly? Why do you think so? What kind of plane could do this? What special problems would a plane encounter in doing this?

== 47. PLANETS IN ORBIT I ==

Objectives: to discover that centrifugal force can overcome gravity; to show that centrifugal force depends on velocity; to show that the greater a planet's distance from the sun, the slower it moves.



Materials: 3 Chalkboard erasers or other similar soft objects, a piece of 32-inch string. Spool.

Procedure:

Fasten one of the erasers to the string and drop the string through the empty spool. Fasten two erasers to the other end of the string.

Hold the single eraser out from the spool, parallel to the floor. Let go. what happens? Why? Start as before but whirl the eraser slowly this time. What happens? (Centrifugal force, or the force of inertia of motion is overcoming the pull of gravity.)

Increase the speed of the orbiting eraser. What happens? (The two erasers will lift.) Slaken the velocity. What happens? Why? A change in velocity produces what? How does this relate to planets in orbit?

Have students count revolutions in equal time periods with eraser at different distances from spool. Compare the results. What does this say about the effect of a planet's distance on its speed?

Have a student add extra erasers to the suspended erasers one at a time and whirl orbiting eraser to bring erasers up to a fixed distance from the floor. Count revolutions. Graph data and compare velocities for different weights. What does the experiment tell the students about the effect of greater weight (greater gravitational pull) on the orbit of an object? Extension: After the following activity, have students note the orbital speeds of the nine planets. Compare with data from the above activity.

== 48. PLANETS IN ORBIT II ==

Objective: to better understand the planets revolve around the sun at different speeds and at different distances.

Materials: Paper. Pencil. Worksheet. (next page)

Teacher Background Information: Each planet moves around the sun at different speeds and at different distances. The greater the planet's distance from the sun, the slower it moves.

Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are often referred to as the inner planets because they are closer to the sun. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are sometimes referred to as the outer planets. The orbits of these planets are billions of miles greater than that of Earth and so their "year" is much greater than Earth is.

The time it takes each of the planets to make one complete trip around the sun, rounded off to the nearest complete Earth year, is given on the worksheet following.

Procedure:

Put the chart on chalkboard or overhead projector Point out the planets on a model of the solar system, if you have one. Have students note carefully that the chart computes the inner planets in earth days and the outer planets in earth years. (You may want to play with the multiplication involved in converting the chart to either days or years for all planets.)

After a discussion on the effect of distance from the sun relative to speed or orbit, have students complete the worksheet on the following page.

Answers to worksheet:

1. a-140 b-277, 2. a-137 b-462, 3. 1 year and 322 days, 4. 4 + Mercury years, 5. Longer, 6. Earth, 7. 599, 8. 81, 9. 83, 10.Saturn & Uranus

=
PLANETS IN ORBIT WORKSHEET =====

Using the information given below, answer the questions which follow

Mercury. . . .88 Earth days

Venus. . . . 225 Earth days

Earth. . . . . 365 Earth days

Mars. . . . . .687 Earth days

Jupiter. . . . . 12 Earth days

Saturn. . . . . .30 Earth days

Uranus. . . . . 84 Earth days

Neptune. . .165 Earth days

a. Venus? b. Mercury? a. Mercury and Venus? b. Venus and Mars?
 * 1) How many more Earth days does it take Earth to complete its orbit than
 * 1) What is the difference in Earth days between the orbits
 * 1) The orbit of Mars takes how many Earth years and days?
 * 2) If we think of a year as the time it takes for a planet to make one complete orbit, one Earth year wou1d be equal to about how many Mercury years?
 * 3) Is a Mars year longer or shorter than an Earth year?
 * 4) Which planet comes closest to having a year that is ha1f that of a Mars year?
 * 5) How many more Earth days wou1d have to be added to Mercury's orbit to equal a Mars year?
 * 6) How many Earth years wou1d have to be added to Uranus' orbit to have it equal to Neptune's?
 * 7) P1uto's orbit is greater than Neptune's by how many Earth years?
 * 8) Among the outer planets, two have "years" that are about 2 1/2 times that of neighboring planets. Which pair of planets are they?

== 49. SUN SIZE ==

Objectives: to understand the relationship of the sun, earth and moon during an eclipse; to understand relative size and distance of sun and moon.

Materials: 1-one gallon jar. 1-1/2 pint jar. I Large beach ball or basketball. Marble.

Background Information : An eclipse occurs when either the earth blocks the light of the sun from the moon or the moon blocks the light of the sun from the earth. The moon is about 2,000 miles in diameter while the diameter of the sun is about 865,000 miles.

Procedure:

Place the gallon jar in view of your room, about 200 feet from the school building. Hold the 1/2 pint jar in front of the class and point out the jar outside. Ask which jar is larger of the two.

Have one of the students retrieve the gallon jar and then discuss the comparative size of the two jars. Talk about the relevance of this to the size of planets in the solar system.

Using the large ball and marble, relate the sizes of the spheres to the sun and the moon. Have a pupil (A) hold the marble between two fingers and at arm's length. Have a pupil (B) stand about 5' from pupil A and hold the large ball at eye level.

Pupil B should move to the proper distance from pupil A to have the marble just block off the large ball. This is an eclipse.

Have pupil A move the marble closer to and farther from his eye. Discuss the effect of this movement on the eclipse.

== 50. HOT, HOTTER, HOTTEST SUBJECT==

Objective: to help students understand that stars have different temperatures and how those temperatures can be determined.

Materials: Pliers. Iron nail. Candle. Thermometer. Magnifying glass. Unshaded light source.

Procedure:

Hold an iron nail with a pair of pliers in a candle flame. Have students note what happens as the nail gets hotter. Explain that astronomers compare the colors of stars to heated objects here on earth in order to estimate their temperatures. Ask if they can guess what color our sun is. (Yellow, by golly) (Was our sun ever blue-white? Will it ever be red?) Explain that the hottest stars are a blue-white color, that cooler stars are yellow and that the coolest stars are red. How does that compare with what happened to the nail as it became hotter?

Ask a student to hold a thermometer about 30 cm away from an unshaded light bulb. Have another student record the temperature. (Give it about 3 minutes before recording.) Hold the magnifying glass so that the light focuses direction the bulb of the thermometer and, after three minutes, record the temperature again.

Discuss what the students observe. Repeat the measurement at ever greater distances from the bulb. What happens? Have students record and graph their data showing the relationship between the distance in cm and degrees in temperature. Ask if they can relate this to how astronomers might measure the stars‘ temperatures. (You may have to explain that astronomers use the lenses of telescopes as well as other sensitive instruments to measure the temperature of stars from here on earth.)

Extension: Discuss with students why most all of our information about the characteristics of the universe is indirect. Talk about how that is changing with new explorations and moon walks and probes. What is "wrong" with this statement, printed in a Science text in 1978, for example: "Saturn has 10 moons." Discuss the notion that scientific evidence is sometimes temporary and the responsibility of people is to be open to new evidence.

== 51. ASTRONOMICAL ANSWERS! ==

Objectives: to assure the students' awareness of astronomy; to motivate students to investigate information on the solar system.

Materials: Copies of the questions from the "Basic Astronomical Knowledge" test. (see following pages) Books of Astronomy.

Procedure:

Distribute a question from the "test" to individual students or to partners. Explain that each question will be shared with the class after an answer for it has been found. Explain the importance of conveying accurate information and relating how you are sure it's true. Science information changes rather rapidly at times and the dates on material and the reliability of the experts should be examined.

Explain to the class also, that once they have found their "answer" they should take the time to gather a bit more information on their subject just for fun. When they share their question and answer, they can present whatever else they have gathered for the class including questions that have occurred to them. Encourage them to bring the books they found material in as well as pictures or diagrams.

Note: You may distribute the questions by making copies of the test, cutting the individual questions out and putting them in a hat for random distribution. If there are kids in the class who may panic at some of the more involved questions, you may want to assign questions according to interest or ability.

Ask what role aviation and/or space exploration plays in our knowledge of the solar system (air borne telescopes, space probes and earth satellites, for example.) Reminder: Our Earth is part of the solar system. Talk about exploring our own planet from space.

BASIC ASTRONOMICAL KNOWLEDGE TEST


 * 1) On which day(s) of the year does the sun appear straight up - directly overhead - from locations in the continental United States?
 * 2) On which day(s) of the year does the sun rise due east?
 * 3) How does the sun produce its energy?
 * 4) If the sun were the size of a thumbnail, where, to scale or in exact proportion, would the nearest star be?
 * 5) What is the brightest STAR in the NIGHT sky?
 * 6) Of the stars we see in the night sky, how many are part of the Milky Way?
 * 7) Approximately how many stars are in our galaxy?
 * 8) Why does our sun look so different from the stars at night?
 * 9) What is the difference between an astronomer and an astrologer?
 * 10) Which planet is closest to the sun? Farthest? How do they line up in between?
 * 11) Which planet is (environmentally) most like earth?
 * 12) Which planet is most like the sun? (in terms of composition)
 * 13) Which planet(s) have rings?
 * 14) Which planet is the smallest? Largest? How do they line up in between?
 * 15) Where do stars go in the daytime?
 * 16) Which best describes the sun? a) it is a bright planet b) it is an average star c) it's similar to the Moon but brighter d) astronomers really don't know how to describe it
 * 17) Which best describes a comet? a) a large dirty iceberg b) a glowing ball of gas c) a star streaking across the sky near the Earth d) a rock burning up in the Earth's atmosphere
 * 18) Can the moon be seen in the daytime? Explain.
 * 19) Which best describes a falling star? a) a large dirty iceberg b) a glowing ball of gas c) a star streaking across the sky near the Earth d) a rock burning up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere
 * 20) What is the moon's period of revolution around the earth?
 * 21) What is the Earth's period of rotation?
 * 22) What is the Earth's period of revolution?
 * 23) On what day of the year are night and day nearly the same length?
 * 24) When is the first day of summer in the United States? a) when the Earth is closest to the sun in its orbit b) when the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun d) when the sun is directly overhead at noon d) both a and c

== 52. GYROSCOPES AND GUIDANCE SYSTEMS ==

Objectives: to observe and identify some of the properties of a gyroscope; to identify instruments used in flight which make use of the properties of the gyroscope.



Materials: One or more toy gyroscopes. A small wooden stand (as in picture). 2 elastic bands or string.

Teacher Background Information:

In an aircraft, an indicator attached to the gyro mounting senses changes in attitude and velocity and indicates the required corrective measures. A three-gyro inertial system, used in many of the more advanced vehicles, is mounted so that the sensitive axis of each gyro is perpendicular to each of the others. Through this system, it is possible to detect all of the vehicle‘s movements, such as yaw, pitch, and roll.

Procedure:

The toy gyroscope can be used to illustrate the principle behind the instrument which detects undesirable motions in launch vehicles and helps to stabilize many spacecraft while in orbit. With small elastic bands tied to its side cross-frame, mount a gyroscope in a wooden stand, as illustrated below, so that it will swing freely. When the wheel is spinning rapidly, turn the wooden base and note how the gyro tilts. How can this phenomenon be used to indicate position? Discuss where to look for information on instruments in aircraft which use a gyroscope. Have students do a little research and share their findings.

== 53. USING REFERENCE OBJECTS ==

Objectives: to have the students use reference objects to describe the position of objects or places; to help students understand the term "landmark" as a reference object.



Materials: "Aerial Map" worksheet. Maps of the area.

Teacher Background Information: Pilots, as well as others using a map to get from place to place, look for landmarks to verify their position. Help the student learn to identify landmarks with the help of the "Aerial Map", by talking with them about the landmarks on maps of cities and states or by going outside to the school grounds and identifying landmarks there, using them to give directions from one place on the grounds to another.

Procedure:

Using the worksheet, locate the landmarks on the "Aerial Map." (Airport, railroad tracks, river, roads, intersections, bridges, mountains, trees, castle, lake, island) Help students understand that, from the air, names of roads or rivers are pretty much irrelevant but the "Y" relative position of a road to a railroad track, for example, might be very meaningful in finding the location the pilot desires.

After the landmarks are clear, ask a student to pretend she/he is at point F (going due North) in an aircraft without a working compass and wants visual directions to a landing field. Have a second student choose a specific landing field without telling the pilot which one it is. Have the second student give directions using the land- marks as reference objects until the direction giver says the pilot should be at the designated landing field. See if she/he is.

After the students have tried it with the "pilot" unable to communicate back to the direction giver, repeat the procedure with students starting in various places going to unknown destinations but able to check where they are when they choose. Talk about the pitfalls of imprecise language and the need to clarify their location along the way.

Extensions:


 * A. The aerial map can be used to write specific directions in the same way or it can be used with the compass in the aircraft working so that directions using the compass can be written.


 * B. Have students make their own "Aerial Map" of their area - the neighborhood they live in with schools or parks or buildings, for example, noted as landmarks. Have students write specific directions from their home to various points using the landmarks.


 * C. Get a map of your city or a large area around your town and locate the landmarks. Have students mark them on the map. Encourage the students to add new landmarks as they walk or ride around the area and discover new ones. See how students do on directions from one place to another.


 * D. Add a scale for kilometers or miles (or both) to the "Aerial Map" and have students write directions using compass directions and distance.


 * E. You might want to play with the idea of adding to size of the mountain (both in width and height) or adding high tension wires in front of places to land or a mountain range around part of another and see what kinds of modifications in directions the students give.

== 54. POLAR COORDINATES ==

Objective: to describe and locate the position of objects and places using a polar coordinate system.



