Mission Possible
Space is fascinating for children and adults of all ages! Enjoy learning while you teach!
Space is fascinating for children and adults of all ages! Enjoy learning while you teach!
This unit is so great for STEM and STEAM in many ways! Here are some of our challenges and investigations!
Mission Possible - Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics Unit
Mission Possible - Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics Unit
1. Set the Stage: Activate Prior Knowledge by asking students questions like:
- What do you know about space? The Sun? The moon? Stars? Planets? Make a KWL chart for what they Know and Want to know about space. You could put the chart on the wall or share the chart in a digital format like a PADLET.
2. Prepare:
- This topic is VAST, like space itself. I usually start with the solar system, sun, and moon for learning activities through the lens of space exploration; by showing students recent and current space exploration missions, they seem to have a natural curiosity for exploration of space, and this lends to an inquiry approach to teaching about all of the 'stuff' that we know about in space. I usually put up space posters that I have to get students talking. Starting the day with 'News from Space' and highlighting current missions by going on the CSA or NASA website will get students talking. The International Space Station (ISS) has a live feed now, and it is fascinating for the students to watch as they sit down in the morning and prepare for learning.
- The Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics has an excellent unit that is easy to follow and lends well to a great introduction to the topics of space exploration and space objects. This unit involves students in researching the possibilities of colonizing the moon or Mars, and evaluating the differences between the two locations, and building a lander! You can access this FREE DOWNLOADABLE resource from The Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics Outreach page - the Teacher section - the Educational Resources section. There are units for grade 5,6,7 and 8 on there. The link for this resource is: Mission Possible Unit link. Here are some pictures of our STEM design challenge to design and build a 'lander' that will safely hold and store an egg safely as it is dropped from a certain height:
Student used a variety of recycled materials and in the middle picture, this group used our 3D printer to print their lander! Lots of room for creativity and ingenuity!