Materials: Copy of grid for each student. Pencils. (Optional Small pictures.)

Teacher Background Information: Previous lessons dealt with position of objects or places in a general way. A more precise method is used by pilots who must navigate to a specific place. One of the methods uses polar coordinates. These coordinates are the equivalent of longitude and latitude on a map.

To describe the position of an object or place using polar coordinates, a reference point must be used from which to start. This point, technically the "origin of coordinates," can be called the starting point or place of origin.

Two coordinates are used to describe position from a starting point. First, the direction from the starting point is given in degrees like a compass direction. The numbering begins at the O point, North on a compass, and proceeds clockwise around a circle. (See illustration).

Second, the distance from the starting point must be given. This is expressed in some standard unit such as meters, kilometers, paces, miles, etc. or simply as "units." The two coordinates are expressed as a number pair in parentheses: first, the direction and second, the distance. (1200, 10 units) or 2700, 15 units) or (370, 18 units). These positions are marked on the illustration with "x"s.

Procedure:

Make copies of the large grid (see following page.) Have students mark several "x"s on the polar grid wherever they choose or have them paste small pictures on the grid in various places. The teacher can use a large example at the board if desired. Explain the system to the students and have them try to describe the position of the picture or "x"s on their grid or on the teacher's large grid.

To reinforce the concept,play "Secret Code Game “ Using a copy of the polar grid, place the letters of the alphabet and sentence closures such as a question mark, a period or an exclamation mark on the grid at various positions Make a message for the students to decode using the proper coordinates as the code for the appropriate letter. The students can then code their own messages for the class to decode.

== 55. POLAR COORDINATES AND FLYING IN MICHIGAN ==

Objective: to locate the position of airports and towns using a polar coordinate system.



Materials: 3 or 4 transparencies (depending on number of students in your small group) of the polar grid used in previous activity. Pencils. Aeronautical map. (Michigan Aeronautical Commission has them).

Procedure:

Make enough transparencies for each pair of students in your small group. Have the students place the grid over the drawing of Michigan found on preceding page. Have them begin by putting the point of origin over Mt. Pleasant. Have the students then place 0° to the North. what is the direction of Traverse City? (3300)) How many units away is it? (About 6) What direction and how many units away is Alpena? (300, 8 or 9) Do several cities until it is clear that all the students have understood the idea.

Give each group an aeronautical map and let them examine it for awhile. They will want to take a look at the legend and find some of the objects described. Have them find the airport nearest their town or city and map a flight to several other airports and return to their starting point.

The students should begin with their grid centered on the airport nearest them and move the grid to the next airport as the "landing spot" and take a new direction reading to the next landing spot. Remember to keep O° to the North.

As the students map their flight, have them record the polar coordinates for the airports they land on and the when they have finished, city or town nearest the airport. They can give the coordinates to another student as a game for finding the appropriate town or city near the coordinates.

It might be fun to write a story involving a pilot - sleuth who tracks a jewel thief from airport to airport or a pilot-detective tracking a witness to a train robbery etc., using the coordinates so the students have to play detective to find the cities and the loot.

== 56. COMPASS ROSE ==

Objective: to help children gain an understanding of cardinal directions in terms of the compass



Materials: Large sheet of butcher paper. Game sheet.

Procedure:

Using the following two pages of illustrations and directions, draw a large compass on the piece of butcher paper. Read "The Game" directions and get at it.

EXPECT CONFUSION at first. Do it with the students. Discuss how pilots of various aircraft use compass headings and why it is so vital that all persons involved use the same terminology.

THE COMPASS ROSE GAME

Suggested Teaching Strategy

Basic to understanding maps and their application to finding one's way on the earth’s surface is a thorough knowledge of the compass. From the ancient mariners to today’s private pilots, the compass utilizing the magnetic north pole has been the primary instrument of navigation.

This "game" or activity is designed to help the children gain a basic understanding of cardinal directions in terms of the compass, and to refine that knowledge into understandings of the circle, angles, the great circle routes, and skills in identifying compass directions.

The direction from any given point on the earth's surface to any given point on the earth's surface is always measured as a certain number of degrees from north. One nautical mile is equal to one minute of arc at the equator and on all the lines of longitude. Sixty minutes of arc is equal to one degree.

The Game

Draw a large compass rose on a large piece of butcher paper, or draw with chalk directly on the floor. Have north, or 360°, correspond to actual north. Mark the center of the compass rose where a child will stand.

Divide the class into teams, and let each member of each team take turns standing in the compass rose. Members of the other team can call out compass headings from 001° (one degree) to 360° to the child standing in the center of the compass rose, who turns and faces the direction called for. He must turn to his right to be correct, since degrees are counted from north to east to south to west to north.

Variations on this activity can be made to be appropriate to several ability levels. For example. some children can face a given direction and be directed to turn right or left a given number of degrees. If he is facing 035° and is directed to turn left 020°, he will turn left and be facing 015° when he stops. Or he can face 280° and be directed to make a 180° right turn. When he stops he will be facing 100°.

NOTE: In writing compass headings in numbers, one always writes three digits. If the compass heading is from one to nine, it is written 001°, 002° , 003° , etc. For headings over one hundred, no zero is placed before the number, as 180° , 283° , etc.

Orally, these directions, as they may be given to a pilot by a traffic controller on the radio, would be read “zero-zero-three degrees,” or "zero-one-five degrees", or “two-seven-zero degrees". Have the children use this terminology in performing the activity.


 * Reprinted by the Federal Aviation Administration With permission from the Cessna Aircraft Company GA-20-50

== 57. PROBING THE EARTH ==



Objectives: to practice plotting longitude and latitude landing sites on a map of Earth; to draw conclusions about the Earth based on information gathered by simulated probes.



Materials: Study Sheet. Pencils.

Teacher Background Information: Scientists base some of what they know about other worlds upon the information gathered by probes which have landed on those worlds. The landing coordinates used in the exercise are those of the different lunar landings.

Procedure:

Review with the students how to find latitude and longitude on a map. Playing the game "Battleships" can help.

Have students plot the landing points given on the study sheet. (next page)

What might a person gathering information at these landing sites conclude about the Earth? What does this say about data collection? About making generalizations?

Extension: Using the ceiling in your classroom as the "map" (If you have a suspended gridded ceiling already, you're in LUCK) plot longitude and latitude lines over- head. Decide, with your students, which meridian line will be the Prime Meridian and which parallel will be the Equator.

Mark them as 00 and then plot the meridians and parallels on either side in degrees of your choice (50, 100, etc.) You can use construction paper numbers stapled to a suspended ceiling or hung from it, whatever seems to work best. After the ceiling as been given its grid system, have students plot the coordinates where they sit, where the desk is, where various objects in the room are located.

If the coordinates were given to an extra terrestrial to probe for a good idea of what your classroom was like, what coordinates and how many would have to be given? Talk about the need again, for sufficient data both in amount of sample as well as in variety of sample.

== 58. RECTANGULAR COORDINATES ==

Objective: to locate the position of objects using rectangular coordinates.



Materials: Graph paper. Pencils.

Teacher Background Information: Using ordinary graph paper, you can form a grid by numbering the lines as shown...

A point where two lines intersect is called a rectangular coordinate and can be designated by using the two numbers of intersecting lines. For instance, point C on the sample grid lies at the intersection of line 8 and line 4. The numbers (8,4) are the coordinates of point C.

Notice that the horizontal distance from the zero point is given first. This is universally accepted and avoids confusion. Remind your students often: horizontal first, vertical second.

Practice yourself with the other points on the graph. Point D is on a line over 2 and up 8 (2,8). Point G has the coordinates (4,0). (Your students may know the game "Battleship“ which uses rectangular coordinates to locate and sink hidden ships.)

Skills in using coordinates will allow students to use the technique to find positions on a map. Later, they can use the concept to understand how to locate their own position on a simulated flight using an aeronautical map.

Procedure:


 * 1) Pass out graph paper and have the students number the lines on the paper to form a rectangular grid.
 * 2) Have students place 3 "x"s on their paper where lines cross.
 * 3) Now ask students to explain where they placed their "x"s. They will probably suggest using the numbers on the grid to help describe where the "x"s are.
 * 4) If they do not understand or use the number to describe the position of their marks, use a large grid on the board to show how the system works.
 * 5) Label the concept, "Rectangular Coordinates." Explain that number pairs (i.e., 4,6) are used to name the coordinates of a mark on the grid.
 * 6) Play the game "5 in a Row."

The Game:

Split the class into two teams. The object is to capture five grid points in a row along one grid line. The row may be formed left-right, up-down, or diagonally.

To capture points, the students take turns calling out rectangular coordinates and grid an X for one team and an O for the teams alternate calling out coordinates may call out a coordinate at a time and from the team. you mark on a large other team. The but only one student can receive no help
 * a. Two teams take turns capturing grid points by calling out coordinates.
 * b. The first coordinate is to the right, the second is up.
 * c. The teams may hold a one minute conference after each has had two turns.
 * d. If a point called out is already taken, the team‘s turn is lost.
 * e. The first team to capture five (5) points in a row is the winner.

== 59. PICTURES FROM SPACE ==



Objective: to help student understand how pictures from spacecraft can be received on Earth through the computer.

Materials: Activity sheet (next page) for each student: Pencil. Graph paper (24 x 7)

Procedure:

Follow the "bleep, blip" code to form a message from space.

Ask students to make up their own space messages using the same "bleep, blip" code to put in an Activity Center for others to decode.

Suggest that they can produce images as well as messages this way. See what they come up with.

PICTURES FROM SPACE


 * 1) Did you ever wonder how spacecraft like the Pioneer send pictures to Earth from distant planets? The sound of a picture returning from space is just a collection of strange “bleeps" and "blips.“ A computer is able to turn these sounds into a picture.
 * 2) Follow the code below to make your own picture. Leave "beep" squares blank and fill in "blip" squares with pen or pencil

== 60. FORMING AN IMAGE WITH PIXELS ==

Objective: to simulate how images are transmitted from a satellite to the Earth.

Materials: Graph paper. Information sheet. (Following page) Pencils.

Teacher Background Information. Information about clouds, land features and Space data are sent to computers on the ground in the form of number values. The computer in turn constructs a picture from that data. This exercise gives students a chance to understand how that process works.

Procedure:

Distribute the information sheet and graph paper to each student. Read through the directions on the information sheet with them and get them started on it. Let them work on their own until they can see the whole image of the space shuttle.

Extension: Have students make up their own set of directions for others to work out. These images can take the form of a picture or a written message. You might want to give them cryptic titles to work with like, "What We Saw When We Landed on Mars..." or "This is My Last Message from Space..." or "What Commander Harrison Observed in the Sky Over Pluto..." "What the Robot Saw..." etc. - FUN

FORMING AN IMAGE WITH PIXELS

To form an image in a manner similar to the way in which Landsat, Voyager and other spacecraft allow us to form images Follow these instructions.
 * 1) Beginning at the top left square of a sheet of graph paper count four squares to the right and then fill in the letters of the alphabet in the squares across the top of the page
 * 2) Beginning at the same top left square count down three squares and then write the numbers 1 through 39 in the squares down the side of the page
 * 3) Darken these squares

== 61. COLORING YOUR OWN "LANDSAT" ==

Objective: to introduce the concepts of false color imagery produced by the Landsat satellite

Materials: worksheet of "Landsat images". Marker or Crayons. Landsat images.

Teacher Background Information:

NASA‘s Landsat has produced thousands of images with its Multi-spectral Scanner for use in accessing flood damage, for forestry projects, land use assessment, mapping, conservation and ecology. The satellite is in polar orbit approximately 568-570 miles over the earth and orbits from North to South snapping pictures as it moves. Each image covers a region 115 miles (185 km) on a side and as the satellite snaps its pictures, it's computer sends pixel messages back to earth's computers for "developing,"

The colors of the Landsat images appear somewhat strange because the image is produced by combining reflected near infrared light with red and green light. Thus, vegetation, for example, which looks green to us under normal conditions, will look red on a Landsat picture. This false color imagery - or a coded image - can be fed into the computer and coded in whatever manner the scientist or map maker then wishes.

It would be helpful to have full color Landsat images for the students to see. They are available from NASA, free to teachers. In the meantime, the worksheet can suffice as a fun beginning to an understanding of this rather complicated and immensely useful satellite.

(Planes can be used to take similar images. Since the planes that are used for this photography generally fly about 15 miles above the earth, it would be expected that the images would be even sharper and more detailed than those of Landsat. However, the Landsat images can cover far more territory and can be taken at all times since the satellite is in constant orbit.)

Procedure:

Run off and distribute one worksheet to each student and tell them that Landsat images are provided in a similar manner. (For one thing, North in our images is directly Right of each image which is not true of Landsat images.) Have the students use the code and carefully color the four pictures as indicated. when they have each image color coded, have them cut out each image and piece together appropriately. (01's South end fits 02's N end, etc.) They should be encouraged to try to discern what this strip might be a picture of. If you have a real Landsat image of this part of Michigan, it might be fun to compare with the students' images. The Landsat images should show a much more detailed set of references. Features like cities, rivers, mountains, lakes, reservoirs, interstate highways and agricultural regions will frequently be seen. (The less cloud cover, the better, of course.)

Discuss the need for seeing such an overview in the event of various happenings: floods, infestation of disease or of insects in crops, forestry projects after fire or damage from hail, ecology and conservation.

= FIFTH GRADE - "WHERE THE CLOUDS ARE FAR BEHIND”=

”WHEN I WAS A BOY, I USED TO ASK SUCH SIMPLE QUESTIONS - LIKE, 'WHAT HOLDS THE CLOUDS UP? MURRAY GELL-MAN, PHYSICIST

== 62. PILOT TESTS ==

Objectives: to experience some of the tests pilots and astronauts must pass; to become aware that physical fitness is important for a pilot.



Materials:
 * Hand Steadiness Test: 1 - 1 1/2 volt battery. 4 feet bell wire. 3-4 feet bare copper wire (10 or 12 gauge). 1 flashlight bulb and holder. 2 pieces 1" x 6" x 12" pine wood. 1 piece 1" x 4" for grip.


 * Field of Vision Test: 1 - 6" x 30" to 36" piece of tag board. Masking tape. Protractor.


 * Depth Perception Test: 1 - piece 1" x 8" x 18" pine board. 2 pieces 1' x 8" x 6" pine board. 1 piece 1/2 " x 1" x 2" pine board. 2 screw eyes (sma11). 2 - #6d box nails. 3 small nails or brads. 1 - 9' piece of string.

Teacher Background Information:

To handle the special stress of near space and or space flight, a person must be in very good physical condition and pass special tests to qualify as a pilot of spacecraft or high speed jets. Other measurements and limitations give information to scientists who can prepare the spacecraft or plane to the pilot with whatever he or she needs for safety and efficiency.

Procedure :


 * Hand Steadiness Test. Construct the tester as shown. (See following page.) Try to pass the wand between the bare wire loop from one side to the other and back without causing the bulb to light.


 * Field of Vision Test. Construct the tester as shown. Move a marker or a pencil from the side toward the center. When the subject sees the marker out of the corner of or her eye, record the angle on a graph. Repeat for the other eye. Make sure the person being tested directly ahead.


 * Depth Perception Test. Construct the device and have the student grasp the strings in each hand. While looking through the holes from 2 or 3 feet back, try to line up the nails side by side. Record any difference between the nails.

=
Youth in Aviation=====

ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS (AMA)

The AMA is a self-supporting, non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote development of model aviation as a recognized sport and a worthwhile recreational and educational activity open to anyone interested in model aircraft which fly. AMA sponsors a youth scholarship program. Awards are presented annually to deserving youngsters whose modeling skills match their scholastic abilities.

Has grown over the years from an activity of mostly kids flying paper covered ‘toy’ airplanes, to a primarily adult activity involving sophisticated miniature aircraft with space-age construction and materials. It involves craftsmanship, aerodynamics and electronics. For All Ages Most participants are adults, including retired senior citizens, yet there are thousands of youngsters involved; such as 16-year-olds who fly in national and international competition and 8-year-olds (or less) who learn by building and flying balsa and tissue covered rubber powered models. Men, women, boys, and girls are all part of the scene.

An Educational Tool The educational benefits of model aviation far exceed the obvious connections to aerodynamics and the manual arts. Science, chemistry and mathematics are involved, as well as weather, engineering and the laws of physics. They all play a part in the model aviator's aerospace education. Model aviation makes learning fun. As a deterrent to juvenile delinquency, aeromodeling is unsurpassed. No youth actively working on and flying model airplanes has time to get into trouble. It is an activity which absorbs full attention and discourages distraction by other interests. An outstanding record of documentation attests to the character building and educational values of model building and flying.

Additional Services AMA clubs provide flying sites, instruction and help to newcomers of all ages.

For more information check out their web site online.

4-H AEROSPACE PROJECT

The 4-H program is the youth educational arm of the Cooperative Extension Service of the various state Land Grant Universities. It is an informal educational program designed to help youth from all segments of our society to grow into productive citizenship. The learning tool of these youth is the 4-H project. Projects vary from Beef Cattle to Clothing and from Woodworking to Aerospace. These programs in behalf of 4-H are made possible through the support of Business and industry, Foundations, Government and individual cooperators. Objectives: To create in youth an awareness of the basic concepts of space science and aeronautics. To develop in youth an interest and awareness of the impact of the aviation- aerospace program on society. To provide youth with the opportunity to develop skills and explore areas of interest in the aviation-aerospace program. To provide youth with the opportunity to explore various aviation-aerospace careers. and To provide experiences in aerospace science that will enhance the individual's responsible growth toward productive citizenship.

Purpose: The purpose of the program ls to create an awareness in youth of the basic concepts of science and aviation, develop skills and to explore career areas, and provide experiences in aerospace science that will enhance the responsible growth of the individual and lead to productive citizenship. The development of a National 4-H Aerospace Program is presently an ongoing part of the program in 43 states and has reached the awareness level in all 50 states. Program The number of subject areas and activities in aerospace is unlimited. The leader and the members organize the program to meet their needs and interests. Starting points for the program represent live areas of youth interest - Rocketry, Aviation, Support and Utilization, Airport, and Aerospace Science. Each interest area can be divided into sub-areas and each can relate to other topics. Youth's minds provide the linkage. Some will find the manual, prepared especially for the five areas, fits their needs. Others will need to use other methods and materials. The sell determined approach has been developed as an aid to this exciting process.

For more information check out the 4-H Aerospace Project web site online.

== 63. HUMAN REACTION TIME ==

Objective: to relate reaction time to the rapid responses require during space flights



Materials:
 * Test 1 - Reaction time card. (See following pages) Stop watch (or watch with second hand). Pencil.


 * Test 2 - Duplicate of scale pasted over yardstick. (See following pages)

Teacher Background Information: Astronauts are ever aware of the possible occurrence of unusual situations during spaceflight. Pilots of near space and in space crafts know that the unexpected can happen and that they have to be ready to respond quickly. Unexpected problems may arise on a long space flight when crew members are likely to be more fatigued or complacent. These unexpected problems call for rapid responses using the senses of light, sound and feeling. The faster the reaction time of an astronaut, pilot or crew member, the better chance they will have to cope well with situations.

Procedure:

Test I - Two students should work together, one to test his or her reaction time while the other times the responses. Over 9 seconds ...... slow 9 seconds ............... about average 7 seconds ............... very good 5 seconds ............... excellent
 * 1) Touch each square in the block in numerical order. Record the time.
 * 1) Touch each square in reverse order. Record.
 * 2) Touch each even square in order then each odd square in order. Record.
 * 3) Try the other hand.
 * 4) Graph your data after several trials, How do times compare? Make up some squares of your own to avoid "learning" the board.

Test II - Duplicate the scale on the following page and paste it over a yardstick. The markings are in 1/100th of a second.
 * 1) Rest a subject's right or left forearm on a table or desk top with hand extended over the edge. Drop the timing stick to pass vertically between the subject's index finger and thumb so that she may catch it after it starts to fall.
 * 2) The beginning of the timer should be placed one inch lower than the top of the thumb. (Base line even with top of thumb.)
 * 3) The length of time it takes for the subject to catch the stick can be read directly. How can you determine average reaction time? Does everyone have the same reaction time?
 * 4) Blindfold the subject and have him or her catch the timer on a signal just as it is dropped. Is there a difference between visual and/or auditory cues? If so, why?

Factors Affecting Human Time Lags

A. Reaction time varies with age:

B. Reaction time varies with practice. Reaction time can be reduced by practice approximately 10 percent.

C. Reaction time of left hand is 3 percent longer than right hand for right handed persons.

== 64. LUNG CAPACITY TEST ==

Objective: to make a physiological test which is an astronaut requirement for physical excellence.



Materials: A 5 gallon jug. 3' piece of flexible plastic tubing. Sink or large water container.

Procedure: [ .. R2h pie r squared h] This will give you a rough number of the cubic inches of lung capacity the subject has.
 * 1) Place the jug in the sink, which should be half filled with water, with the open spout down and the tubing inserted as illustrated.
 * 2) Have the subject suck on the tube, drawing the air out so that the water will rise to the top of the jug.
 * 3) The subject then takes a deep breath and, placing his lips on the tube, blows as hard as possible in order to blow out as much of the water as she/he can.
 * 4) Measure the amount of water displaced by using the formula
 * 1) After you have measured the student's lung capacity, discuss the necessity of good health for pilots. How is lung capacity an indication of good health? How can students build their lung capacity? What about smoking?

== 65. GETTING THERE ==

Objectives: to explain why powerful rocket engines are needed to achieve orbit and overcome the Earth's gravitational field

Material: Baseball.

Teacher Background Information:

If you could throw a ball hard enough, theoretically, you could throw it to the moon. Gravity however, pulls it back. You would have to throw the ball about 40,000 Km/h (Escape Velocity) to overcome gravity. A fast ball thrown by a major league pitcher may reach 200 Km/h. A bullet leaves the barrel of a gun at about 2,000 Km/h, only one tenth as fast as a rocket needs to go to leave the Earth's gravitational field.

As the object leaving the earth gets farther away, the pull of gravity gets less and less. Likewise as an object gets closer to a planet or moon, the stronger and stronger becomes the gravitational pull of that planet or moon.

Procedure:

Have a student throw a ball as high and straight up, as possible. Have the other students observe the flight of the ball. Ask them to describe the flight path in a very precise way. Did they notice the ball slow down as it got higher? Did they see it stop and then speed up as it fell? Ask them why the ball doesn't just keep going. If they threw a ball as hard as they could, could they get it to the moon? Is there a way to get it there?

== 66. CONSTRUCTING AN ACTION-REACTION ENGINE ==

Objective: to illustrate Newton's Third Law of Motion; To demonstrate the similarity between this experiment and the propulsion system used on a rocket engine.



Materials: Small test tube with cork (Pyrex test tube from science lab.) Water. Candle. Thread. 2 chairs. Tape.

Procedure:

Set up apparatus as illustrated.

(Space chairs further apart than illustration indicates):

Lubricate cork stopper with Vaseline. Place a tablespoon of water in the bottle. Position test tube over candle flame and note the reaction of the test tube as the cork pops out.

How does this investigation illustrate Newton's Third Law? How is this similar to a rocket engine?

== 67. BREAKING AWAY ==

Objective: to demonstrate the effects of reaching escape velocity and overcoming gravitational pull

Materials: String, Rubber stopper, Scissors

Teacher Background Information:

When a spacecraft reaches 18,000 miles an hour it can achieve orbit around the earth. Eventually however, gravity will pull the spacecraft back to earth. If the spacecraft is sped up to about 25,000 miles an hour the force of gravity is offset and the craft can leave orbit.

Newton's lst Law of Motion states that a thing set in motion will travel in a straight line and continue traveling in the path until acted upon by another force

Newton's 2nd Law of Motion says that something at rest will stay at rest until acted upon by a force. As soon as a spacecraft overcomes gravity it will start off in a straight line until acted upon, by changing its speed or direction with manueverinq rockets, or when captured by another gravitational force

Procedure

Have a student tie a rubber stopper to a string and spin it in a vertical loop when the stopper is at the top of a loop cut the string or let go of the string (Make sure this is done in a safe place perhaps outdoors).

Ask student to tell you what they observe when the string is cut. Have the students describe what path the stopper takes. At what point does it change direction? How is the string like gravity? If the student twirled the stopper and the stopper represented Earth, what would the student represent? If the stopper were the moon what would the student be? What force acting on a spacecraft must be removed to let it fly away from earth?

== 68. ON STAGE FOR ORBIT ==

Objectives: to understand how a satellite can stay in orbit around the earth; to discover why it takes a two stage rocket to put a satellite into orbit.



Materials: 1 inflated rubber basketball. 1 foot of clothes hanger wire. 18" piece of string. 1 plastic pen cap. 1 one ounce lead sinker.

Procedure:

Before the investigation, ask the students why they think it is necessary to use a vehicle with two or more rocket engines. Ask what some of the things are, that affect the size and shape of an orbit. What are some of the things that may affect the period of time a satellite will remain in orbit?

After discussion, set up the investigation by, first, filing one end of the wire to a point. Then, insert other end into basketball air hole. Tie one end of the string to the pen cap and the other end to the sinker. Place the cap on pointed end of wire. (See illustration.) This is an example of a one stage rocket. Ask how this is so. (A one stage rocket launched directly from the earth must return to earth in the same way.) Ask how that might be changed. The sinker is now in orbit around the basketball.
 * 1) Once this is done, push the sinker up and away from the surface of the ball with a slight tap. The sinker moves up and falls right back to the starting point. Relate this to a single engine projecting a rocket away from the earth.
 * 2) Now push the sinker away from the ball at an angle so that it swings part way around the ball. What does the distance spanned depend on? (Angle and forcefulness of the tap.)
 * 3) With a stronger tap, push the sinker off the surface at an angle so that it spins around the ball a couple of times.
 * 1) With one tap (first stage), push the sinker straight up from the surface of the ball. With another tap (second stage), push the sinker in a direction parallel to the surface. (See illustration on next page.)

Ask how the two taps are related to staging. What does the first tap do? (Gets sinker away from ball - rocket away from Earth.) What does the second tap do? (Puts sinker in orbit - rocket in orbit) How long will the rocket/sinker stay in orbit? (Until gravity pulls it back.)

Note: You may use the activity sheet on the next page to set up a small group investigation which the students do completely on their own, or simply use the activity sheet as you do the demonstration of the experiment with them.

== 69. HITTING THE MOON ==

Objective: to show students that a rocket must be aimed in front of the moon in order to arrive at the place where the moon will have moved while the rocket traveled from the Earth to the Moon's orbit.

Materials: Soft balls (Nurf or Tennis). Waste basket.

Procedure:


 * 1) Have a student stand still and shoot a ball into a waste basket from about 2 meters away. The student probably won‘t miss.
 * 2) Have the student turn slowly around where she/he is and then try to hit the basket while still turning. A little harder, perhaps.
 * 3) Now have another student hold the basket and move around the ball thrower in the same direction he/she is turning but much slower. Now have the student try to hit the basket. How do the two motions affect hitting the basket? Try it with the basket carrier 3 meters away or 4 meters away.
 * 4) Discuss what the thrower must do to the basket while it and she/he are moving. Relate to what a quarterback must do sometimes. Then relate this way a spacecraft must be aimed in order to hit the moon.
 * 5) Try hitting the basket with a much smaller ball. Is it easier? More difficult? Why do the students think this happens? A spacecraft is very tiny compared to the moon. Discuss the added difficulty. Discuss the idea that both speed and size need to be factored in to a problem.

== 70. HOT UNDER THE COLLAR ==

Objective: to experience heat loss due to evaporation; to understand the process used to remove heat from space suits.



Materials: Alcohol. Water (room temperature) Small card. Fan. Pie plate. Wash cloth. Thermometer.

Teacher Background Information: The human body can only operate within a small range of temperatures. Pilots who must wear airtight "g" suits or space suits can become very uncomfortable within a short time. Circulating dry air throughout the inside of the suits removes the moisture and cools the pilot's body.

Procedure:

Activity 1 - Place a few drops of water or alcohol on the back of your hand. Aid evaporation of the drops by fanning them with a small card. Note the change in temperature.

Activity 2 - Why moving air in the astronaut‘s suit cools him but does not cool the suit or the capsule can be shown in the following: Hold the thermometer in the breeze of the fan and note the reading. Place it in the water and let the fan blow on the water. Read the thermometer again. Place the washcloth in the pan, draping it over the sides, as shown, and note the change in temperature of the water. The moving air helps to evaporate the water out of the pan in the same way that the circulating dry air in the space suit removes perspiration from the body of the astronaut.

== 71. MANUFACTURING WATER IN SPACE ==

Objectives: to see that water (H2O) is made up of two gases Hydrogen and Oxygen



Materials: 2 6 volt lantern batteries. 2 2 foot pieces of bell wire 2-1 1/2" long pencil leads. 1 large Jar. 2 small vials or test tubes. 15 ml of Epson Salts (3 4 tablespoons). water. Electricians tape

Teacher Background Information:

Water is a basic need of human beings in order to live more than a few days. Unfortunately it weighs a bit more than 8 pounds per gallon. This makes it difficult to take into space when much is needed. Another need in a space capsule is electricity to run many of the instruments and the radios. Special fuel cells manufacture electricity by combining Oxygen (O2) and Hydrogen (H) a process which releases a little energy and also makes water.

Procedure

You can separate water into Oxygen and Hydrogen by passing an electric current through it.
 * 1) Wrap the bare ends of two pieces of wire around the ends of two pencil leads. Cover the lead where the wire is attached with electricians tape Leave the rest of the lead exposed.
 * 2) Mix about 15 ml of Epson salts in a liter of water Stir until all the Epson salts are dissolved.
 * 3) Fill two small vials with water and place them upside down in the jar of solution. Keep the vials covered as you immerse them so no air gets in.
 * 4) Carefully place the vials over the pencil leads and connect the other end of the wires to two 6 volt batteries wired in series. (See diagram.)
 * 5) You should see bubbles of gas in each of the vials.
 * 6) Test the gas with a glowing splint. If the splint burst back into flame the gas is Oxygen. Ask the students why they think that happens. If the gas makes a little pop sound it is Hydrogen. (Be sure to keep the vials upside down when you take them out of the water. Cover the mouth of the vial until you are ready to test with the splint.)
 * 7) One vial will get about twice as much gas as the other. From the formula (H2O) can you think why this may be so?

== 72. GETTING DOWN IN EGGSACTLY ONE PIECE ==

Objective: to explore methods of landing delicate cargo when there is little or no atmosphere to slow vehicle down.

Materials: Raw Eggs. Various student gathered materials.

Teacher Background Information: Landing a space vehicle on the moon or any planet with a thin atmosphere is a problem unlike landing on the earth. Parachutes are ruled out because no air is available to operate one.

Procedure:

Talk with students about landing safely on a planet without air. Explain they have a problem to solve and they have X amount of time to do it in. They must then prove that their solution works. They are to get a raw egg safely to the ground from a height of at least 30 feet, (off the school roof, over a banister from the second floor, etc.), without parachutes and in something smaller than a shoe box. Cracked or broken eggs will be considered evidence of the need for further experimentation.

Give them a few days to design and construct a solution and arrange for the test site. On the test day, gather the eggs (!), your students and have each one drop their landing device. Retrieve each one and check the condition of the egg.

After the experiment, discuss what sort of devices, constructions and materials seemed to work best. Ask how those students went about working out their solutions and planning for the test. Relate again to setting people and spacecraft down on other planets without enough air for resistance and see if some of the solutions used for their eggs might relate to that problem.

Extension: Have students research how NASA and other aerospace agencies have worked out the problem of landing delicate cargo on other planets.

== 73. NEUTRAL BUOYANCY ==

Objective: to simulate a weightless condition on Earth by neutral buoyancy.

Materials: Long glass cylinder container. Miniature glass tube. Water.

Procedure:

Fill larger container with water. Add water to smaller tube and invert it inside the larger container. The small tube should have enough water inside it so that it will float even with the top of the larger container. Make sure water is even with the rim of the large container. Place palm of hand over larger container to form a seal (could use a cardboard or rubber as a sealer). Apply pressure with palm and the small container will sink inside the larger one. By regulating the pressure of the palm of the hand you determine the depth of the smaller container.

Relate the demonstration to fluid pressure and discuss the demonstration as an illustration of a condition under which astronauts sometimes train such as in sea labs and neutral buoyancy tanks.

Extension: Astronauts also experience weightlessness during training in planes which fly a parabolic arc course in the sky. Have the students research this and report what actually happens. The same feeling occurs in a car as you drive over a hill which drops sharply away or in a roller coaster as you crest over the top.

== 74. REDUCING YOUR WEIGHT (ON THE MOON)==

Objective: to develop an appreciation of the relationship between Earth gravity and that of the Moon and Mars.



Materials: 4' bar or large dowel rod. Old bicycle tube. Bathroom scale

Teacher Background Information: Astronauts experience weightless conditions in space and greatly reduced gravity on the Moon. Moon gravity is about 1/6 that of Earth. Mars has about 4/10 the gravity of the Earth. There are a number of biological effects of weightlessness on astronauts. Have the students research some of these.

Procedure:

Make the apparatus as shown in the sketch. The apparatus can be used to simulate weight on other planets. "Zero gravity" can be felt in a child's feet by lifting them just a little. With a bit of research, children can find out how much they weigh on other planets and the Moon.

Have students figure their Moon weight (1/6 their Earth weight) and their weight on Mars (4/10 what they weigh on Earth). Record the Name, Earth weight, Mars weight and Moon weights. Have two students lift one student up enough to register their Moon weight and Mars weight on the bathroom scale. This will give them some feeling of what it feels like to be in reduced gravity.

== 75. IT'S THE PITS ==



Objective: to develop a model for the formation of craters



Materials: (per team) 1 shallow pan. 1 sheet of newspaper. 1 small steel ball. 1 marble. 1 meter of thread. Tape. Enough sand to fill pan about 1" deep. Light Source. Ranger images (following pages)

Procedure:

Lay the sheet of newspaper on the floor. Place the pan in the center of the paper. Pour sand into the pan to a depth of about 1 inch. (3 cm) Smooth the sand out but do not pack the sand down or shake the pan. Attach the thread to the steel ball with a small piece of tape. Hold the ball about 20 inches (50 cm) above the pan. Leave slack in the string so that the ball does not jerk back when dropped.

Drop the ball into the sand. Gently lift the ball straight up out of the sand. Examine the crater that was formed. Illuminate the crater from the side with a flood light or a bare bulb. Compare what you see with the Ranger images provided. Can you infer which direction the sun is coming from in the pictures of the moon?

Measure your crater. Record data. Now drop the glass marble in the same way you did the steel ball from 50 cm. How are the craters different? How are they the same? Measure and record data.

Try the balls one at a time from 1 meter about 3 ft. How are the craters different now? Can you conclude what makes a difference in the size of moon craters?

== 76. CLOSER! CLOSER! I SEE IT!!==

Objective: to develop greater understanding of the need to investigate "close up."



Materials: Ranger IX images of the Moon. (See preceding pages). Pictures of teacher's choice.

Procedure:

In order to show students how important it is to really see details in order to better know something, stand in front of the classroom with a picture of something that can be discerned but has greater detail as one comes in closer to it. Saturn is super. The students can see It is a planet - with a ring - from pretty far back but, as they get closer, they can see there are many rings and inside them are many moons. A number of pictures of everyday scenes will make the same point.

Talk about what it means to scientists, and to all of us in everyday circumstances, to know as many of the details as possible before we can make any meaningful generalizations about a thing. How can we discover those details? (Better telescopes. Go there. Send robots. Bigger samples, etc.) Brainstorm ways and talk about them.

After the discussion, have students look at the Ranger IX images. Ask what they have in common. How are they different? What do they think they might be of? Let them discover that they can be ordered and are images of the same thing from shorter and shorter distances. (Plate K-G-D-H-L) What can they see in Plate L that they could not see in K? Discuss, again, the importance of detail in order to "know,"

Extension: This is a good lead in to the importance of details to all "knowing." What are the details involved in a complex math problem and how do the details help us know what the problem really means?

How do we "know" another person? A character in a book? A piece of art? A piece of music?

How do we know our town or state or country? What sort of details must we look tor and how do we do that? HOW DO WE GET CLOSE UP? As you and your students engage in other kinds of learning, use that question a lot!

== 77. MOON'S SONG: I GOT PLENTY OF NOTHIN' ==

Objectives: to describe some of the characteristics of the moon's environment; to compare the moon's hostile environment to Earth's environment.

Materials: Reference material - books, pamphlets, magazines, encyclopedias. Lunar word puzzle worksheet.

Procedure:

Cut out the individual word puzzles and distribute one to each group. Explain that the students are to figure out what aspect of the moon's environment they are to research by unscrambling the letters on their paper. Give them a bit of time to do that and to organize their search. Allow a few days to find the information.

When they have finished, have each group present what they have learned to the class at large. Encourage pictures, drawings and illustrations as support for what they found. Encourage questions and have students write down questions that require further investigation. Work out ways of finding those answers.

After the moon's environment has been discussed and the remaining questions have been looked into, do a comparison of the Earth's environment to the Moon's. Ask students to note similarities and differences in their notebooks as you discuss them and write them on the board.

Extension: There's an activity coming up called, "Lost on the Moon." This is a very good activity to use as a lead in; in fact, it's really only fair that the students have some background on the moon's environment before they do "Lost on the Moon."

Key: 1.) Craters 2.) Moon Rocks 3.) Temperature 4.) Weather 5.) Lunar Life 6.) Communication 7.) Gravity 8.) Atmosphere 9.) Moonquakes 10.) Mountains

LUNAR SCRAMBLE

TRAESCR.....How did they form? What are they like?

OMNO CRKOS.....What do they tell us? Where can earthlings get some?

RRAPEMTEUET.....What's the highest? Lowest? How do the astronauts manage?

THWEERA.....Is there any? How does it affect what goes on there?

ULRAN IFLE.....Is the moon a dead duck? Do we know for sure?

UMCACOMTNINIO.....Why can't you hear when you're called? How is it done?

YVARGTI.....How does it compare to Earth's What are the problems? Advantages?

MSHRPEETAO.....What is it like? Why is it hard to land? Breathe?

OOQMNAKSEU.....How do they happen?

TINOUNSMA.....How were they formed? Are they like the ones on Earth?

== 78. LOST ON THE MOON 1 ==

Objective: to use knowledge of moon's environment to make logical choices about equipment available for survival; to practice group consensus skills.

Materials: Copy of "Lost on the Moon Survival items" (1 for each student). Pencils.

Procedure:


 * 1) Distribute copies of the worksheet and have students individually rank the items, given the information at the top of the page. (about 10 minutes)
 * 2) Divide class into workable groups.
 * 3) Explain that this is an exercise in group decision making. Each group is to use the method of group consensus in reaching its decision. This means that the prediction for each of the 15 survival items must be agreed upon by each group member before it becomes a part of the group decision. Concensus is difficult to reach, therefore, not every ranking will meet with everyone's approval. Encourage the students to listen to each other and to find out why someone feels an item should have a particular ranking before the decision is made by the group. Avoid voting. It generally leads to trouble.
 * 4) Give the students 20 minutes to make their group decisions;
 * 5) In large group, read NASA's ranking to the students and have them compare their choices with NASA's. Take the time to go over why the item was ranked the way it was by NASA. When the ranking is done, have students work out their scores.

KEY TO LOST ON THE MOON

== 79. WHAT'S WHAT lN THE WAY OF SPACECRAFT ==

Objective: to use research to learn about spacecraft and associated hardware significant in the history of space exploration.

Materials: Various research materials from NASA on specific spacecraft. Pictures of spacecraft.

Procedure:

Put the name of each spacecraft on a separate piece of paper. Have the students split up into small groups and choose a slip of paper from a hat. The students should then research the history and purpose of the craft they picked. Ask them to consider the information gathered by the spacecraft as it went about exploring space. How has what was learned from each craft affected us on earth? What benefits have been gained from the exploration? How has the knowledge changed our concept space?

Have the students make presentations to their class about what they found. Encourage pictures, drawings, models and illustrations of the craft and related information. When they are all finished, display the information and visuals in a spacecraft display.

NASA Spacecraft


 * Apollo
 * Gemini
 * Mercury
 * Explorer
 * Surveyor
 * Pioneer
 * Viking
 * Voyager
 * Eagle
 * Columbia


 * Discovery
 * Atlantis
 * Challenger
 * [newer...]

== 80. MODEL ROCKETS ==

Modeling, Experimenting, Collecting data, Comparing

Objective: To study, assemble and launch a model rocket; to learn model rocket safety procedures; to set up a launch and rocket recovery area.

Materials: Model Rocket Kits including rocket engines and igniters. Launch equipment. Model Rocket Activity Guides available from Estes Industries.

Procedure:

Obtain model rocket guides and technical manuals from a reputable supplier or manufacturer. Estes has a 4 week guide and is an excellent source. Bob Cannon is the Education Director at Estes. If you are familiar with concepts related to model rockets, you may wish to have:
 * 1) a demonstration launch
 * 2) students build model rockets
 * 3) students study safety procedures
 * 4) students set up a launch area
 * 5) students launch the class rockets
 * 6) students gather data about altitude, reliability of ignition, flight characteristics, accuracy of landing, etc.
 * 7) students compare thrusts of different engines
 * 8) students make graphs of data.

== 81. ALTITUDE TRACKING OF MODEL ROCKETS ==



Objective: to practice measuring and plotting similar triangles on a graph in order to determine the altitude of a model rocket or other object.

Materials: Protractor. Straw. Weight. or altiscope. tape. String. or hypsometer Graph paper. Pencil

Procedure:

Have a student measure off 500 to 1000 feet from the rocket launch pad. this point is the "sighting station." Using a sighting device, measure the angle to the peak altitude the rocket reaches.

Method 1.

Locate the tangent of the angle read on the table of tangents. Multiply the tangent times the distance from the rocket launch pad to the "sighting station." The resulting figure is the altitude of the rocket flight.

Estes Rockets, Penrose, California

TABLE OF TANGENTS



Method 2.

Mark off the distance from the station to the pad. Let us assume that it is l,000 feet. Assume that the rocket was tracked to its highest point and that the angle of elevation was 40 degrees.

Let one square = 100 feet on the graph paper.

Draw a line on the graph paper 10 squares long paralleling the bottom of the paper.

Construct a line of any length perpendicular to the base line at the point called "pad."

Construct the angle of elevation to the perpendicular line from the point marked "station."

To obtain the elevation simply measure the length of the perpendicular side. For example: in our problem this line would be 8 4/10 squares or 840 feet.

If you have no altiscope or hypsometer, have students make a sighting device using the illustration as a guide.

To use the sighting device (clinometer) hold the straw and sight the top of the building or the tree or the highest point a rocket rises through the straw. A partner should then observe the degree mark where the string crosses the protractor. To find the angle of the straw to the ground, subtract this reading from 90 degrees or use the diagram as a guide for remarking the angles on the protractor. (If you wish, you may reproduce it and glue it to the protractor.)

= SIXTH GRADE =

Dreams That You Dare To Dream

-- Russell Schweickert, Astronaut During Eva, March 1969
 * "...but now you re out there and what you've got around your head is a goldfish bowl and there are no limits here"

== 82. SPACE SHUTTLE SEARCH ==

Objective: to have students find information on the Space Shuttle; to motivate students to gather and organize information to share with class.



Materials: Copy of assignment for an area to investigate. (See following pages) Books, magazines, pamphlets, etc. on the Space Shuttle. Model of Shuttle, Following.) "Space Shuttle Statistics" sheet. (Following) Light cardboard. Scissors. Glue.

Teacher Background information:

Since the space program began, designers of spacecraft have built on the lessons learned with each flight. Lessons from Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab have helped to make life for the Shuttle's passengers as safe and comfortable as possible in weightlessness.

This is important because, as we move into the future, there will be giant leaps in "manned" space travel. The livability aboard the Shuttle made it possible to add other people besides the superbly trained and healthy astronauts to the list of passengers. Men and women scientists, technicians and others in reasonably good health have joined the shuttle crews in order to meet the goals of the program.

The Shuttle functioned as a "freight" carrier, a traveling repair shop, a science lab and as a factory for manufacturing products in zero gravity. In addition, and perhaps the most exciting prospect of all, the Shuttle delivered supplies and made possible the construction of the International Space Station.

Procedure:

Make copies of the "Space Shuttle Statistics" sheet and the Shuttle model for the students. (1 each) Make one copy of the assignments to be cut and given to each group. Talk a bit about the Shuttle and explain that they will be doing some research on specific areas of the Shuttle. Distribute the statistics sheet and discuss. Distribute the model and have them cut out the pieces, glue to light cardboard and construct the Shuttle model. Talk with them about the parts of the Shuttle. When they have finished, practice flying the models and then hand out the assignments to 15 groups to investigate.

Provide books, magazines and pamphlets for the students and arrange for library time. Have the students write letters to NASA for information on their specific area if your due date for finished presentations allows. Work with the students over a period of time on their presentations, suggesting ways to present and to organize as they require or ask for your help. Encourage as much visual material during the presentation as they can handle. Encourage them to search out information from real people, if at all possible, rather than just through written material. Set dates for the presentations that give enough time to do some real gathering of information but not so far in the future that there is no sense of immediacy.

Have students give their presentations to the class. Leave time for questions of the groups and once finished, display the gathered models, pictures, drawings, etc. in a Space Shuttle Center and invite other classes in to see.

Space Shuttle Search Worksheet


 * 1. Find out how the astronauts sleep on the Shuttle. Investigate the difference between some earlier sleeping arrangements (for example, what was the sleeping arrangement on Apollo II?) and the Shuttle's Facilities. Explain to the class how things have changed. Use Illustrations or models to show how the astronauts sleep. Explain what time they go to sleep and what time their work day starts.


 * 2. Find out about the Shuttle Orbiter's food system. Find out what sort of food is eaten by the astronauts, how much, how it's prepared, stored, etc. Tell the class how the astronaut diet is figured out and where they can get similar food. Bring samples of the sort of food eaten on the Shuttle and share with the class.


 * 3. Find out about the space suits and head gear worn on board the Shuttle. How do they differ from earlier models for other missions? What are they made of? Are they made of male and female crew members? (Find out only about the gear worn inside the craft as another group is working on the EVA gear. After you have your information gathered, make drawings or find pictures to show the class what the gear looks like and how it works.


 * 4. Find out how the Shuttle is launched. Using an illustration of the Shuttle show the class the basic parts of the craft and explain how it gets off the ground and how it enters orbit. What kind of fuel is used? How many g's are experienced on take off? (What is a "g“?) How is the g force better now with the Shuttle than most other manned flights? How fast does the Shuttle orbit? Describe to the class what can be seen as the Shuttle orbits the Earth. Bring pictures of take off. They're beautiful. Bring pictures of what the astronauts see while in orbit.


 * 5. Find out about weightlessness on the Shuttle. (Did you know you‘d be taller in space than on Earth? Find out why.) Explain to the class what happens in weightless conditions when you eat, go to the bathroom, take a shower or do work on board. How are the problems solved on the Shuttle? Bring pictures or drawings of astronauts in weightless conditions. Tell the class how NASA prepares astronauts to live in weightlessness.


 * 6. Find out why it's so important for the astronauts to exercise in space. Find out what kind of exercises do the job and what some of the problems are. Show the class a drawing of the treadmill and explain its use. Why is it important that astronauts be in good condition before they come on board? Why do they need to exercise after they get there? Why are the needs greater the longer the flight?


 * 7. Find out how the air manufacturing and control system inside the Shuttle works and why it's so vital up there where the Shuttle orbits. Why would your blood boil in space? Find out and tell the class how the Shuttle engineers keep that from happening to the astronauts. Explain how the air is purified. Bring something that illustrates to the class how the whole process works.


 * 8. You won't be able to shower on the Shuttle, but you will be able to stay clean AND go to the bathroom when necessary. How come showering is such a problem and just how does one go about staying on the toilet seat in a weightless condition? Find out how NASA has provided for the personal hygiene of its astronauts. Find out why the fuel cells on board are so important to this provision. Explain why it's so vital that this aspect of space travel be carefully provided for and, while you're at it, find out why you don't have to trim your fingernails as often in space. Bring pictures or drawings of the personal hygiene facilities to show the class.


 * 9. Find out how the astronauts, while in orbit, leave the Shuttle and why. Find out what kind of gear is used for EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity). Find out and explain to the class the procedure used to leave the vehicle and some of the things the astronauts do outside the craft. Explain how gear protects the astronauts from the hostile environment. What would happen without it? Bring pictures or drawings of EVA to show the class.


 * 10. Find out about the Manipulator Arm. How does it work? Why is it so helpful to the astronauts? What does it do in space? How is it like a human arm? Make a mode] for the class of the "space crane" showing the movable "shoulder," "elbow," and "wrist" on the "arm." Explain how it works. Bring pictures of the arm.


 * 11. Find out about SpaceLab. Who financed and built it? Who goes into space as "Payload Specialists?" What sort of work will be done by SpaceLab? Give examples of experiments better done in space and tell the class why. Brainstorm some ideas for experiments your group thinks would be good to do in weightless conditions on board the Shuttle. Tell why you think they would be good experiments. Bring pictures or drawings of what the SpaceLab looks like to show the class.


 * 12. Find out about the Space Center (Space Station). How many people would work in it? What wou1d it be used for? How would it be constructed? How would it be powered? How long would people stay there? Make a model of it to show to the class.


 * 13. Find out how the Space Shuttle comes back to Earth. Find out when the astronauts begin reentry procedures and explain to the class the steps they go through to bring the craft back to the landing site. Explain how a vehicle that took off as a rocket, comes back as an airplane. How fast is it flying as it touches down? What is its angle to reentry? How does it differ from most other airplanes? What happens to the Shuttle after it returns? How is that different from other spacecraft in the past?


 * 14. Find out about the people on board the Shuttle. Explain who the Astronaut Crew is and what the responsibilities are. Who are the Payload Specialists? What do they do? Who "mans" these trips? Why is "mans" an inappropriate verb here? Find out and tell the class how Shuttle astronauts get to be Shuttle astronauts. What are some of the requirements? Choose a couple of specific astronauts as examples, and give some details about their background. Bring pictures or drawings of people working on the Shuttle.


 * 15. Find out about some of the benefits that come from using the Shuttle. What repairs can it make? What information can it provide in the areas of Agriculture, Communications, Scientific Study, Petroleum Resources, Mineral Resources, Pollution, the Fishing Industry and the Timber Industry? How can that information be used? What will the Shuttle be doing for us in the future, according to your reading? What things can YOU think of for it to do? Futurize a bit. Bring illustration of how it benefits us.

Space Shuttle Statistics

The Space Shuttle is NASA’s first true aerospace vehicle. It will take off as a rocket, operate in orbit as a spacecraft, and land on the' Earth as an airplane. The Shuttle is a four part vehicle consisting of the Orbiter, an expendable External Tank (ET), and two Solid Rocket Boosters (SFTB’s).

Launched in a conventional manner, the Space Shuttle’s Main Engines (SSME’s) and the SFTB’s produce approximately 30,800,000 newtons of thrust. At 45 kilometers above the Earth the boosters separate and return to the Earth by parachute for sea recovery. Eight minutes into the flight, at an approximate altitude of 110 kilometers, the ET propellants are exhausted. The tank will separate from the Orbiter and disintegrate upon reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Any surviving pieces fall into remote ocean areas. To complete orbital insertion to altitudes between 160 and 1100 kilometers, and later to make orbital adjustments, two Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines fire.

Once in space, the Space Shuttle Orbiter serves as a base to deploy payloads such as satellites or space probes. Satellites needing repair or servicing can be brought on board and later released or returned to Earth. The Orbiter can also be used as a platform for scientific research.

At the completion of the orbital phase of the mission, the Orbiter is rotated in space by firing combinations of small rockets called the Reaction Control System (RCS). When the OMS engines are aimed in the direction of motion, they fire and the resulting thrust slows the Orbiter, initiating reentry. Before making atmospheric contact, the Orbiter is again rotated so that the underside will experience the major share of atmospheric friction. To protect the Orbiter, three types of reusable surface insulation are used. In areas of greatest heating, the nose area, and the leading edges of the wings, reinforced carbon is used (carbon cloth impregnated with additional carbon, heat treated, and then coated with silicon carbide). Other areas are covered with thermal tiles made of silica fibers or a Nomex felt blanket material (nylon felt coated with silicon). To aid in heat rejection, the tiles are given a glassy ceramic coating.

As the altitude and speed of the orbiter decreases, the Orbiter begins to function as a glider. The glide angle to the runway is about six times steeper than a commercial jet liner on landing approach. Landing speeds are approximately 340 kilometers per hour.

Following landing, the Orbiter undergoes refurbishment, new payloads are inserted, a new External Tank installed, the boosters refueled and the entire vehicle assembly is made ready for a new launch a few weeks later. To reduce cost, the Orbiter is designed to be used again for up to 100 missions and the SFTB's are designed for 20 flights each.

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

Read carefully before assembly:
 * 1) Cut out all parts using scissors
 * 2) Cut out V-shaped notches on Fuselage to create tabs along outside edge. Fold tabs out.
 * 3) Glue or tape three Nose Weights to underside of nose of your glider. Use the fourth weight provided if needed for extra trim after assembly.
 * 4) Fold Fuselage along middle line.
 * 5) Starting at the nose, glue or tape fuselage to Deck and Wing Assembly. Match tabs on Fuselage exactly to those printed on Deck and Wing Assembly.
 * 6) To close the nose, glue or tape the two halves together using tabs provided.
 * 7) Fold Vertical Stabilizer Assembly. Fold out tabs A and B. Except for tabs A and B, glue or tape Vertical Stabilizer Assembly to make one solid piece.
 * 8) Attach Vertical Stabilizer to Fuselage, matching tab A with point A and tab B with point B.

PRE-FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS

For best results, launch your Shuttle glider with a gentle, level toss. Bend the Body Flap up slightly for greater lift.

== 83. SHIELDING AGAINST HEAT AND COLD ==

Objectives: to show students that various materials have varying heat absorption and radiation capabilities as well as expansion and contraction capabilities; to relate those capabilities to flight; to help students appreciate the complexity of designing space and aircraft.



Materials:
 * (Activity I) Gooseneck lamp. Small box (cut off milk carton works). thermometer. Various materials like cloth, aluminum foil, paper, styrofoam, metals.


 * (Activity II) Materials from Activity l. Flat black paint.


 * (Activity III) 4 short candles. Drinking straw. Metal tray. Hat pin. 2 blocks of wood. Metal rods like small round curtain rod or heavy copper wire (8 or 10 gauge).

Teacher Background Information: Shielding aircraft and passengers from heat and cold is a complicated engineering problem and spacecraft destined to make long space journeys and to return to earth will face difficulties more formidable than any ever encountered before.

Among the most hazardous of the difficulties are temperatures ranging from 4,000 F in space to 15,000 F during reentry. Spacecraft designers, therefore, are constantly searching for materials and construction techniques which can withstand these temperature conditions. Examples of effective structural designs and materials already in use include the overlapping of metal shingles on the neck of the Mercury capsule, corrugations in the skins of some of the more advanced craft and the heat protection tiles of the Shuttle. These permit scale-like and accordion-like movements when temperature changes result in expansion and contraction of the materials and/or insulation against very high temperatures.

The internal temperature of many spacecraft is partially controlled by using different types of construction materials and painting them in patterns of black and white or of colors. Thus, the absorption and radiation of heat by the craft can be balanced to some extent and the on-board equipment can operate in temperatures that approximate those within the earth's range.

Procedure:

Simple experiments, which yield quantitative results, can be done in the class to test the heat resistant qualities of certain materials.

Activity I:

Make a hole large enough tor a thermometer in the side, at the bottom of a small box. Cover the top of the box with a material you want to test. Record the temperature of the box (room temperature) and record the rise in temperature inside the box over a given period of time after turning on the light bulb which provides your heat source. After the recordings have been made, have students graph the results of materials tested and temperatures reached. Discuss which of the materials absorbed the greater amount of heat and which reflected back heat, keeping the box cooler; Relate this to the shielding of aircraft against the heat of rocket blasts and atmospheric friction in reentry. Have students find the kinds of materials NASA'S engineers have used or are testing now.

Activity II:

To experience the way some colors absorb more heat than others,paint some of the materials used in Activity l with flat black paint. Repeat the experiment and record the differences in temperature of the test materials when they are exposed to the heat source. Discuss the differences after they write up their observations and relate to the internal temperature of an aircraft. Problem to solve: If the Sun is shining on one side of the craft and the other side is in the cooler Shaded side, how might the craft maintain a constant comfortable temperature inside? Brainstorm ideas., (insulation--Cooling/heating systems--rotation of craft) Have students research what NASA engineers and aircraft engineers do.

Activlty III:

Use a straight metal rod about 60 cm long. Place ends on two blocks of wood. Tape blocks in place to table and tape one end of the rod to the block. It's important that the blocks and one end of the rod be stationary. Cut drinking straw in half and stick a pin through the middle of one half to serve as a "pointer." Set the pin on the block and rest the rod on it with the straw straight up~and down.

Put the metal tray with 4 short candles placed in a row, under the rod. Light the candles and observe what happens. Ask the students to write their observations. What physical changes took place? What inference can be made here? (Why does the "pointer" move as it does?)

Ask students to predict what will happen when the candles are blown out? Check it out. (EXTRA: Put ice in a plastic bag and wrap around rod. What happens?) Discuss the implications of metal expansion and contraction in designing aircraft and spacecraft. Brainstorm some ways the students think aircraft and spacecraft engineers might take care of this problem. (Overlapping--use of corrugated material--flexible joints.) Have them research what the designers do.

== 84. OXYGEN PRODUCTION ==

Objective: to learn that oxygen can be produced in various ways for space flight.

Materials: Dry yeast. Heat resistant bottle. Hydrogen peroxide (6 percent). Activated charcoal. Cardboard. Splint. Elodea plant (from fish store). test tube. Glass funnel.

Teacher Background Information: Oxygen is an odorless, colorless gas. It makes up about 20 percent of the air. It is slightly heavier than air and is a necessary component in supporting life. Whenever anything burns, it unites with oxygen.

Since it's so vital to survival, oxygen must be carried along and delivered to the astronaut in regular and uniform concentration. There are several methods of supplying oxygen. One is to carry the total supply in containers either in gaseous or liquid state. Another method is to obtain oxygen from certain oxygen compounds. A third is to have green plants along, such as algae, to produce oxygen. A fourth method would be to split the oxygen away from the carbon dioxide breathed out by the astronaut. These three simple experiments can be done to show the students how it is possible to produce oxygen with plants and by breaking down oxygen compounds.

Procedure:

Talk with the students about the critical need for oxygen that humans have. Talk about oxygen as part of our environment and how we must replace the hostile environment of space with a more friendly one if we are to survive. Discuss the difficulty of providing for oxygen only by carrying tanks of it on board. (Weight, space, safety and mobility, for example.) Explain that they will be producing oxygen in these experiments in ways similar to those used by NASA.

A.) Have students place yeast in the bottom of a heat-resistant bottle or flask. When 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide is added, a bubbling of oxygen gas will result. The gas can be collected in the flask by holding your thumb over the top or covering it in some way until a glowing splint can be put into it. What happens to the splint?

B.) Put a heaping spoonful of pieces of activated charcoal into a container such as a heat-resistant baby bottle. Cover the charcoal with 6 percent hydrogen peroxide and cover the bottle with a sheet of cardboard to trap the oxygen that is produced. Test for oxygen with the glowing splint. What happens? (Glows more brightly or bursts into flame)

Have students write up their observations by describing their experiments and the results observed. Then, discuss why the splint burst into flame and have them write what can be inferred as a result of that.

Discuss why the splint bursting into flame indicates the presence of oxygen? Where does the oxygen come from? What compound is involved here? (H2 O)   What is a compound? What is an element? What two elements are involved in this experiment? How can the students tell? If hydrogen and oxygen are both odorless and colorless, what sort of evidence does one have to have in order to know they are present? (NOTE: Why would it be dangerous to have open containers of hydrogen gas on board? Why would a "NO Smoking" sign be in order, besides the fact that it's already dangerous to an astronaut's health? Because of the high flammability of pure oxygen, NASA now uses a combination of oxygen and nitrogen for breathing. That's closer to the actual earth's combination anyway.)

C.) Place an elodea plant under an inverted clear plastic or glass funnel in an aquarium. Place a test tube filled with water over the funnel stem. Allow several days to pass being sure the plant has plenty of sunlight. Note the change in the water level of the test tube. After most of the water has been displaced (by oxygen), remove the test tube. Test for the presence of oxygen by placing a glowing wood splint in the test tube. Write up the experiment and have students infer what they believe has happened.

Discuss growing green plants in space for producing oxygen. What might be some of the difficulties? What advantages? Have students do some research on how NASA uses algae to produce oxygen on space flights. Have students design an imaginary "Space terrarium and oxygen collector" for a group of imaginary space travelers. Make a model or drawing of it. Make it wild but based on what they know, at this point, to be scientifically true.

== 85. THINGS THAT GO ZING IN THE NIGHT ==

Objectives: to show that small particles at tremendous speeds can penetrate objects; to show students that earth is bombarded by micrometeoroids constantly.

Materials:
 * (Activity I) Raw Potato. Plastic straws.
 * (Activity ll) Strong horseshoe magnet. 6 feet of cord or rope. Tweezers. Powerful magnifying glass or rock and mineral microscope (dissecting Scope). Samples of gathered magnetic particles.

Teacher Background Material: Most of us have at one time or another seen "falling stars" or "shooting stars." These are bits of material which have been heated to incandescence by the friction of the air. Those pieces which are sufficiently large to not vaporize completely and reach the surface of the Earth are termed meteorites.

The incandescent trail which forms as these "falling stars" hurtle through space is termed "meteor." The chunks of material, in space, are called meteoroids. Meteoritic samples vary from tiny dust grains to giant boulders having masses of several thousand kilograms.

It is difficult to distinguish meteorites from terrestrial rocks but there are some distinguishing characteristics that can be used to determine the difference. A round, melted looking piece or a triangular shape with what appear to be tiny "thumb prints" on the side are characteristic of meteorites, for example.

Estimates indicate that perhaps as little as 1,000 to more than 10,000 tons of meteoritic material falls on the Earth every day. However, most of this material is very tiny - in the form of micrometeoroids or dust-like grains a few micrometers in size. Analysis of ocean sediments show the presence of large quantities of micrometeorites and considering the proportion of ocean to land, the majority of meteorites should fall into the water.

In spite of the vast infall of meteorites, there are only two documented cases of anyone being hurt or killed by meteorites. A shower of stones which fell near Alexandria, Egypt in 1911 killed a dog and in 1954, in Alabama, Mrs. Hewlett Hodges was severely bruised by an 8 pound meteorite that crashed through her roof.

An interesting note here is that there are micrometeorolds so small and traveling so fast, they can actually pass right through a house or a space craft without notice. While a large meteor "strike" would be disastrous, these collisions with micrometeoroids could go on without any of us being aware that we are colliding with objects from space.

Procedure:

(Activity 1)

To show the penetrating power of a projectile which has a small mass but a high velocity, hold a raw potato in one hand (between the thumb and index finger). Do not hold it in the palm of your hand. With the straw in the other hand, try to drive the straw through the potato. Do it slowly at first and observe what happens. (Not much except crinkled straws.)

Increase the velocity. What happens? What happens when the straw's velocity is increased and you move the potato quickly toward the oncoming straw? Relate this to moving vehicles or objects in space. (You might want to relate it to driving an automobile too fast for a quick reminder of that danger as well.) Repeat the experiment using different sizes of straws. What happens? Have students write up their observations. After a discussion about why the straw is able to penetrate the potato, have them write up the inferences that can be made. Have them write up their conclusions about how size and speed affect the ability of the straw to penetrate the potato.

Spacecraft engineers have developed "bumpers" on space craft as one method of protecting crafts in case of a collision with a meteoroid in space. Have the students consider protective measures against meteoroids and draw or construct a model of a space craft with the devices they have come up with. (Bumpers, laser beams, warning systems, etc.)

(Activity 2)

Very small meteorites can sometimes be found by dragging a magnet through the dirt outside and inspecting the pieces which "stick" to the magnet with a magnifying glass or under a microscope. Tie a length of strong cord to a horseshoe magnet and drag it through the dirt for ten or fifteen minutes.

Try to find an area that is not heavily walked on. Bring the material that clings to the magnet inside and carefully remove the material. Place the material under a scope or inspect with a strong magnifying glass. Look for the characteristics mentioned (round, melted side or the "thumb prints")

== 86. MUNCHING ON THE MOON ==

Objectives: to provide students with information on the food system of the space shuttle; to have students plan a balanced menu tor space flight; to futurize on food needs when colonizing space.



Materials: information sheets - "Food System," and "Eating in Space: Calorie and Weight Chart." Samples of "space food." Pencils.

Teacher Background information:

In long term space flight, the food carried aboard must remain free from spoilage or decomposition and must contain all the essential nutrients in order to maintain a proper state of health. On the NASA missions, the diet of each astronaut is carefully controlled and monitored. Food items are carefully analyzed for the major as well as trace biochemical constituents. The activity which follows takes into consideration only the weight of the food and water used in a typical day's diet and the Calories recommended. The students should be told that NASA works out a diet consistent with the recommended daily dietary allowance of several items: Protein, Fat, Carbohydrate, Water, Minerals, Vitamins and trace Minerals. A complete listing of these can be obtained from NASA.

NOTE: The list of foods on the Calorie and Weight Chart is a partial listing of the foods available to the astronauts. A complete list can also be obtained from NASA.

Procedure:

Have the students assume that they are space travelers. They are allowed to bring on board 950 grams of food stuffs for each day, are allowed a maximum of 1350 grams of water to reconstitute their food each day and are allowed 3,000 Calories for each day, divided into 1100 C (Breakfast), 1100 (Lunch), and 800 (Dinner).

Have them work out the best (most nutritious and close to the numbers allowed) day's worth of menus they can. Before they go to work, talk with them about nutrition, balanced meals and the need for exercise to work off some of the Calories. Why do they think the recommended Caloric allowance for Gemini was 1,800 Calories while the Apollo Mission was given 2,000. Skylab between 2,200-2,400 Calories and the Shuttle folks 3,000 Calories. Have them find out some of the reasons were.

Have students keep a one-day record of what they eat, how much it weighs and how many Calories it contains. Compare kinds of food, weight and Calories with the Astronauts' diets. Is there a difference in nutritive value? In fiber content? Why is it so important to have low residue diets in space?

Talk about the problem of food in space over long periods of time. A year perhaps, or 96 years. What would be necessary to grow food in space? What kinds of food could be grown most feasibly? Have students do some research after brainstorming the problem. They'll run into some fascinating sometimes pretty yuchy sounding) possibilities. Talk about nutrition in a capsule. Problems? (If we could get them to set our taste buds off properly and time release them so that the soup course went off before the entree and the chocolate mousse came last, we'd be in business.)

Extension:

Bring in samples of dehydrated, thermostabilized, irradiated or intermediate moisture foods and compare to natural food - Dried fruit, granola and foods like macaroni and cheese in a package are very easy to find in regular stores. Other stores will have even more "far out" foods on hand. There are a number of companies that manufacture food for NASA as well as for campers and hikers and they can be found at sporting goods stores, health food stores and camping supply stores. Do some taste testing. You'll love the freeze dried ice cream....

== 87. THE COOKIE THAT CAME TO EARTH FROM THE SEA IN ORDER TO BE EATEN IN SPACE!==

Objective: To illustrate The use of algae as food

Materials: 4 Tablespoons concentrated chlorella (algae).* 2 cups flour, 1 Teaspoon salt, 4 Tablespoons shortening. 3/4 cup milk. 3 Teaspoons baking powder

Procedure:

Cream shortening. Add dry ingredients and milk. Roll out in 1/2-inch sheets. Spread with mixture of sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Roll up and slice into pinwheels. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Share cookies with class and discuss growing algae in space as food for people living there. Why is it such a probable source for nutrition? How is it being used now? How does it taste? Have students research the way NASA is using this food source. Futurize a bit on using it in the future in space colonies.


 * Chlorella or algae can be obtained from various biological supply houses and some health food stores.

== 88. CATCHING THE RAYS ==

Objective: to help students understand that the sun's energy can be used directly; to become aware of various ways the sun's energy might be used in space.



Materials: Guide sheet (See following). Light cardboard. Aluminum foil. Glue. Scissors. Paper punch. Paper fasteners. 2 tin cans. Flat black paint. 2 thermometers. 2 pieces of cardboard for covers.

Teacher Background information:

Almost all our energy comes from the sun - directly or indirectly. As the students get into the futurizing unit, do some experiments with solar energy that help them to see the wide variety of possibilities for solar. Collect articles and pictures showing its use and display them. Talk with them about when solar can be used - furnaces, solar cells, water heaters, cookers, food dehydrators, etc. There is a great deal of information on solar projects available, since it is becoming apparent that we cannot go on using up nonrenewable resources the way we are. This exploration of solar energy has immediate impact for students now on Earth as well as possible uses for the future both on Earth and in space.

There are myriad activities on solar from which to choose. The two following are simple, but should help your students to appreciate the energy that can he put to work here.

Procedure:

Activity I

To show students why solar heaters are often made of black metal, cut the lids off two cans. Paint one flat black and leave the other as is. Cut two pieces of cardboard and punch a hole in each, just large enough for thermometer to go through. Fill both cans with water and record the temperature making sure both cans have water the same temperature. Put the lids on the cans and set both in the sun. Every 5 minutes, check the temperature of each and record which can warms faster? Ask why the students think this happens? Which is absorbing better? How could this be related to using the sun's energy here on Earth? In space?

Activity II

Cut out 8 light cardboard pieces using the guide on the following page. Score optional holding tabs on the ridge fold line. Punch all holes with a paper punch being careful to be exact so they will line up. Cover all eight pieces with aluminum foil and glue in place. (Spray glue works really well.) Smooth out the wrinkles very carefully with a soft cloth.

Starting with two pieces and working in a counter-clockwise direction, hold the two edges together, then insert paper fasteners through the punched holes on the edge. (The round head should be placed on the inside next to the reflective surface.) Continue until the next-to-last piece and cut the tabs off it. This will allow the last piece to be placed on the outside.

After attaching the second to the last piece, place the last piece on the outside of the very first piece and the second to the last one, then insert paper fasteners into the remaining holes. This should lock the entire reflector into an approximate parabolic curve and complete the assembly.

This is a portable parabolic reflector and no base is provided. You might scoop out earth, or balance it against stones or rocks, etc. when you want to use it. You could, of course, build a base for it, if you have the time and are so inclined. The simplest method is to use it as shown in the illustration with the object to be heated attached to a device above the parabolic reflector at the height of the focal point. (The focus is 7 1/l6" from the base. Try heating various items with the "cooker" and record the results.

PARABOLIC REFLECTOR inspired by "Kermit's hand-warmer," designed by Dr. Kermit Horn, Lane E.S.D Eugene, Oregon and found in a wonderful book called Solar Projects by A. Joseph Garrison

Punch all holes with paper punch.

== 89. SPACE INVASION ==

Objectives: to increase student's awareness of the individual's responsibility to others; to help students see Earth as a unique environment in space.



Materials: Books, pamphlets, magazines on Waste Control and Disposal. Paint. Paper. Garbage cans (school or community). Plastic garbage bag per student. Scale.

Procedure:

Activity I

To help students understand how much garbage individuals dump into the environment and the importance of not polluting space, give students 1 plastic garbage bag and explain that they are to collect all the stuff they would ordinarily throw away over a 2 or 3 day period. Talk with them about it, and do some predicting about how much they think they will have in volume and weight. Have them decorate the bags and relate this activity to space. The Earth is a unique space capsule with an environment that needs looking after just as a capsule away from the Earth in space has very specific needs. One of those needs is to keep it from contamination or danger from debris. After the students have collected their garbage, have them each weigh it and record the weight. Have fun!

Who collected the most? How much did the whole class collect? Do some projecting--how much would that mean given the population of the school? Community? State? U.S.? What sort of stuff was in those bags? What might have been unnecessary--excess wrapping, for example? How much volume was there? How could volume and weight be reduced? What problems arise with some of the solutions? Noxious gases? Is recycling an alternative? Why is it so important to deal with this problem both on Earth and in Space? What can be done?

Activity II

In order to extend the classroom notion of garbage as space debris, have students brainstorm ideas for posters and sayings, and turn garbage cans into Space Debris Containers. Have them work out details for a project in school or in the community. Find out how waste is taken care of and what it costs. What kind of restrictions are there in the school or community? What kind of restrictions are there in space?

Extension:

Have students bring in a special piece of garbage (a can, box, bottle, etc.) and turn it into a space object.

== 90. RECORDING HEART RATE ==

Objective: to depict the differences in heart rates during various activities; to show importance of accurate recording before and during space activity.



Materials: Watch with second hand. Worksheet (See following page). Pen or pencil. Ruler

Teacher Background information: This activity is to be used to show the differences in heart rate in students during various Earth activities. No immediate Biomedical conclusions should be made, but extended observations and graphing may be useful in helping to illustrate heart rate averaging and limits in relation to exercise and rest in individuals.

Procedure:

Talk with students about the importance of stamina and good health for astronauts and pilots. Talk about the need to have accurate records before astronauts leave Earth and the need to keep records while they are in space. How is that done? Why is it important?

Show students how to locate pulse or heart beat. Pulse is taken with forefinger held against the inside of the wrist. Have them count the heart beat for 15 seconds and multiply by four. Have them do it with other students and do their own until they have a bit of expertise.

Brainstorm several activities they could do in the classroom or in the hall, on the stairs or on the playground. (Walk vigorously for 3 minutes up and down the hallway; run in place for 3 minutes; step slowly up and down one step for 3 minutes; step vigorously up and down one step for 3 minutes; run for 3 minutes on the playground; use the jungle gym in a specific manner for 3 minutes, etc.)

After brainstorming, have students choose 4 activities and write them on the worksheet. Explain that they are to:
 * 1) Take an at rest reading and record heart rate on chart with dot;
 * 2) Perform 1st activity and record heart rate
 * 3) Rest 5 minutes and record heart rate;
 * 4) Perform 2nd activity and record heart rate, etc. and then connect dots with lines shown on astronaut as chart.

Note: the highest heart rate recorded in a US space flight was 180 bpm recorded by Astronaut Eugene Cernan during Gemini IX during EVA.

The heart rate of the astronauts decreases while they were weightless. Why do you think that may have happened?

== 91. PHYSICAL FITNESS IN SPACE ==

Objective: to become aware of the type of exercise performed by astronauts during space flights.



Materials: Watch with second hand or stop watch. Bicycle inner tube, 20". Piece of broom handle, 8" long.

Teacher Background Information:

Due to limited area in the space cabin, the activities to maintain physical fitness must be designed for cramped accommodations. Have students do some research on the importance of exercise in space and some of the ways astronauts do maintain an exercise regimen. Discuss how weightlessness affects exercising in space and why the lack of resistance in the weightless condition can lead to muscle and bone deterioration. As the students get ready to futurize on their own colony in space, this aspect of living in space must be attended to along with food, water, oxygen, etc.

Procedure:

Talk with students about isometric exercise. Ask why it is a likely candidate for the kind of exercise astronauts could do on a space ship. Give the students the examples of the isometric exercises listed here.


 * 1) Grasp right hand in left hand and pull in opposite directions while hands are held together for 5 seconds, 10 seconds and 20 seconds.
 * 2) Grasp left leg at the knee with clasped hands. Pull leg toward chest 12 times. Repeat procedure with right leg.
 * 3) Clasp hands behind head. Pull in opposite directions.
 * 4) In a seated position, clasp hands under legs. Pull in opposite directions.

Resistance Exercise:


 * 1) Loop-hitch the bicycle inner tube around the middle of the wooden handle and tighten securely.
 * 2) Count the pulse for a period of 30 seconds and record.
 * 3) Place one foot in the open end of the loop while holding the handle with both hands,
 * 4) Pull the loop against the foot, release, continuing this operation at the rate of one pull per 30 seconds. Change immediately to the other foot and repeat the operation.
 * 5) At the end of the second operation, check the pulse again and record. Note the change in pulse rate and muscular feeling.
 * 6) Discuss other ways of providing exercise in a small space that will still provide the kind of resistance to work the muscles. Brainstorm some ideas and have the students work out ways of doing them in the classroom. Have them keep records of their heart rate changes before and after doing the exercises.

== 92. IT'S ALL RELATIVE ==

Objective: to provide students with some basic information on Einstein's General Theory of Relativity as it relates to time and travel; to provide students with basic idea of hyperspeed.



Materials: Worksheet (See following pages). Pencils.

Teacher Background information:

Should your students have heard of some of the concepts of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity related to time and travel at the speed of light, they may use "hyperspeed" as a way of dealing with vast distance in space when doing their futurizing. In fact, we do know that travel at the speed of light would cause time to stand still. Practically, however, nothing other than light has ever been measured at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second and for various reasons it's not very likely that anything like a spaceship will be clocked at any speed close to it).

In reality, a future astronaut will have to be content with traveling at some fraction of the speed of light and no real effect on time will be noticed anyway until the astronaut begins to travel at more than 75% of the speed of light. Astronauts traveling at speeds less than this will just have to get used to aging at about the same rate as those of us left here on Earth. For example, a journey that would take five light years at l0% the speed of light would seem to take 50 years to the observer on Earth and only about three months less to the astronaut who made the trip--hardly anything for actuaries to get worked up about.

Present technology would allow us to travel at perhaps 25 to 30 percent of the speed of light. Even given new technologies, there are still problems to work out. For one thing, as energy is added to an object to accelerate it, its mass increases also in the form of energy to go faster as it goes faster. The end result is, it would take forever to reach the speed of light. Some interesting possibilities exist, however, should we be able to achieve even 95% of the speed of light. Take a look at this:

An astronaut who is 30 years old has a child who is 10. The astronaut leaves for a trip to the "Tronolog" Galaxy about 12 light years away. Allowing for time to accelerate to 95% of the speed of light and to slow down coming back, the trip will seem to take about 30 years to the child left back on earth, so the child will be an adult of 40 at that time. The astronaut parent will have traveled for what seems to be about 10 years making him or her 40 when the ship returns to Earth. Now parent and child are the same age.


 * One light year=the distance light would travel in one earth year or 5,849,600,000 miles

Let the students have some fun with this. Though we may never flit around space like Captain Kirk and Spock or make time stand still or time warp into galaxies on the other side of black holes, some fascinating situations could occur even at the fractions of the speed of light we may eventually achieve.

Procedure:

Give each student a copy of the "thanks to Mr. Einstein" sheet and do the first problem with them. Assume for the purposes of the worksheet, that we have solved the problems of space dust sand papering the nose off the spacecraft and any other troublesome aspects of hyperspeed travel. When they have finished with the worksheet, ask them to make up problems for other students to solve.

KEY:
 * 1) a.) twelve and a half  b.) in the 7th or 8th grade, assuming she/he's typical  c.) six and in first grade, probably (5 years x 2.294 = the age of the stay at home + 1 year because that's what she/he was already when the neighbors left.) The traveling child has aged the 5 space years she/he was gone + the 1 year before she/he left making the child 6 years old.
 * 2) a.) 4 years, 4 months
 * 3) the statute of limitations would have run out.
 * 4) a.) 72 years and 6 months b.) approximately 7 years c.) the commander was 36 years old.
 * 5) If he got on a spaceship for two years at 99% the speed of light, he would be 36 when he returned. His fiance would have aged 14 years during those two years in space and would also be 36 years old. (But probably not real thrilled with his solution.)
 * 6) King Tut (1371 BC)

THANKS TO MR. EINSTEIN

we know that

Given that information, try the following

1. Two neighboring families each had a child born on the same day one year ago. One family leaves on a space trip at 90% of the speed of light and is gone for 5 space years. The second family stays home. Questions: How old would the child who stayed at home be when the traveling family returns? What grade would he be in? How old and in what grade would the traveling child be?

2. If you wanted to beat the record for oldest living person on Earth, you would have to beat Methuselah's record of 969 years. How long would it take you at 99.999% the speed of light to break that record?

3. Dapper Dan, an infamous and clever jewel thief, was apprehended by Detective Bullhorn Biodgett in Cleveland. "I've got all the evidence I need to convict you, Biodgett told the thief and he was right. Dapper Dan pretended to give up without a fight, but just as Biodgett was about to put the handcuffs on the culprit, Dan broke loose and escaped to a waiting spaceship he had arranged for in case something like this ever happened. The spaceship was programmed to travel at 99% the speed of light and to be gone for one space year. Why wasn't Dapper Dan worried about being taken into custody when he returned?

4. A pair of identical twins became astronauts. The first twin was made commander of a spaceship that traveled at 99% the speed of light. The other twin was given a position on Earth as a communications expert. When the twins were 30 years old, the first twin left Earth in the spaceship and traveled at 99% the speed of light for 6 space years. How old was the twin on Earth when her sister returned? If she had retired at 65, how long had she been retired? How old was her sister, the spaceship commander?

5. Bill was 34 and Carolyn was 22 when they met, fell in love and decided to get married. When the happy couple told Carolyn's parents, her father shouted, “Absolutely not! You're much too old for our little Carolyn and you shall never have my permission to marry."

Carolyn cried a lot but Bill was amazingly calm about the whole thing. "Don‘t worry,dear," he said. "I'll be able to get your father's permission to marry you in two years because we'll both be the same age by then." How could he make such a promise?

6. If E.T. had been traveling at 99.999% the speed of light 15 space years ago and had visited Egypt, who would he have found ruling as King of Egypt?

== 93. PAPER STARSHIPS ==

Objective: to give students opportunity to construct a model of starships as motivation for futurizing activity; to learn about parts of spacecraft and configuration.



Materials: Glue. Scissors. Paper clips. Coloring pens or crayons. Rulers. Paper. Copy of model to cut out (See following page.)

Procedure:

Talk with students about living in space and what sort of environment people would have to have. Dream a bit. Imagine enormous starships with people living on board, perhaps never having known any other environment. This model is a relatively simple one and the students should be encouraged to imagine it as an enclosed environment with all the physical and emotional needs of those on board looked after. After talking about starships and such, give each student a copy of the model to cut out and glue together. The directions are given but here are a few helpful hints:

Test for need.
 * 1) Have students look over the whole set of cut-outs and directions before they start in, so they can get an idea of what the craft will look like. Many children will have NO problem; a few may have some spatial difficulty and will find themselves confused if they cut out the pieces before they've had a chance to visualize it in their minds.
 * 2) Practice launching the crafts after they have finished. Don‘t throw the model. Use a forward glide stroke and aim in a horizontal flight path.
 * 3) The craft will require one or two paper clips to be attached to the front of the nacelles for ballast.

Extension: Have students design and make their own starship model. Color it, fly it and write a short poem about it. Display starships and poems in room. (they'll look super on a black background)

STT-1

After cutting out all the sections, build all the parts before attaching them to the main body of the ship. Attach center brace (B) to wing surface (A). Glue tail (D) into B at rear. Attach larger nacelles (E) to B in front and then attach smaller nacelles (F) to underside of E's. Last, glue C over exposed top of B and part of A.

== 94. DREAMS YOU DARE TO DREAM... ==

Objectives: to help students make predictions about establishing communities in space; to construct a model of a space community.



Teacher Background information: Introduce this unit on futurizing after the students have had the opportunity to do several other aerospace activities and have identified, discussed and researched any problem areas of traveling and living in space. This background should enable them to make some predictions about the future founded on sound principles rather than simply repeating "far out" ideas gleaned from TV or the movies. (It should help them evaluate better the things they see in those movies, as well.)

Encourage the students to dream, however. Talk about the usefulness of taking time to daydream - time absolutely necessary to the creative process. Talk with them about creativity as a process that breaks down mind set and allows us to come up with things here-to-fore unknown. Explain, emphatically, that creativity is a part of all of us - not only the painter and the piano player.

You might like to do some activities on mind set or on habits and discuss how difficult they can be to change. (One of the easiest ways to show that is to bring in homemade bread or biscuits tinted as green as you can get them topped with red or blue butter. What fun to eat after the initial "yuchs" are over.) Talk about how we will have to change as our technology changes, as our resources deplete, as our knowledge of society's physical and emotional needs increases, etc. Talk about the responsibility of making wise decisions based on the best information we have at any given time using our sharpest critical thinking skills; discuss our equal duty to modify our decisions when new "best" information is presented.

It has always been true that we teach best when we teach how to learn - it is getting truer every day as changes come furiously one upon another. This activity is designed to aid in this endeavor

Procedure:

Explain to the students what the theme of the activity is and discuss the rationale for doing it.

Ask why they think it is important to do this kind of activity. Let them know why you think it is valuable. Decide on the length of the activity and explain that others (decide who they will be) will be coming in to share what the groups have done. Brainstorm with the students as many possible topics related to living in a space community as you can. Give the students time to generate lots of ideas without any judgment or criticism. Don't worry about order or sequence or how bizarre some ideas may be and do not let students do it either. The goal here is to get as many ideas on the blackboard as possible and to evaluate and organize later.

(Included on the following page, is just the beginning of a brainstorming session on the topic. Look it over but do not use it as the beginning and end of the brainstorming session. There is so much more that will come up and your students must have the opportunity to do their own thinking and dreaming.)

Once you and your students have brainstormed all the areas related to living in a space community, have the students form their groups and organize the data in a way that makes sense for them. For example, if one group is going to work on a model of a mining station on the Moon, they may not be concerned with schooling or population control or agriculture but they may be very concerned with transportation or government restrictions. A group that is working on a community of people who have left Earth to find a whole new complex society will have to organize several categories to look into.

After the groups have had sufficient time to order their search, provide library time, books, pamphlets and magazines, construction time, talk time, etc. Set aside time specifically for working on the project over 2 or 3 weeks and encourage interacting with other groups as the activity progresses.

When the projects are finished, have each group present its space community. Give students the opportunity to ask questions and to share what they have learned. Have the students write about the experience or their community in a poem, short story or expression of their choice after the presentations are over.

== 95. CAREERS IN AVIATION AND AEROSPACE ==

Objective: to have students gather and share aerospace career information; to encourage learning about oneself in relation to career choices.



Materials: Books, magazines, pamphlets, etc. on aerospace careers. Online sources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook. "The Party" worksheet (Following) for each student. Names of resource people: counselors librarians, local pilots, airport personnel, aircraft personnel, etc. whom you are aware of.

Procedure:

Begin with general discussion of careers in aerospace. Talk about the need to know: Ask how they think they might go about doing this kind of search. Talk about possibilities like reading, interviewing, writing for information, visiting facilities, for example. Talk about personality inventories as indicators of personality types. Start with the one here. Hand out "The Party" exercise and read through the 6 categories, making sure students understand the vocabulary. Read through the directions to be sure students know what to do and then do the exercise.
 * 1) what kind of jobs are available
 * 2) what education is required
 * 3) what kind of work is actually performed on the job
 * 4) what type of personality best fits various jobs
 * 5) what type of personality individual student has.

After students have finished, have them get together in small groups to brainstorm some possible aerospace jobs that they think fit the various categories. For example: "R" might include engineer or jet engine mechanic; "I" might be physicist or astronaut; "C" could be an airport comptroller or a computer programmer; "A" might be airport architect or interior designer for airport terminals; "E" might be an airport manager or a tax lawyer for an airlines and "S" could be a flight attendant or public relations person. (If you have any difficulty categorizing them, you can look them up in John Holland's book, Making Vocational choices: a theory of careers. You can find copies at the library or order it directly-from Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632. This party-exercise comes from his work, as well.)

After small groups are done, meet in a large group to get a more expanded list of jobs. Then have the students do some research on aerospace careers and add to their individual list. Meet again in large group and go over the additions. Now, using the results of the exercise as a guide, have students choose a specific occupation to investigate, try for as many different choices as possible and set a time for finished reports. Proceed with search. Written report format:

A. Introduction 1. What I knew before I started or thought I did) 2. Why I chose this occupation to investigate

B. Body 1. The things I read and what I learned .... 2. The people I talked to and what I learned on.. 3. The places I visited and what I learned ...

The body can be organized as above or in chronological order starting with the first thing the student did. Chronological order does allow for getting started on writing the paper before all the investigation is done. It is VERY important that the students know that their feelings about the search and what they found, are also important to the paper. This is not an objective search and they ought not to pretend it is.

The paper should be written in their voice to their fellow students and should avoid what Ken Macrorie calls "Engfish." That's pretentious language or dishonest writing and Macrorie has devised this "I-Search" concept to replace some of the dishonest "research" writing done by school students across the country. The point is, this is their search or, at least, it ought to be and they should have the opportunity to present it honestly.

C. Conclusion 1. A summary of what I learned about aerospace careers and about myself 2. What I still need to find out (if applicable)

Have students share their findings with a brief oral presentation of some important or interesting thing they discovered in their search and make each written report available to other students to read.

R - REALISTIC - People who have athletic or mechanical ability, prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants, or to be outdoors.

C - CONVENTIONAL - People who like to work with data, have clerical or numerical ability, carrying things out in detail or following through on other's instructions.

I - INVESTIGATIVE - People who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyse, evaluate or solve problems.

A - ARTISTIC - People who have artistic, innovating or intuitional abilities, and like to work in unstructured situations, using their imagination or creativity.

E - ENTERPRISING - People who like to work with people-- influencing, persuading or performing or leading or managing for organizational goals or for economic gain

S - SOCIAL - People who like to work with people--to inform, enlighten, help, train, develop, or cure them or are skilled with words.

1. At the party which corner of the room would you instinctively be drawn to, as the group of people you would most enjoy being with for the longest time? Leave aside any questions of shyness, or whether you would have to talk with them. Write the letter for that corner here.

2. After fifteen minutes, everyone in the corner you have chosen, leaves for another party, except you. Of the groups that still remain now, which corner or group would you be most drawn to, as the people you would most enjoy being with for the longest time? Write that letter here.

Exploring
Exploring is the young-adult division of the Boy Scouts of America. Explorers are young men and women aged 14 through 20 who join Explorer posts organized by schools, churches, businesses, and community organizations, in cooperation with their local BSA council. These posts specialize in a variety of career and recreational programs designed to provide career service, outdoor, social, citizenship, and fitness activities.

A Special Program - Aviation Exploring is one of the specialty programs within Exploring. It is designed for young men and women interested in pursuing vocations or avocations in aviation, aerospace or related areas. It is designed as a hands-on experience for youth, bringing them into association with adults, facilities and activities related to aviation. Through Aviation Exploring, young people “try on" different careers and lifestyles under informal but expert guidance. Each post designs its own program by matching the interest of its members with the program and resources available. Posts specialize in such fields as flight training, mechanics, flight attendants, airport management, customer relations, ground support, ballooning, soaring, avionics, and more. The purposes of the organization and the BSA are best served when a well-rounded program is planned through service, citizenship, and outdoor activities. This planning provides post members an exciting and worthwhile program leading to personal fitness, citizenship training and character development.

For more information go to their web site at www.aviationexploring.org or contact your local Boy Scout of America Council.

==== CIVIL AIR PATROL (CAP)====

CIVIL AIR PATROL (CAP) develops youth interest in aviation and it helps mold our aerospace leaders of the future. It provides cadet members an opportunity to learn the basics of aerodynamics, navigation, aircraft and rocket propulsion systems, aviation history, and the impact of aviation on society. Equally important are the experiences cadets receive in leadership training, moral leadership sessions, and physical conditioning.

Activities, which range from the local to the international level, are the heart of the program. These activities include first aid and survival training, radio communication, and actual flight in modern aircraft.

Being a CAP cadet is truly exciting. Travel, adventure,study... all are part of the life of a cadet. in the United States each summer CAP cadets may spend a week at an Air Force base, live the life of a regular airman, use the same quarters, food service and recreational facilities as Air Force personnel.. fly orientation flights in Air Force aircraft, study maintenance of engines, radar, radio, and related areas.

International Exchange

CAP’s International Air Cadet Exchange is one of the most sought-after of all the cadet special activities. The exchange involves a three-week trip to one of more than 20 foreign countries. The cadets visit in the homes of host families and thrill to visits to historical shrines of the world.

Scholarships - Civil Air Patrol offers scholarships in engineering, languages, airport management, physics, aeronautics and aerospace medicine. Outright educational grants are also offered. Every cadet may compete for these scholarships. Study grants are available for youth not planning to attend a four-year college or university course.

Cadet Program The CAP aviation education program for youth is now available nationwide and offers a wide variety of flight, academic, career exploratory and other related experiences. Special summer courses, flight encampments, and visits to aviation facilities are made available on a competitive selection basis.

For more information visit www.capmembers.com == == 2011.12.31 - accessed 1,262 times, 2012.12.24 - 3,079, 2013.5.22 - 3,598